Building renewal and design
The installation of two sculpted trees in the extensive gardens of Belmont shul brings a seven year building renewal to completion. One tree honours relatives and members of the community who served their country and our people at times of war. The second tree is dedicated in appreciation to the Righteous of the Nations who protected Jewish lives during the Holocaust, again including Belmont members and relatives. The theme of the gardens has been designed to match the shul interior. It celebrates our history and love of Israel though nature and ancient buildings, interpreted in modern pastel colours.
You can view a mosaic in stones of the Israeli flag in which are embedded the biblical species of fig, pomegranate, date, vine and olive trees. Mosaics of the Temple Menorah as appears on the Arch of Titus in Rome is adjacent to a replica of the Magen David which can still be seen at the ancient synagogue of Capernaum. Coming forwards 2000 years, there is then both an image in the ground and a model windmill as a Tribute to Sir Moses and Lady Judith Montefiore. The plaque salutes their philanthropy in general, their love of Israel in particular and most specifically their saving of Damascus Jewry in 1841. They sit amongst sweet smelling roses and lavender. Bees hover around the latter, no doubt also attracted by the beehives painted by Julie Ann Pugh with the tale of Samson and the honeycomb and images of a land flowing with milk and honey.
The love of the land is picked up in our entrance foyer with magnificent photographs of both the desert and waterfalls of Israel. Nature continues to be reflected as facing them are three more sculpted trees by Chris Townsend, with leaves commemorating those who have passed away and engraved apples by Derek Hodges celebrating, weddings, Bat and Bar Mitzvahs and the birth of grandchildren.
The walk upstairs to one of our two ladies sections reconstructs the ascent to Jerusalem with photographs of its streets, ancient and modern. Our Beit Midrash, currently the location for our young peoples service and in pre-covid times, our morning minyan, recalls the mitzvot with multiple embroidered pomegranates on the Ark curtain, the reader’s stand covering and uniquely an embroidered Omer counter. This was imagined and made by Jerusalem embroiderer Tehilla Markowitz and contains all the special days within the Omer from Yom HaZicharon and Yom Haatzmaut to Rosh Chodesh Lahg Ba’Omer and Pesach Sheni. The Ner Tamid with its subtle used of reworked broken glass was shaped by Minnesotan clinical psychologist Claude Riedel as a redemptive response to Kristallnacht. Completing the upstairs is the Jerusalem seminar room.
Back downstairs and entering the sanctuary is an explosion of Judaic art, designed to enhance our Tefillot. Spirituality and beauty were early parts of the Belmont vision. The hall is framed by the magnificent array of stained-glass windows painted by our dearly beloved member, the late Eva Hirschberger. Eva depicted the Tribes, the Chagim and of course Israel. At the right time of the year, the sunlight pours through the upper windows of our ladies gallery, creating colourful reflections of Eva’s work.
At floor level, at front and centre are the gradual steps up to a new Aron HaKodesh. On either side painted back lit glass rises up, with Jerusalem Artist and Romanian both Holocaust survivor, Rav Moshe Berger’s vision of Psalms 7 and 66. Beyond the Aron even our fire exits carry the glory of Jerusalem. Trompe d’oeil artist Chris Westall has created in 3D the illusion of the gardens and cobbled streets leading of the Old City. Turning to the back wall, at the lower level are 2 lit display cabinets of seasonal Judaica whist up above is a painted fabric. Using the pastel colours of our front glass psalms, is a chuppah. Designed and created by materials artist Shulamit Ron, an emigree to Israel from Moldova, one way up one sees the streets of modern day Jerusalem, whilst when turned 180 degrees – every six months, the Kotel itself is the central focus.
Inside and out, our prayers and spirits are magnified by inspirational art, created just for Belmont – a shul whose members love nature, our history, Israel and above all Jerusalem, a symbol of the special welcome to our caring and committed inclusive community.
Saluting Heroes, Commemorating loved ones, celebrating Simachot.
The two sculpted trees in the gardens carry engraved Stars of David and Roundels that honour relatives and members of the community who served their country and our people at times of war and the Righteous of the Nations who protected Jewish lives during the Holocaust, again including Belmont members and relatives. If you would like to add the name of someone please contact David Lerner. The donation for this non-fund-raising initiative is £25.
The upstairs and downstairs foyer have three beautiful, sculpted trees, with engraved leaves, apples and pomegranates. They carry the names of relatives who have passed and celebrate weddings and wedding anniversaries, Bat and Bar Mitzvahs and the names of now literally hundreds of grandchildren. We ask for a donation of £125. Priced so it is affordable for most pockets, these trees have helped raise more than £50,000 for the community as well as making our entrance so beautiful. For further details please contact please contact David Lerner.
The installation of two sculpted trees in the extensive gardens of Belmont shul brings a seven year building renewal to completion. One tree honours relatives and members of the community who served their country and our people at times of war. The second tree is dedicated in appreciation to the Righteous of the Nations who protected Jewish lives during the Holocaust, again including Belmont members and relatives. The theme of the gardens has been designed to match the shul interior. It celebrates our history and love of Israel though nature and ancient buildings, interpreted in modern pastel colours.
You can view a mosaic in stones of the Israeli flag in which are embedded the biblical species of fig, pomegranate, date, vine and olive trees. Mosaics of the Temple Menorah as appears on the Arch of Titus in Rome is adjacent to a replica of the Magen David which can still be seen at the ancient synagogue of Capernaum. Coming forwards 2000 years, there is then both an image in the ground and a model windmill as a Tribute to Sir Moses and Lady Judith Montefiore. The plaque salutes their philanthropy in general, their love of Israel in particular and most specifically their saving of Damascus Jewry in 1841. They sit amongst sweet smelling roses and lavender. Bees hover around the latter, no doubt also attracted by the beehives painted by Julie Ann Pugh with the tale of Samson and the honeycomb and images of a land flowing with milk and honey.
The love of the land is picked up in our entrance foyer with magnificent photographs of both the desert and waterfalls of Israel. Nature continues to be reflected as facing them are three more sculpted trees by Chris Townsend, with leaves commemorating those who have passed away and engraved apples by Derek Hodges celebrating, weddings, Bat and Bar Mitzvahs and the birth of grandchildren.
The walk upstairs to one of our two ladies sections reconstructs the ascent to Jerusalem with photographs of its streets, ancient and modern. Our Beit Midrash, currently the location for our young peoples service and in pre-covid times, our morning minyan, recalls the mitzvot with multiple embroidered pomegranates on the Ark curtain, the reader’s stand covering and uniquely an embroidered Omer counter. This was imagined and made by Jerusalem embroiderer Tehilla Markowitz and contains all the special days within the Omer from Yom HaZicharon and Yom Haatzmaut to Rosh Chodesh Lahg Ba’Omer and Pesach Sheni. The Ner Tamid with its subtle used of reworked broken glass was shaped by Minnesotan clinical psychologist Claude Riedel as a redemptive response to Kristallnacht. Completing the upstairs is the Jerusalem seminar room.
Back downstairs and entering the sanctuary is an explosion of Judaic art, designed to enhance our Tefillot. Spirituality and beauty were early parts of the Belmont vision. The hall is framed by the magnificent array of stained-glass windows painted by our dearly beloved member, the late Eva Hirschberger. Eva depicted the Tribes, the Chagim and of course Israel. At the right time of the year, the sunlight pours through the upper windows of our ladies gallery, creating colourful reflections of Eva’s work.
At floor level, at front and centre are the gradual steps up to a new Aron HaKodesh. On either side painted back lit glass rises up, with Jerusalem Artist and Romanian both Holocaust survivor, Rav Moshe Berger’s vision of Psalms 7 and 66. Beyond the Aron even our fire exits carry the glory of Jerusalem. Trompe d’oeil artist Chris Westall has created in 3D the illusion of the gardens and cobbled streets leading of the Old City. Turning to the back wall, at the lower level are 2 lit display cabinets of seasonal Judaica whist up above is a painted fabric. Using the pastel colours of our front glass psalms, is a chuppah. Designed and created by materials artist Shulamit Ron, an emigree to Israel from Moldova, one way up one sees the streets of modern day Jerusalem, whilst when turned 180 degrees – every six months, the Kotel itself is the central focus.
Inside and out, our prayers and spirits are magnified by inspirational art, created just for Belmont – a shul whose members love nature, our history, Israel and above all Jerusalem, a symbol of the special welcome to our caring and committed inclusive community.
Saluting Heroes, Commemorating loved ones, celebrating Simachot.
The two sculpted trees in the gardens carry engraved Stars of David and Roundels that honour relatives and members of the community who served their country and our people at times of war and the Righteous of the Nations who protected Jewish lives during the Holocaust, again including Belmont members and relatives. If you would like to add the name of someone please contact David Lerner. The donation for this non-fund-raising initiative is £25.
The upstairs and downstairs foyer have three beautiful, sculpted trees, with engraved leaves, apples and pomegranates. They carry the names of relatives who have passed and celebrate weddings and wedding anniversaries, Bat and Bar Mitzvahs and the names of now literally hundreds of grandchildren. We ask for a donation of £125. Priced so it is affordable for most pockets, these trees have helped raise more than £50,000 for the community as well as making our entrance so beautiful. For further details please contact please contact David Lerner.
101 Vernon Drive, Stanmore HA7 2BW | © Belmont Synagogue 2024/5784 | Registered Charity Number 242552