Background

What is Har Hashem’s Building Our Future effort?
In 2018, we completed a year-long effort to create a Vision Statement. We create meaning in our lives through Jewish practice. We celebrate together and lift each other when we have fallen. We are inspired to realize our human potential. We work to make the world more just. We are a caring community, a spiritual center, a place to grow, a voice for justice, an open tent, a gathering place, and a part of a people. 

In 2022, we completed a Strategic Vision Plan that gave direction to our efforts. It focussed on how we will foster greater connection, help people feel at home at Har HaShem, and make sure our tent is open. We are striving to build a community of belonging, where people are noticed, named, known, and needed. 

While Har HaShem is healthy and growing, we face a challenge to remain relevant in the long run. According to a 2019 study commissioned by the Rose Community Foundation, there are over 13,000 Jewish Households in the Boulder Area, but only 12% of them include an adult who belongs to a synagogue. We need to find ways to be more relevant to the other 88%, especially since they tend to be younger than those who are currently affiliated. 

Building our Future is an initiative to implement our vision through the lens of our physical plant. We are looking at many options including  at a single location on our current campus or a new facility at the Boulder Commons in partnership with Bonai Shalom.   The goal of the initiative is to weigh all of the options and recommend what’s best for Har HaShem’s long term success.

What is wrong with our current campus?
Our buildings are hindering our ability to achieve our vision.

• A 2018 study estimated $1.14 million would be needed, not to bring them up to code, but to keep functioning. Since then, we have made repairs only when absolutely necessary, and costs have increased, so that number is likely much higher now.  
• The South Building has no fire suppression system, i.e. it does not have any sprinklers.
• We are making annual mortgage payments of approximately $80,000 a year on a 2006 loan. 
• We face safety and security challenges from operating in two separate buildings, particularly relating to our Youth Education Program and special events and celebrations when we use both buildings, simultaneously.
• Our classrooms in the North Building are too small, have no natural light and no restrooms on that level.
• We have no gathering place able to adequately accommodate large celebrations.
• Our kitchen and bathrooms are not adequate.
• Our HVAC systems are neither adequate nor efficient. 

If we continue on our current path of only fixing what is broken, we will likely face significant capital requirements in the next five years that we will not be able to postpone. In 2018 (19?), a consultant estimated that we would need to invest $1.4 million in our facilities, an amount which does not include bringing all aspects of both buildings up to current building code.

 

Where do the Jews of Boulder currently live?
The map below is from the Rose Community Foundation study released in 2019. Each dot represents fifty households. Because of the high cost of housing in Boulder, newer arrivals and younger families tend to live outside of the city. Today, just under half of Har HaShem’s membership lives in Boulder.

Where do our current congregants live?

City	Number	Percent
Boulder	268	49%
Louisville	50	9%
Lafayette	48	9%
Longmont	33	6%
Broomfield	32	6%
Superior	22	4%
Westminster	20	4%
Erie	16	3%
Arvada	11	2%
Denver	10	2%
Other CO	26	5%
Other State	9	2%
	545

 

Process

Has the Board already decided to move to the Commons with Bonai?
Absolutely not. In fact, we are also exploring options to stay on our current campus. 

What is the timeline for making a decision?
The Building Our Future Task Force expects to have  gathered enough information to make a recommendation to the Board in February, and the Board will consider what the Task Force brings and make a recommendation to the Congregation. We anticipate that the Congregation will vote in March.

What is the Board’s role in making a decision?
The Board authorized the Building Our Future Task Force in August and has been receiving updates at its regularly scheduled meetings. Ultimately, the Board will make a recommendation to the Congregation on which all members will vote.

What is the membership’s role in making a decision?
Like most big decisions for the congregation – most recently hiring a Cantor – the members will vote. The membership is the ultimate decisionmaker.  Further, before that vote, there will be a variety of opportunities for people to ask questions and discuss the matter.

Deciding by March 2023 seems very fast. Why are we moving so quickly?
Congregation Bonai Shalom is in the midst of moving to the Commons. They have building designs and are actively fundraising.  Because one option we are considering is a shared building, we need to respect where they are in the process, so that if we decide not to pursue a shared building with them, they don’t lose momentum for their solo effort.  Given that building costs escalate continually, after we approached them in July to consider a joint facility, they asked that we make a decision by March, so that if the decision is not to pursue a joint facility, they won’t lose too much time pursuing their own.

The North Building has many important features with historical significance to Har HaShem, including the buried bricks in the social hall wall, the tree of life, the donor wall, previous Torah Covers, and the courtyard pavers. What will happen to these?
We would treat these sacred memories with the honor they deserve. If we were to move either to the Commons or to the south campus, we would take them with us. If we were to renovate the North Building, we would either leave them as they are or remove them and during construction and replace them into the renovated structure.

Will whatever we do still have us on the Margolis Family Campus?
Our agreement with the Margolis Family provides that if we were to move to the Boulder Jewish Commons we would still be on the Margolis Family Campus. 

 

Financial Overview

How would we pay for upgrading our facilities?
There will be a capital campaign. Some synagogue members have said they will seriously consider a significant contingent capital campaign contribution for a facility – whether joint or solo – if we could demonstrate to them that we would achieve sustainability. 

If the decision were to move, there would be revenue from the sale of our Baseline campus. If the decision is to stay, either on the North or South half of our campus, there would be revenue from the sale of the other half. 

How much is our campus worth, were we to sell it?
Based on initial work done by some Har HaShem real estate professionals, selling the whole campus might bring in $5-$6M, while selling either half of the campus could net $2 - $2.5M. Note that in any scenario, Har HaShem would have to pay off its $750,000 mortgage with the proceeds, as well as the realtor’s fees.

Baseline Campus South Lot Option

The South Lot has beautiful views, which we more fully appreciated after we purchased our tent in 2020. Over the past few years, we have spent six months each year gathering in that beautiful location. Our current analysis is that  the South Building is so out of date that it is not financially viable to renovate it and it would have to be torn down and replaced with a new facility.

We could finance this facility in part by a sale of the North Building and the two houses. This could generate proceeds of approximately $2 million to $2.5 million.

We have met with architects and are awaiting more information regarding this option. 

Baseline Campus North Building Option

If we pursued this option, we would be able to keep the sanctuary. Unfortunately, we would not be able to keep the rest of the structure because it is so outdated. Like the South Building, it would have to be torn down and replaced.

We have met with architects and are awaiting more information regarding this option. 

Boulder Jewish Commons Option

What are the advantages of being near the JCC?
Har HaShem is exploring moving to the Boulder Jewish Commons to build a new building that we would share with Congregation Bonai Shalom. Such a joint facility would present many opportunities for programming both with the JCC and with Bonai. 

The JCC serves as an entry point for many Jews looking to connect with their traditions. If we were adjacent, it would be easy for them to take the next step and explore what Reform Judaism has to offer. And we have a lot to offer!

The Early Childhood Center at the JCC is the only Jewish Preschool in Boulder, with a very long wait list. They make challah on Fridays and celebrate Jewish Holidays. If we were located just steps away, it would be easy to be part of these festivities. 

The farm at the JCC is a community resource, an educational farm, and a working farm. It grows more than 3,000 pounds of vegetables per year, most of which are donated to help feed those in need. It includes a Forest School at which pre-schoolers spend eighty percent of their time outdoors, all year round. 

The farm has sections devoted to the holidays, and grows flowers, plants, and spices mentioned in the Bible and integral to Jewish tradition. Chickens and goats provide eggs and milk. This farm could be a tremendous resource for our education and volunteer efforts.   

Currently, the county and city have proven unable to provide security for our campus consistently and regularly. Private companies are understaffed and cannot help. The JCC does have a contract with a private provider, and has security on site. If we were at the Boulder Jewish Commons, we could create a coordinated, collaborative security plan with them.

What are the advantages of being in partnership with Bonai Shalom?
Such a partnership would move our community towards more collaboration and away from silos. It could represent a stronger investment of limited communal dollars. 

We could provide a much broader Shabbat experience. We would not combine our Minyans (services), and we envision that the new facility would have two sanctuaries. However, there is a lot we could do together. There will also be a Beit Midrash (literally, “House of Learning” – a space for shared spiritual and learning experiences), an outdoor amphitheater and a pagoda, where we could have alternative services (yoga, contemplative Shabbat, etc.) We can also invest in shared adult learning experiences. 

We recently agreed to combine our 8th and 9th grade education offering with Bonai Shalom. We were unable to fill the class in the fall and Bonai does not have an offering for these grades. If we were sharing a facility, we could explore many more joint education offerings for our youth. 

We could draw on the volunteers and expertise of both congregations in Tikkun Olam. Our adult education could also benefit from a larger and more diverse pool of participants.

With a kosher kitchen and a warming kitchen, we could have a much greater ability to host kosher events (the only facility of its kind in Boulder County) and to teach about Jewish Cooking. 

If we shared a facility with Bonai Shalom, how would Har HaShem maintain its identity as a Reform Congregation?
Our Congregation and our clergy are proud members of the Reform Movement. Just as we have no wish to make Bonai Shalom “more Reform” they have no desire to make us “more Conservative.” 

We envision that a new facility would have two sanctuaries, a Beit Midrash, a rooftop terrace, an outdoor amphitheater, and an outdoor pavilion. We would also have access to the JCC facility. Consequently, there will be many opportunities for us to hold separate services and events.

Our B’nai Mitzvah program (grades 4-6) would be more separate, although we could benefit from Bonai Shalom’s Hebrew program. While all would be welcome, we would have our own Shabbat Services (including contemplative Shabbat), Holiday Celebrations and Torah Study.

What about the kitchen? 
We envision a larger dairy kosher kitchen and a smaller warming kitchen that would be kosher style and could serve meat dishes. Congregants would be able to have events that serve meat in the facility. Bonai Shalom is not interested in dictating our approach to kashrut (Jewish approaches to what is appropriate to consume). 

Have other congregations attempted to coordinate shared buildings and what can we learn from them?
Yes. We have used the agreement in Canton for a three-way shared building (Reform and Conservative congregations along with their Jewish Federation) as a starting point for ours. Santa Fe also has three congregations sharing a building.
There are other cities where congregations share buildings, including Pittsburgh, but one congregation owns the building.
There are also cities like Austin and Charlotte with Jewish Commons, but each entity has its own building.

Our Baseline campus has an amazing view. Why would we give that up?
A move to the Commons into a joint facility would also have a great view, both of the Sombrero Marsh and of the Flatirons, as well as the high peaks behind them.

Judaism’s Conservative Movement is shrinking. Doesn’t that make HHS sharing a building with a Conservative congregation like Bonai Shalom problematic?
Bonai Shalom is growing now, as is Har HaShem. A governance agreement will address what happens if either congregation dissolves or decides it no longer wants to be part of the joint building.

Should we see Bonai Shalom’s Financials as part of our due diligence? 
We have asked and expect to exchange them soon while protecting the confidential information such as salary levels. 

Moving to a joint building with Bonai would be a huge decision. Shouldn’t we have all the answers on how we would share in hand before we vote?
We have made good progress towards negotiating a Memorandum of Understanding. The two congregations will share equally in the management of the facility. This will be a challenge, and we will have to learn how to do this as we go along. Most importantly, we will have to approach this venture with a spirit of partnership.

Har HaShem owns a 5 acre parcel of land with four buildings. If we moved to the Commons would we own land?
Yes. 

At the Commons, the JCC owns the lot on which its building and parking are located. The Oreg Foundation owns the rest, including the farm. Oreg had agreed to sell a portion of its land to Bonai Shalom for them to build a new synagogue. If Har HaShem and Bonai Shalom agreed to build a facility together, Oreg has indicated it would sell the two congregations property for a joint facility. 

The price for the parcel is included in our calculations for the cost of moving to the Commons.

If we moved to the Commons would we own a share of the joint building?
Yes, half.

Will we have a final written agreement that nails down all aspects of building and sharing a facility before the membership votes in March?
No, but we will have a Memorandum of Understanding. It would be too early to have a final agreement on all aspects of sharing because we won’t have completed our capital campaign and know exactly how a new building would be configured.

What is the potential time frame for a move to the Commons?
We estimate that if we were to decide to move to the Commons jointly with Bonai, a capital campaign would take several years and construction would take 18 months.

Parking at the JCC can be problematic now. Has any thought been given to how we can add another big facility on the Commons and have enough parking?
Yes. We have worked with the architects and the JCC to right-size our parking and think about how to share parking across facilities.

How would sharing a facility allow us to grow (or shrink)?
Our work with the architects has focused on flexibility of space. Both synagogues also agree that the space should be configured to allow expansion. For our sanctuary, we have asked that it be configured in a way that allows for small, medium and large space. Were we to move to the Commons with Bonai, our MOU would cover what would happen if a congregation shrinks past the ability to pay for half of the building operations, goes out of existence or decides it doesn’t want to continue to share space. 

Would Sunday Schools be combined? If so, how would that work?
No, but the Rabbis and others have ideas for doing some school programming strands together.

If we move to the Commons would we expect to raise money from individuals or institutions beyond just the members of each synagogue?
Yes, we hope so. Potentially foundations and individuals.

What are the cons of moving to the Commons jointly with Bonai?
We would have to learn how to be good sharers. We would have to emotionally enter into a space that is totally new. We would be investing with a partner, and will not call all the shots with the building. Our hope would be to approach this project believing that investing in one another will help all ships rise. 

If we are worrying about constantly “keeping score” we will have problems from the beginning and it will be difficult to rise above petty disputes. We would need to learn more about each other, and would be entering into the unknown. 

We would have to give up some big dreams for our current campus. We would not be able to create a new childhood learning center or develop community housing on our Baseline Campus.

Har HaShem would lose its autonomy if we moved jointly with Bonai – we’d have to get permission to make changes, there’d be calendaring conflicts, operations decisions, etc.
This is addressed in the answer above. More generally, we will need to overcome our fear of having difficult conversations. We have them at home, and at Har HaShem, and we would have them with Bonai Shalom. We will need to get past the mindset of “us” versus “them” and enter into a sacred community. We will need to move out of our silo and into a collaboration.. 

What would happen if one of the synagogues ceased to exist or wanted out of sharing?
The MOU will govern “divorce” as well as the “death” of one partner.

What if future leadership didn’t get along?
With an MOU setting up clear processes governing the practicalities of on-going facility sharing, we do not believe that personal dynamics would impair the two congregations' ability to continue to calendar and operate a joint facility. Further, we feel that this partnership would help future recruiting efforts, and would attract leaders who are excited and energized by this vision.

We are going to have to engage in many difficult conversations to create an effective partnership. Is this where our energy should be invested to create meaningful Jewish practice?
This effort is necessary because of the needs of our facilities and the possibility of building a sustainable plant where we can create meaningful Jewish practice. In addition, the Board and our congregation have not stopped working on many other fronts, including all of the work of the Tikkun Olum Committee and members who are helping the Afghan family housed on our campus, our implementation of our Safety Respect and Equity covenant, upgrading our benefit package for staff, installing our new Cantor and searching for a new Lifelong Learning Director.

Where are the hard numbers?
We will have them soon. 

Other Options

Is moving to the Commons and building our own building an option?
The Oreg Foundation is excited about this project, so they rearranged their other projects to make room for a joint facility. However, they are also excited about their other projects, and thus it is highly unlikely that there would be sufficient space for two separate synagogue parcels. 

There are many options other than the ones the Building Our Future Task Force is considering. Why aren’t they looking at those?
We understand that there are many options. However, we are only looking at those we think lead to a long-term sustainable future. Even these may require more resources than we are able to muster.
For example, revenues from selling just the two houses would be enough to pay off our current mortgage, we would not have enough to fix both existing buildings.