Chadeish Yameinu
Jewish Renewal of Santa Cruz

Dear Beloved CY Community,

We’re writing to you with some important–and difficult–news about our home at the Center for Spiritual Living.  Some major safety issues have arisen, as will be explained below, that make our continued residence there presently untenable.  

As we so deeply acknowledged during our Sukkot holiday, our structures and dwelling places are inherently fragile and temporary, and we never know for how long we will have them. And yet, we have a history, as a Jewish people and in our congregation, of resilience and opening up to new possibilities.   

The administration at the Center for Spiritual Living recently discovered that their plumbing system is in serious disrepair and will need to be completely replaced. At the same time, they learned of suspected mold in the building. Last week, after thorough inspection and sampling, they received a report indicating elevated levels of mold spores inside the building. On Friday afternoon we were informed that, out of an abundance of caution, they have decided to close the building, effective immediately.  They have stressed that they hold everyone’s health and safety as the highest priority.  

All events at the Center are postponed until further notice and they strongly advise that we do not enter the building for any reason.  Their own community is going virtual for now, with online services only.   

Our Chadeish Yameinu Board met this morning to look into immediate next steps for both the short-term and beyond, and will report back as soon as possible.  We take this on with heavy hearts, as our time in our home at CSL has been a tremendous blessing.  And… we also open ourselves to new possibilities.  

Chadeish Yameinu K’kedem…. We renew and renew, as we always do.