rededication

spent the entire day at the rededication of the eldridge street synagogue. the space as awe inspiring as it was has become even more so. the eldridge street project is now the museum at eldridge street -- makes my i d look even more official (as soon as i send in my picture again).

it was a good day, got to see a slew of docents i have not seen in the last few months as the synagogue was going through final restoration. they were blown away by how the shul looked. actually everyone was blown away by how it looked. over the last few months i had snuck in and out of the building both as as shabbos goi and just photographing the restoration. i was blown away as well today.

it has very homey feel. most of the volunteers were afraid that the restoration would over prettify. not so much the work in progress they have came to love. but it wasn't. actually most of the volunteers were afraid that i would not finish in time because even up until september it still felt like it was in shambles.

spent a good deal of time getting to know for the first time a building that i worked in regularly over the past five years. but for the next month or so, i need to reacquaint myself all the nuisances of the building (as do all the other docents).

among the celebrations, the docents also shared memories of b and her connection to the project over her years of service as a volunteer to her daughters -- first time visitors. b has passed away two weeks ago. i had not seen her since the summer, when we were together for german ard tv talking about the synagogue -- everybody's fun grandmother and the chinese american kid representing the old and new of the neighborhood i guessed was their angle.

she would have reveled in today's events.