CJH Blended Windows at Congregation Mishkan Or

	BLENDED WINDOWS
The sanctuary windows of Congregation Mishkan Or help preserve memories of a blended congregation

On July 1, 2024 Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple and The Temple - Tifereth Israel, Cleveland's oldest Reform congregations, united as Congregation Mishkan Or. Fairmount Temple left its beautiful home of more than 60 years at 23737 Fairmount Boulevard in Beachwood, Ohio and moved into the splendid and newer Mishkan Or (formerly Tifereth Israel) building at 26000 Shaker Boulevard, also in Beachwood.

All the window panes in the Mishkan Or sanctuary are clear glass. In January 2025, as planned before unification, they were enhanced by affixing panels of colored glass to the outside of some panes. As Rabbi Robert Nosanchuk explained, their appearance had been changed to mirror the vision of two communities stronger and more vibrant together.

For those with cherished memories of the sanctuary at Fairmount Temple the new multi-colored wall of windows will be saying Welcome to your new sacred space.

Members of Congregation Mishkan Or who had been in The Temple - Tifereth Israel also have fond memories of a sacred space ─ the Silver Sanctuary of The Temple in University Circle. Though that 1924 building became CWRU's Maltz Performing Arts Center in 2010, its sanctuary (now Silver Hall) has always been a place to pray on the High Holy Days and to gather on life cycle events.

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In 1970 an expansion of what was called The Temple Branch added 20 classrooms, a library, offices for clergy and administration, and this room, originally a 500-seat auditorium that would later be named to honor the memory of Ellen Bonnie Mandel. In 1972 an ark designed by Leon Gordon Miller was added. In 1974 The Temple moved Sunday Morning services to this auditorium. In 1994 the space was repurposed as a sanctuary, with an ark built into the front wall, a lowered stage to be more accessible, and new windows. The building was now called The Temple East. Then in January 2025, as planned before unification, the colored glass panes were added.
(Image from a video on the Mishkan Or website)

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The colorful panes of glass in its southern wall were a distinctive feature of the Fairmount Temple sanctuary, designed by architect Percival Goodman. On a simple white wall they glistened like jewels. During a morning or early evening service and notably on the High Holy Days, as the sun rose and set the windows would change in brightness and color. For more than 60 years their glow helped the Joseph and Florence Mandel Sanctuary become a memorable place for prayer for so many.
(Photo 2015 by Samuel D Gruber on his synagogue website.)

Learn more

A June 2024 YouTube video Building Our Future Together expresses the vision for Congregation Mishkan Or. The presidents of the uniting congregations, Michelle Krantz (ACFT) and Beth Dery (TT-TI), describe some visual changes planned. A rendering of the new colorful sanctuary windows appears with the comment "It will add a glow to the sanctuary". They mention a joint Legacy and Heritage Committee, the probable source of this and many other ways to stay connected with a long, historic past while building a better blended future.