On Shabbat March 11, 2023 West End Synagogue celebrated the completion of our elevator.

We built an elevator to paradise (a/k/a the sanctuary) so that everyone can now have full access to the building. The Ma'alit (rising up) goal has been realized. This dream has come true.

There are many people to thank for this tremendous achievement. Our past president, Sharon Cinnamon and her husband, Eli Shapiro, kicked off the “Ma’alit: Elevating West End” campaign many years ago. They were joined by campaign co-chairs Fran Hoffinger, Adira Siman and Jane Weprin-Menzi (z"l), and members of the fundraising committee: Ed Baum, Dan Kohn, Margot Levin, David Must, Henry Saltzman and Shep Siegel. Thanks also to Irene Liberman for her design work.

This day could not have come without the help of many WES members who contributed their time and expertise helping with fundraising and all of you who made generous donations to the elevator fund. With your help, we have truly “elevated” West End Synagogue.

Our founders shared a vision of a community that was welcoming and inclusive, but the inaccessibility of our space was contrary to these values. Since we moved into this building, the West End Synagogue community had been dreaming about having an elevator.  In 2023, we have reached this milestone after many years of planning, including a community-wide capital campaign.

Joanne Feltman, President
Fran Hoffinger, Adira Siman, Co-Chairs, Ma’alit Committee