Photos of Congregation Beth Jacob in Galveston, TX, show the damage caused by Hurricane Ike. Silt and mud covered the floors and
walls; surging water damaged furniture and textiles. Photos courtesy of Congregation Beth Jacob.
Through his considerable experience working with
congregations on synagogue projects, Levy was the
perfect candidate to help Congregation Beth Jacob, in
Galveston, TX, after Hurricane Ike wreaked havoc on
its building in September 2008. In the aftermath of
this disaster, Partners for Sacred Places stepped in to
help affected congregations with funding and training,
which in turn led to Levy’s involvement with Beth
Jacob.
Levy recalled, “The building had four feet of water and
no flood insurance.” The congregation itself was on
rocky ground before the hurricane. “This could have
been the final blow,” he said, “but, instead, it became
an inspiration to put things back together – both from
physical and spiritual standpoints.” The congregation
received overwhelming support from the community:
a local church and synagogue provided replacement
pews, and Beth Jacob’s Rabbi, Todd Doctor, used his
skills as a carpenter to restore the furnishings in the
chapel.
Levy provided advice to the congregation in the
form of design narratives and cost-estimates for the
future development of the synagogue. He suggested
reconfiguring the HVAC system to save energy and
came up with various ways that accessibility could
be improved for people with disabilities. Levy’s
adaptive use suggestions for under-utilized secondstory classroom space inspired the congregation to
contemplate the creation of overnight retreat facilities
for youth groups and adults, as well as the creation of
a Texas Jewish History exhibit within the synagogue.
Though the hurricane was devastating, it was also an
eye-opening experience that has led to a greater vision
for the synagogue’s potential that is far beyond a simple
restoration of the structure. Thanks to Levy’s help, the
congregation has come together even stronger with
clear goals for a future greater than they knew was
possible.
In addition to his architectural practice, Levy is also an
avid writer about architecture. After his work with Beth
Jacob, Levy participated in a series of meetings with
the group of Galveston churches that Partners worked
with after Hurricane Ike. This experience led Levy to
write an article entitled “Survivors” for Texas Architect
magazine about four of these congregations. Through
his deep understanding of religious architecture,
combined with the intense experience of working
with various hurricane-affected congregations, Levy
was able to capture their experiences in a unique way
and share them with a large audience. Levy views each
congregation he works with as a distinct group of people
who come together for a common cause. This intense
effort to understand what defines each congregation
strongly influences the quality of Levy’s work with
sacred places.
Sacred Places • Summer 2011 • 22