Our Building
watch the Chai Celebration Video, December 2018
"...Let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them."
The current building, constructed on the site of the synagogue's previous sanctuary, chapel, and foyer, was dedicated in 2000. Designed by the architectural firm Philip Kupritz and Associates, the building was a cooperative project of the synagogue and the Hyde Park Jewish Community Center, which shared the facility for 19 years.
The red brick and white masonry building covers 32,000 square feet on two floors. Parking for 45 cars is provided next to the south side of the building. A 300‑seat sanctuary, expandable to 700 seats for High Holiday services, is located on the ground level, opening off an atrium-style foyer. (Learn about the windows in the sanctuary—God, the Torah, and Israel are One—and our vintage Tzedakah Box). The first floor also includes the synagogue office, offices of the Rabbi and Cantor, Sisterhood's Nelson Judaica Gift Shop, Newberger Social Hall, gymnasium, classrooms, and meat and dairy kitchens. Other spaces, including the Glick Chapel, classrooms, and the Abbell Library are located on the second floor.
The synagogue office is open 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 8:30 a.m.-3:00 or 4:30 p.m. Fridays and the day before holidays; and other times by appointment. The office is closed on Jewish and national holidays.
Nelson Judaica Gift Shop
Watch for the Gift Shop's reopening in September.
Our Gift Shop offers a wide selection of Judaica, ritual and holiday items, Israeli goods, jewelry, gifts for all occasions, and shabbat, yahrzeit, and havdalah candles. We are happy to place custom orders for kipot, tallit, gifts for special simchas, and other Judaic goods. Any item you find in a Jewish catalog can be ordered for you through the Gift Shop at the catalog price–often less! Schedule an appointment and use any of our catalogs to find your perfect purchase.
Weekdays and Sunday mornings by advance appointment. Call the Congregation at 773.752.2770, talk to the staff about your needs, and then ask for the Gift Shop's voicemail (ext. 105) if you'd like an appointment.- The office staff can open the Gift Shop for a purchase.
- Come to the Hanukkah Fair each year.
- The shop is conveniently located at the west end of the ground-floor atrium. We offer free gift wrapping.
All proceeds from Gift Shop sales benefit Congregation Rodfei Zedek.
Volunteers needed! If you can come in for a few hours once a week, please call the Congregation at 773.752.2770 and ask for the Gift Shop's voicemail (ext. 105).
Abbell Library
Our library has an excellent collection of books on all things Jewish. These include reference materials and encyclopedias, fiction, biographies, commentaries, sports, music, history as well as magazines and newspapers. The Library also houses the synagogue’s special collections, which include a Chumash printed in Warsaw in 1848, prayer books for GIs in World War I and World War II, and a scrip (metal coin) from the Lodz ghetto. For special requests or questions, contact our volunteer librarian, Rick Holbrook, through the synagogue office.
The library is expanding its collection to include DVDs and CDs, thanks to the generosity of several congregants who are particularly interested in the library.
