Warren County, OH’s first synagogue, Northern Hills Synagogue Congregation B’nai Avraham, broke ground on Sunday, March 23, 2003 at 2 p.m. to the sound of children singing and the blast of half a dozen shofars. The 5-acre site at 8430 Fields Ertel Road lies near the intersection with Snider Road -- in Warren County but near bordering Butler and Hamilton counties -- about a half-mile west of the I-71 interchange. The $3.5-million relocation project expects construction to be completed by the end of the year.
The relocation of Northern Hills Synagogue from Finneytown follows migration trends of the Jewish community, which like the total population, show the greatest growth in the northeast portions of the Greater Cincinnati area. In the past several years, numerous Jewish institutions and businesses have moved from Roselawn and Amberley areas to Kenwood and further Northeast, including the Jewish Federation, Jewish Family Service, Jewish Vocational Service, Jewish Hospital and Cedar Village Retirement Center, as well as kosher bagel shops, butchers and grocery stores.
The groundbreaking event featured several unique ceremonies. There was a blowing of shofars (traditional ancient instruments made from ram’s horn) at the four corners of the new sanctuary. A choir of children sang both the Star Spangled Banner and Hatikva, the Israeli national anthem. Earth from the congregation’s past, present and future locations was be mixed with soil brought from Jerusalem.
Northern Hills President Sonia Milrod noted, "This milestone has been made possible by the tremendous efforts of the dedicated members of our synagogue family. As we prepare to move our facility to Warren County, I know we will remain the same caring and committed community that reaches out to each other and to the larger community. We look forward to welcoming our new neighbors in Warren County and other northeast suburbs, while continuing to serve our many members who live near our current location."
Rabbi Gershom Barnard, Northern Hills’ spiritual leader for the past 28 years, observed, "I am very excited about the groundbreaking for our new synagogue building on Fields Ertel. The realization of our goal is in sight, and that is wonderful!"
The new synagogue was designed by a team led by Harry Sparks, AIA, OAA of Architects Group International of Covington, KY, in collaboration with Alan Scherr & Associates of Dayton, OH.
Sparks was a member of the Presidential Commission on Disability and used the standards developed in the design of the building to make it accessible for people with disabilities, difficulties getting around, hearing impairments, etc. Security was also a prominent concern; each wing of the building can be secured and blocked off separately. The sanctuary will include permanent seating for 316, expandable for the Jewish High Holidays and other special occasions into the social hall. The social hall can accommodate up to 338 for sit down dinners and luncheons. Through the lobby, the sanctuary and social hall will connect with the administrative and school wing, featuring classrooms for Northern Hills’ religious school, offices, chapel, youth lounge and media center. The facility will also include separate catering and warming kitchens, with a gift shop adjacent to the lobby. The building will total approximately 21,700 square feet.
Groundbreaking is another milestone for the Conservative congregation, originally formed as a merger of congregations that resulted from prior waves of migration. Northern Hills was founded in 1960 as Jews began to move in greater numbers to the Wyoming/Finneytown areas. It has been located at 715 Fleming Road in Finneytown since 1964. In 1967, Northern Hills merged with Norwood’s Congregation B’nai Avraham, which was founded in 1914 but suffered as population shifted north. The congregation thrived from the ’70s to the early-to-mid ’90s, when the Jewish population in Finneytown/Wyoming began to decline. Consideration of relocation began in earnest in 1997, and in 1999, the congregation voted to relocate to the northeast suburbs. The entire relocation process is expected to cost approximately $3.5 million.
For more information, call 513/931-6038.
