H EADLINES
Federal Energy Grants Available to Synagogues
14 years, and his building’s
light bulbs and heaters have
not been updated in that time,
JARRAD SAFFREN | JE STAFF
perhaps longer.
At the top of the rabbi’s wish
SY NAGOGUES
WITH list
is LED lighting to replace
energy effi ciency needs are
the congregation’s fl uorescent
considering applying to a new
bulbs. Th e fl uorescent lights
federal grant program for
are “burning
constantly,” nonprofi t buildings, according
Leizerowski said,
and are a
to area rabbis.
drain on
resources. The Nonprofit Energy
LED lights would last longer
Effi ciency Act will allocate
and help the synagogue save
$50 million to the Department
money. of Energy to distribute to
Leizerowski also wants
religious and other organi-
LED lights for his building’s
zations around the country.
outdoor space. He said outdoor
It is part of the Bipartisan
lights decrease
the possibility
Infrastructure Bill passed by
B’nai Abraham Chabad in Center City could use some energy effi ciency
upgrades, according to Rabbi Yochonon Goldman.
of security
threats. Congress in early November
Courtesy of B’nai Abraham Chabad
Th e only problem is —
and signed by President Joe
with no hired grant writer or
Biden on Nov. 15.
volunteers from the congre-
Synagogues and other
gation with such experience — Leizerowski will have to 100 years old and has similar
nonprofi ts can apply for grants
write the application himself.
needs, like better exterior
“I’m not the greatest grant lighting and better-insulated
writer. I don’t know how to put windows, according to Rabbi
it together,” he said. “I would Yochonon Goldman.
try to put it together to the best
Filling both would satisfy
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my ability.”
three different synagogue
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Bais Medrash is located priorities: energy effi ciency,
in a 60-year-old building, security
and historical
0LFKDHO)ULHGPDQ Leizerowski
said. B’nai
preservation. nmls
Abraham Chabad, in Center
“We definitely need to
$)LQDQFLDO3ODQQLQJ7RRO Overwhelmed with the
$6DIHW\1HW)RU City,
is in
a structure
that’s over
always think about how
thought of moving?
6HQLRUV2OGHU$GXOWV to restore certain things,”
THINKING OF A
Goldman said.
LEGAL LQIR#UHYHUVLQJPWJFRP
RETIREMENT COMMUNITY?
Goldman called grant
ZZZUHYHUVLQJPWJFRP Can I afford it?
DIRECTORY opportunities a “regular
What if I need care?
meeting topic” for B’nai
What will I do with all of my stuff?
Abraham leaders.
The ELDER LAW
These and the rest of your questions will
synagogue found success with
AND be answered by the senior living experts
the application process just last
at S3Living.
CALL ESTATE PLANNING year.
Real Estate Brokerage for Seniors
EVAN SEGAL
A $70,000 security grant
Looking to Thrive
Wills Trusts
from Pennsylvania helped the
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evan@segalfinancial.com Powers of Attorney
synagogue add movable parti-
to learn more
www.segalfinancial.com 610-715-3637
tion walls in multipurpose
Living Wills
See recent success stories on our
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Probate Estates
Facebook page
and locks, too, in case the
Protect assets from
synagogue needs to lock down
evan@segalfinancial.com nursing home
www.segalfinancial.com during an emergency.
See recent success stories on our
“It’s not always easy for
To advertise
JEFFREY HORROW
LARRY SCOTT
AUERBACH, ESQ.
Facebook page
religious organizations to be
CERTIFIED ELDER LAW ATTORNEY
in our
Personalized Tax Preparation
CPA-PFS, J.D., LL.M.,MBA
eligible for state and federal
and Accounting For Individuals
1000 Easton Road
grants,” Goldman said. “So
Abington, PA 19001
and Businesses.
something that is available is
Call David L. Reibstein
something we’d be interested
For consultation
call 610-828-7060
Broker of Record
215-517-5566 or
in.” SJHorrow.com
1-877-987-8788 Toll Free
215-259-5225 (o)
Rabbi Albert Gabbai of
SJHorrow@gmail.com Website: www.Lsauerbach.com
215-870-7362 (c)
Congregation Mikveh Israel in
of up to $200,000, according
to the Jewish Federations of
North America.
In a Nov. 8 JTA article about
the program, Elana Broitman,
the JFNA’s senior vice presi-
dent for public aff airs, called
many nonprofit buildings
“outdated.” Several local rabbis agreed
with her about their own build-
ings and said they planned to
look into applying for grants.
“We would defi nitely love
to be part of that,” said Rabbi
Yitzchok Leizerowski of the
Orthodox congregation Bais
Medrash Harav B’nai Jacob in
Northeast Philadelphia.
Th e rabbi added that his
synagogue community is small
and “not very well-funded.”
He has led the synagogue for
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10 NOVEMBER 18, 2021
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