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Groundbreaking party for Levy Family Campus to be held on April 1, community invited
 |
| Eli Reinhard, (upper left) Doris Davis, Gordon Levin, Judy Levin, Bonnie Slavitt Moore, (bottom, left) Ruth Fletcher and Brett Borah smile in February after signing the final l Levy Family Campus papers. |
By Alan Markow
The original structure of the Addison-Penzak Jewish Community Center on Oka Road in Los Gatos will come tumbling down Thursday, April 1 as the Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley begins construction of the new $22 million Gloria and Ken Levy Family Campus.
San Jose Construction Company will begin the demolition at 10 a.m. at a Jewish ceremony celebrating the new beginning. The public is invited.
“This is a great moment for the Silicon Valley Jewish community,” said Federation President Brett Borah. “It’s the culmination of more than a decade of hard work by our community to develop a facility that is truly reflective of who we are.”
Building demolition will be followed in approximately six weeks with a community-wide event where local community representatives will bury a Jewish Community time capsule. The 116,000 square foot building is scheduled for completion in summer 2005.
“There’s a huge construction task ahead, but we’ve passed the biggest hurdle – getting underway,” said Bernie Kotansky, who heads up the Federation Board’s building task force. “Now it’s just a matter of good execution.”
The Gloria and Ken Levy Family campus will sit on the nine-acre
JCC site, and will include the existing swimming pool and tennis courts.
It will be home to the APJCC and the JCC Pre-School, Yavneh Day School,
Jewish Family Services, and the Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley.
It will also include facilities to host events such as weddings and bar
or bat mitvot; teen and senior centers; a café; auditorium; gym;
and fitness center.
“It’s a renaissance facility, and emblematic of the maturity
of our community,” said Brian Goldberg, Executive Director of the
Jewish Federation of San Jose. “The Levy Center will become the
new cultural focal point of Jewish Silicon Valley, with something for
every age and interest group.”
The Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley, which is funding
the new campus, has raised more than half of the campus’ $22 million
cost. Recently, Gloria and Ken Levy recently announced a $2 million challenge
grant for Silicon Valley’s high-tech community.
“Now is the time for people to become part of this process by making
a pledge to the Cornerstone Campaign,” said Goldberg. “Demolition
of the old JCC building is tangible proof of our commitment to future
growth and our belief in the vibrancy of Jewish community in Silicon Valley.”
Facts about the Gloria and Ken Levy Campus
Open to the general community, the new campus will include dozens of classrooms, a gym, fitness center, day care facilities, a kitchen, a senior center, a teen center, a 500-seat theater, meeting rooms, offices and a café. Like its predecessor, the Gloria and Ken Levy Family Campus will house the Addison-Penzak Jewish Community Center, Jewish Federation, Jewish Family Service and Yavneh Day School.
Executive Director's Messages
Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley Executive Director Brian David Goldberg's letters to the community.
President's Message
A letter to the community from Brett "Mad Dog" Borah, President of the Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley
About the Executive Director
Learn about the background of Brian David Goldberg, Ph.D., Executive Director of the Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley. More.