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| By: israelinsider staff and partners |
| Published: June 24, 2005 |
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The oldest existing Jewish house of worship in North America, the Touro Synagogue holds more than two centuries of history within its brick walls.
But age has crept up on the building, dedicated in 1763. The walls are deteriorating with mold, white paint chips litter the ground, a brass chandelier is slowly corroding and a poor ventilation system can make the sanctuary uncomfortable.
So now a massive restoration is underway, the first in decades, as part of a $10 million campaign that also includes money to build visitor facilities. The synagogue has been temporarily closed and sheathed in a white covering; the restoration is expected to conclude in December.
"Two hundred and fifty years is great for the building to have lasted," said Michael Balaban, a former Hebrew school teacher and leader of the Touro Synagogue Foundation. "But if we don't start to act now, we certainly won't get another 250 years out of the building, let alone another 50."
The AP contributed to this report. |
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