From: Denise Troutman
To: Alex Traiman
Sent: Wednesday, April 1, 2009 9:22:20 PM
Subject: used furniture

Hi Alex,
 
We are temporarily moving out of our Temple while it is being reconstructed.  Are you still in need of items for your Temple?

Thank you,
Denise Troutman
Facility and Events Coordinator
Temple Beth El
5101 Providence Rd.
Charlotte, NC 28226

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From: Alex Traiman
Sent: Wednesday, April 01, 2009 5:04 PM
To: Denise Troutman
Subject: Re: used furniture
 
Denise, Shalom.

Thank you so much for your email.  We were fortunate to buy some old but sturdy used furniture several months ago, as part of a longer (slow) initiative to fix up our hilltop synagogue on the actual mountain where Yaakov dreamt in Biblical Beit El. 

Suffice to say that the project is ongoing, and nowhere near finished.  Thus far, we have replaced the seats, the roof, and the ark curtain.  We need to replace the ceiling, lights, the floor, and take care of the walls plus some other things.  We are trying to turn a double caravan into a synagogue befitting of the holiness of the location. 

Please let me know what you have in mind, and how you might be able to send it.  We are always grateful for any donations, of money or physical items.

Thank you again very much for contacting.  If you don't mind my asking, how did you hear about our synagogue needs? 

Have a happy and kosher Passover.

With Blessings,
Alex

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From: Denise Troutman
To: Alex Traiman
Sent: Thursday, April 2, 2009 4:34:09 PM
Subject: RE: used furniture

Hi Alex,
 
I found a comment from you with your email address when I googled used synagogue furniture.  What state is your synagogue?  I am sure as we get closer to our move out date there will be items we need to have removed. 
 
I apologize but I am not Jewish so the statement "our hilltop synagogue on the actual mountain where Yaakov dreamt" doesn’t give my any clues as to your location.  I hope you have a happy and kosher Passover,
 
Thank you,
Denise Troutman
Facility and Events Coordinator
Temple Beth El
5101 Providence Rd.
Charlotte, NC 28226

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Denise,
 
Thank you for the email.  Our synagogue is in Israel.  Our town, the original town of Beth El from the Bible, is recorded as the place where Jacob had his famous dream with the ladder.  This synagogue sits atop that very mountain, and is one of the holiest places in the world.
 
Today Beit El is a Jewish settlement with 7000 residents located in the Biblical province of Samaria, commonly referred to today as the West Bank.  And the synagogue sits atop an outpost with 30 families that live in caravans.
 
Our town is 20 minutes north of Jerusalem, and about 2 minutes north of Ramallah.
 
If your Temple Beth El has any desire to connect with the Biblical Beth El of its ancestral heritage, then we would be more than grateful to receive a donation.
 
Many thanks,
Alex