By I.M. Stackel
Sunday, October 8, 2006
The Teddy Bear Museum’s founders are happy to hear that the building’s rooms will — once again — echo with the sound of delighted children.
If all goes well, Chabad Jewish Center of Naples will open its first permanent shul by Purim on the site of the former Naples landmark.
A shul is a synagogue. Purim, a Jewish holiday upcoming in March, invites celebration that is especially appreciated by children.
Owners of the 2511 Pine Ridge Road property accepted a $2.8 million offer by Chabad to purchase the site, Chabad Rabbi Fishel Zaklos said last week.
Adjacent to the YMCA and Sports Authority, the approximately 9,000-square-foot building appears to be in shape to immediately create a sanctuary and small classrooms for Hebrew school, Zaklos said.
His contractors are in the middle of due diligence but, so far, so good, Zaklos said.
Once widely acclaimed for its collection of 5,500 bears, the museum shut its doors on May 31, 2005, after 16 years. Director George “Brownie” Black retired.
While brother Howard Black is in charge of the family holding company selling the property, George Black said it was heartening to hear that the building would again be used for a joyous purpose.
The museum initially opened to delight children and seniors, George Black said.
“The fact that it will still be used by children is wonderful,” he said.
Zaklos called the old museum a beautiful building, exactly the type of space for which he’d searched in the past eight to nine months.
Zaklos and his wife, Ettie, first came to town three years ago to hold Rosh Hashana services and establish a Chabad presence. Since that first service was held at the Marco Island Hilton Resort, Chabad has attracted 100 to 200 families, with nearly 50 children attending Hebrew school, and some 60 children attending Chabad’s summer camp, Zaklos said.
He and Ettie also are nurturing a preschool program.
“Yes, there’s already a need for that,” Zaklos said, noting that he can’t do this without community involvement and support. “This beautiful space will allow us plenty of room to accommodate our ever-growing community. We really do owe it to our children and our children’s children to make it happen.”
Naples mother Lisa Lauber said she and her family are thrilled by the news.
Her son, Eli, 8, has been attending Hebrew school with Fishel and Ettie Zaklos for three years, and adores them and the education.
The first time he attended Chabad’s Hebrew school, Eli told his mother that the place was “awesome,” Lauber said.
She was delighted to see his enthusiasm.
“It is so important to us for him to embrace Judaism and his heritage,” Lauber said.
Realtor Deborah Rich, with Town & Country of Naples, is helping Zaklos with the purchase. Rich said it is too early in the process to discuss the new Jewish Center because the deal hasn’t closed yet.
“We just did inspections. We need to firm up the contract,” Rich said.
However, she acknowledged the wonder of the Chabad news, even though she is not, technically, a Chabad member.
“It’s all about the children. I think that’s what Fishel and Ettie get,” said Rich, who just sent the youngest of her four children off to Stanford University.
Rich said she and her husband believe that Jewish children should feel proud of being Jewish and about their heritage.
“That’s (Zaklos’) niche. That’s why we’re so supportive of him,” Rich said.
© 2006 Naples Daily News and NDN Productions. Published in Naples, Florida, USA by the E.W. Scripps Co.
Sunday, October 8, 2006
The Teddy Bear Museum’s founders are happy to hear that the building’s rooms will — once again — echo with the sound of delighted children.
If all goes well, Chabad Jewish Center of Naples will open its first permanent shul by Purim on the site of the former Naples landmark.
A shul is a synagogue. Purim, a Jewish holiday upcoming in March, invites celebration that is especially appreciated by children.
Owners of the 2511 Pine Ridge Road property accepted a $2.8 million offer by Chabad to purchase the site, Chabad Rabbi Fishel Zaklos said last week.
Adjacent to the YMCA and Sports Authority, the approximately 9,000-square-foot building appears to be in shape to immediately create a sanctuary and small classrooms for Hebrew school, Zaklos said.
His contractors are in the middle of due diligence but, so far, so good, Zaklos said.
Once widely acclaimed for its collection of 5,500 bears, the museum shut its doors on May 31, 2005, after 16 years. Director George “Brownie” Black retired.
While brother Howard Black is in charge of the family holding company selling the property, George Black said it was heartening to hear that the building would again be used for a joyous purpose.
The museum initially opened to delight children and seniors, George Black said.
“The fact that it will still be used by children is wonderful,” he said.
Zaklos called the old museum a beautiful building, exactly the type of space for which he’d searched in the past eight to nine months.
Zaklos and his wife, Ettie, first came to town three years ago to hold Rosh Hashana services and establish a Chabad presence. Since that first service was held at the Marco Island Hilton Resort, Chabad has attracted 100 to 200 families, with nearly 50 children attending Hebrew school, and some 60 children attending Chabad’s summer camp, Zaklos said.
He and Ettie also are nurturing a preschool program.
“Yes, there’s already a need for that,” Zaklos said, noting that he can’t do this without community involvement and support. “This beautiful space will allow us plenty of room to accommodate our ever-growing community. We really do owe it to our children and our children’s children to make it happen.”
Naples mother Lisa Lauber said she and her family are thrilled by the news.
Her son, Eli, 8, has been attending Hebrew school with Fishel and Ettie Zaklos for three years, and adores them and the education.
The first time he attended Chabad’s Hebrew school, Eli told his mother that the place was “awesome,” Lauber said.
She was delighted to see his enthusiasm.
“It is so important to us for him to embrace Judaism and his heritage,” Lauber said.
Realtor Deborah Rich, with Town & Country of Naples, is helping Zaklos with the purchase. Rich said it is too early in the process to discuss the new Jewish Center because the deal hasn’t closed yet.
“We just did inspections. We need to firm up the contract,” Rich said.
However, she acknowledged the wonder of the Chabad news, even though she is not, technically, a Chabad member.
“It’s all about the children. I think that’s what Fishel and Ettie get,” said Rich, who just sent the youngest of her four children off to Stanford University.
Rich said she and her husband believe that Jewish children should feel proud of being Jewish and about their heritage.
“That’s (Zaklos’) niche. That’s why we’re so supportive of him,” Rich said.
© 2006 Naples Daily News and NDN Productions. Published in Naples, Florida, USA by the E.W. Scripps Co.
No comments:
Post a Comment