Not Reviewed and Edited - Text from Connections

The Etz Chayim design committee is made up of a small number of dedicated volunteers who believe that good design is a religious obligation. We’d like to  tell you a little bit about who we are, what we do, how we do it, and—most importantly, perhaps—why we do it.

Who we are. The design committee is co-chaired by me, Barry Katz, and Ron Shipper. Although the committee forms the very core of my being, in my spare  ime I am professor of design at Stanford and at the California College of the Arts in San Francisco, and a fellow at IDEO, the global design and innovation consultancy based in Palo Alto. The rest of the committee includes Jon Kaplan  a real designer), Paula Elster, Jan Pepper, Julie Kohl, Karen Bergen and Bart Hechtman. James Baloun is also a member and our liaison to the facilities committee, of which he is chair. We are a feisty and spirited group, and we are always open to expanding our ranks.

What, exactly, do we do? The design committee has responsibility for all permanent changes to the physical environment—inside and outside—within which our congregational activities take place. This ranges from lofty issues such as the selection of an architect to transform an unloved YWCA into a new home for Etz Chayim to more mundane matters such as the choice of paint. We worry about art in the public places, lighting fixtures in the sanctuary, shrubs in the courtyard, furniture in the library, recycling bins in the parking lot… pretty much everything short of Ari’s wardrobe (although that may come next).

And how do we do this? We try to meet about every six weeks to review the various issues that fall within our jurisdiction. When the cracked concrete and decrepit planter in our courtyard had become unbearable, we reviewed and approved the proposal of our Eagle Scout volunteer, Max Moore, to demolish it and rebuild it. When the Bar/t class families discussed a gift to the congregation of an exterior signage system, we researched and evaluated ideas for signage that would tell the world that we are here. When the Crescent Park Child Development Center requested modifications to the backyard we talked long and hard about how to balance the needs of our excellent tenant with the ambience we hope to preserve. If it’s a big issue, we make a recommendation to the Board; a medium-size issue, we hand it over to the executive director; smaller things we take care of on our own.

What’s in the pipeline? This fall we hope to move forward with plans for a more welcoming entryway, including permanent signage and a more attractive way of inviting donations than the cardboard barrels that greet people when they walk in the front door. We will be installing a scary "No Parking-No Stopping" sign in front of the building to discourage dropoffs from creating a dangerous  backup into Alma Street. We have grand ideas for landscaping, signage, and even mural art. And we eagerly solicit ideas (and complaints) from members.

Finally, I promised a word about why we do this. Anyone who has experienced the architectural traditionalism of Temple Emanu-El in San Francisco or the low slung suburban modernism of Beth Am on Arastradero can feel the truth of Winston Churchill’s famous dictum that "We make our buildings, and thereafter our buildings make us."

This is true of houses, office buildings, industrial parks, and most certainly of a synagogue. The building, including its interior and its grounds, contribute, whether we want them to or not, to our ongoing self-definition as a Jewish community. The role of the design committee is to ensure that this happens consciously, mindfully, and in a way that is consistent with our values as a congregation.

Barry Katz
design committee co-chair, on
behalf of all past, present, and
hopefully future design
committee members