With so much need in the world, why make cbi a priority in my giving right now?

Because investing in CBI is an investment in people, relationships, and the kind of community we want to see in the world. CBI strives to be a microcosm of that larger vision—a place where people care for one another, learn across differences, find meaning and belonging, and put Jewish values into action. Our building is more than bricks and mortar; it is the home that makes this work possible and gives our community a place to gather, grow, serve, and imagine what is possible.

Why invest in a building when our greatest asset is our people?

The renovation plan represents a once in a generation commitment to continue and expand our amazing community and our array of programming and religious life in Northampton.  With this project, our community will continue to be the focus of Jewish life in our city.

 

Investing in our building is an investment in our people. Our staff deserve a workplace that is safe, healthy, secure, and designed to support the work they do every day.
Our current building is aging, inefficient, and increasingly expensive to maintain. Classrooms and offices can reach more than 80 degrees in the summer. Deferred maintenance means that we are constantly repairing and patching problems that will only become more costly with time.

Renovating now gives us the opportunity to create a safer, more accessible, energy-efficient building—and to reduce the ongoing costs of maintaining it. Those savings can ultimately give CBI greater flexibility to invest in the people and programs that make our community thrive. This isn't about choosing between our building and our people. It's about creating a strong, sustainable foundation for both.​

 

What will this project involve?

This plan calls for a complete renovation of the main CBI building, creating a more welcoming, flexible, and accessible home for our community. The renovated building will feature an enlarged and refreshed Sanctuary and Social Hall, with flexible worship space that allows for prayer facing East. The project also includes a secure and welcoming entrance, a community gathering space, a library and meeting space adjacent to the Sanctuary that can also serve as a small prayer space. We will be adding a permanent, accessible, covered outdoor pavilion for kiddush, outdoor prayer, and other gatherings. The building will also include two technology-equipped classrooms for ALMA, Adult Education, and meetings, as well as a separate preschool wing with its own entrance, two classrooms, and age-appropriate bathrooms. Additional improvements include eight all-gender restrooms, including two accessible restrooms, an upgraded coat room, and exterior site improvements.

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Who created the redesign?

The redesign is the result of a collaborative process grounded in the needs and ideas of our community and staff. CBI’s Building Committee—made up of dedicated members, including several professional architects—has worked closely with Maryann Thompson Architects, a highly regarded Watertown-based firm. Together, they have developed and refined the design through multiple iterations, balancing our community’s priorities, the building’s urgent needs, and our commitment to responsible stewardship of our resources.

The design has been shaped by feedback gathered from the community and conversations with the people who use our building every day. The result is a modest plan that reflects what our community has told us it needs: a safer, more welcoming, accessible, and flexible home for the future.

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Who can I contact for more information?
Questions about building plans and renovation: contact the Building Committee through the Executive Director at director@cbinorthampton.org.

Question about getting involved and making a donation: contact Lindsay Rowe, CBI Development Manager at lindsay@cbinorthampton.org.​​​​