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Capital Campaign

The campaign for Sherith Israel: a strong building for a strong congregation

Congregation Sherith Israel has taken on our greatest challenge since our founding in 1851 – a $15 million campaign to renovate our historic sanctuary and comply with City-mandated seismic safety requirements. This project’s importance goes beyond the congregation itself; it involves everyone who recognizes the singular role Sherith Israel plays in the San Francisco community or treasures the unique historic, artistic and architectural significance of our sanctuary.

The City’s mandate
Following the devastating Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989, the City of San Francisco required all unreinforced masonry buildings used for public assembly to meet new, more stringent seismic safety standards. Although Sherith Israel suffered no damage in 1989 – and survived the far stronger 1906 quake with only minimal damage – we have been required to bring our sanctuary building into compliance with City and State seismic standards.

Our innovative design solution
Our architects and engineers have been challenged to implement required safety upgrades in a complex and artistically irreplaceable structure. Using state-of-the-art, computer-aided design technology, our engineering team at Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, working with the architects at ELS Architecture and Urban Design, has achieved the nearly impossible. Their design combines a variety of elements – including the innovative use of cutting-edge materials – to comply completely with the City’s safety standards, while preserving the integrity of the sanctuary’s magnificent interior. Learn more.

The scope of our project
Our project addresses more than the required safety upgrades. It creates an opportunity to:

Restore the magnificence of our sanctuary: clean and repair our priceless stained-glass windows, repair wear and tear to our frescoed walls and replace our original carpeting and upholstery.

Upgrade our electrical systems and other infrastructure.

Remodel the first floor to create modern meeting spaces serving our religious school, adult education programs and the larger community.

This represents more than a “retrofit” project. It’s a visionary undertaking that establishes this generation of Sherith Israel as a bridge between the generation that built our magnificent sanctuary and future generations who will make Sherith Israel their spiritual home.

Our challenge
Under the leadership of an outstanding team of congregational and community leaders, the campaign for Sherith Israel offers an opportunity to reaffirm Sherith Israel’s central place in the Jewish life of San Francisco. Please join us. Make your donation online today by clicking below:

With your help, this architectural, historic and spiritual treasure – and the vital and vibrant congregation it shelters – will continue to prosper.

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