Seismic Retrofit Blog

Last week in recognition of Independence Day, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) named Congregation Sherith Israel one of “9 Iconic Sites that Celebrate American Jewish History.” We share this fine honor with eight other sites that connect the Jewish story with the American story. Check it out.

Our seismic strengthening project, now in its 13th week, will preserve our iconic building so that it can be part of the Jewish and American stories for years and years to come.   

You can be part of the team that is making this work possible by joining more than 400 donors who have already committed more than $13 million in gifts and pledges. Contact our seismic retrofit campaign co-chairs — Lynn Sedway and David Newman — about how you can join our historic effort and help raise the $3 million still needed to complete this project. 

Congregants Maurice Kamins and Lisa Erdberg  continue to document the work.  This week you can see how Plant’s construction team installed new concrete beams in the attic.  

The rig for pumping concrete up to the roof. No parking available that day!

So how does the concrete get into the attic? Like this …

… and this ...

… and this.

Workers pump concrete around the rebar to form new beams in the attic.

This is the result—an almost completed beam. 

Knee … no, hand deep in concrete.

The new concrete beams in the attic get a troweled finish.

Once the concrete has cured, the wood formwork is ready to be removed.

Meet our site superintendent, Jack Wilson of Plant Construction Company. Yes, he always smiles like this!