Raising funds for a new, lighter & more mobile Mechitza

Our beautiful Mechitza was generously donated many years ago. Unfortunately, it is now in need of some refurbishment because it is broken and damaged in places.

In addition, the way in which we use our building has changed which means that it has to be frequently moved. The Mechitza is very heavy and not easy to move so there is a health and safety issue.

Our main shul hall was designed to be a multi-functional communal space and indeed fulfils that definition in full.

From major functions like weddings, political hustings, jazz concerts, Maturians events, Burns Nights, and Supper quizzes, to smaller, but no less important events such as our weekly Chat and Share lunches, Probus meetings and AJR meetings and the one thing they all have in common is a need to move, or relocate sections of, or the entire mechitzah.

This is no mean feat, requiring the strength, and organisational skills, of Florin and James, our magnificent caretakers, and quite often, help from some of our willing volunteers who I’m sure will attest to the fact it is heavy and very unwieldy.

So, our mechitzah is 2,450cm long or 80 feet in old money – approximately equivalent to the height of an 8-storey building, the width of two standard coaches placed bumper to bumper or two feet longer than a standard tennis court!

Why is this relevant? Because in order to produce a new more portable and quite large mechitzah we need to raise a large sum of money. We have received an estimate from Kibbutz Lavi, where the company that designs and manufactures Mechitzahs is based, of between £16 and £18k (plus shipping). So, this is our aim, and it may take a couple of appeals to achieve it, but we hope you feel it is a valuable investment.

Two things I would like to add before I finish.

1. Rabbi and Rebbetzen Kleiman will be fully involved in whatever design is eventually purchased to ensure it is halachically appropriate.
2. The original donors of our existing mechitzah have all been informed of this decision and their generosity will continue to be honoured on the board at the rear of the ladies’ section.

PLEASE GIVE AS GENEROUSLY AS YOU CAN TO HELP BUY A NEW PORTABLE MECHITZAH