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The Morning Service begins with words from Numbers 24:5, “How goodly are your tents, O’ Jacob, your dwelling places, O’ Israel” The Hebrew word for “dwelling place” or “home” and the word for “sanctuary” is the same in Hebrew, mishkan.

 For the last three years all of us in Kehilla have been on a journey to create our own sanctuary, to establish our sacred space, to have a home of our own. In this space we hold our services, teach our children, and gather for the wide range of activities from our social action efforts to adult education classes. The increased number of our activities and services demonstrate the benefits we have derived from our new home.

 We are now approaching a major milestone toward our purchase of the Grand Avenue building. To date we have raised over $1.4 million dollars toward our goal of $3.2 million, with close to a third of our current membership participating. We want to get “half-way home” by
 December 31st of this year. That is, we want to pass the benchmark of $1.6 million in dollars pledged and raised, as well as to have over fifty percent of the Kehilla community participate in the Terumah Project, Kehilla’s Capital Campaign. To meet this goal a number of generous donors have put together a challenge grant. They will match, dollar-for-dollar, every dollar pledged and/or paid through December 31, 2007, to a maximum of $100,000. If we meet this challenge we will meet our goal.

To qualify for this challenge, a gift or pledge must meet one of the following criteria*:

• One-time gifts of $1,000 or more, paid by December 31, 2007.
  

• Five-year pledges of $5,000 or more (i.e. $1,000 -- or more -- a year for five years), with first payment by June 1, 2008, if at all possible.
  

• If you have already pledged $5,000 or more, a pledge increase of $1,000 or more.

 
Our 2006 year-end challenge was extremely successful and raised over $115,000 in less than a month.

 We are writing to ask you to be part of this challenge. Community participation is a core Kehilla value. We cannot rely on a small band of wealthy congregants to purchase this building. First of all, we don’t have such a cadre. Second, the unique character of Kehilla necessitates that every member of our community play their part in securing Kehilla’s sacred space so that it is really our collective space and not the gift of a few. Thus, we need everyone to challenge him or herself to make the best pledge/donation they can to make this vision a reality.

 Please take a moment now to make your commitment, or make an additional commitment. Together we can create the sacred space that will enable the Divine to continue to dwell within our community.  Donations can be payable to Kehilla and sent to:  Kehilla, 1300 Grand Ave., Piedmont, CA 94610 Attn: Terumah  Project.

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*If you cannot afford to give at this level, please give the best gift you can -- and stay tuned.  There is another exciting opportunity we will share with you soon.

November 30, 2007