A covenantal campaign to deepen our commitment to each other, our temple, and our community, as well as to Judaism and the Jewish people.
Celebrating Larchmont Temple’s Future: L’Chayim Campaign Breaking Ground Ceremony
On May 17, 2026, Larchmont Temple families, clergy, staff and supporters came together to celebrate an exciting milestone in the L’Chayim Campaign and the bright future ahead for our community.
The Larchmont Temple community gathered to reflect on our shared history and look ahead to the transformative work that will begin this summer. Throughout the celebration, the enthusiasm was unmistakable as community members imagined the new spaces, experiences and opportunities the campaign will make possible.
Children and adults alike contributed to a community time capsule, sharing favorite Larchmont Temple memories and hopes for generations to come. KESHER students helped mark the occasion with reflections on their year, reminding us that every generation helps shape the story of our temple. Families connected with one another, enjoyed the new playground and celebrated together over pizza and ice cream.
The afternoon was a joyful reminder that the L’Chayim Campaign is about so much more than a construction project and programming. At its heart, the campaign is an investment in the future of the Larchmont Temple community. It is about creating inspiring spaces that support learning, connection, play and vibrant Jewish life, while also strengthening our ability to expand the programs and opportunities that will allow our community to fully benefit from them for generations to come.
As we look ahead to the start of construction this summer, we are filled with gratitude for the community whose vision, generosity and commitment are helping bring this dream to life. The May 17 celebration offered a glimpse of what lies ahead and the vibrant community that is making it possible.
Thank you to everyone who joined us to celebrate this exciting moment in Larchmont Temple’s story. Together, we are building a lasting legacy for current and future generations of our community.
If you haven’t already, there is still time to support the L’Chayim Campaign.
As a reminder, major gifts of $5,000 or more will be recognized in our sanctuary lobby, and all gifts of $180 and above will be featured on our L’Chayim Campaign Donor Wall, celebrating the collective effort shaping LT’s future.
make your gift here
Breaking Ground Celebrations
We’re excited to celebrate this major milestone together!
Join us for our LT L’Chayim Campaign Breaking Ground Celebrations on Sunday, May 17th.
Our joyful afternoon will include a breaking ground ceremony and campaign updates with two time options:
11:30am – 12:30pm
As the Kindergarten - Grade 3 Sunday KESHER year concludes, we’ll cut the ribbon on the new playground and nosh on pizza & ice cream. All LTNS, KESHER and LT families are welcome!
5:00 – 6:00pm
Drinks, light bites and a community celebration toast. Join us for one or both!
Learn more about the latest building plans and all the other initiatives made possible by the L'Chayim Campaign, and how you can still participate and be recognized. We would love your support.
10,000 Chai's
New Matching Opportunity for the L’Chayim Campaign
Dear Friends,
We are pleased to announce that another LT family has generously stepped forward with the offer of a matching gift for the L’Chayim Campaign!
This matching opportunity, for contributions up to $180,000 (or as the sponsor family put it, ten thousand chai's!), is now available for new gifts made between now and Friday, March 27.
This match will allow you to double the impact of your gift as we work to raise the remaining $1 million+ needed to cover plan refinements and improvements, added programmatic benefits and construction cost increases.
If you have not yet participated—or would like to increase your support—now is the perfect time to multiply your impact. Gifts of all sizes play an important role in helping us meet this critical need.
Make your gift here.
Take advantage of this match!
We are grateful for the generosity that has already brought the campaign to this point and your continued belief in this transformative vision.
Thank you again for your partnership and support—we truly appreciate you.
With gratitude,
The L’Chayim Campaign Team
Dear Friends,
We are pleased to share some updates on the progress of the L’Chayim Campaign and the thoughtful planning that guides this transformative work.
CAMPAIGN UPDATE
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to all who have participated in–and taken the time to consider–contributing to the Campaign. The generosity of our congregation has been truly inspiring, helping us reach our minimum goal of $12.5 million in support of this important vision. But with your help, we know we can do even better.
In the last two months of 2025, we held a successful $250,000 matching campaign sponsored by a generous LT family, and we are incredibly thankful to everyone who took part. Your generosity has helped us reach this important initial stage.
As we have worked through the plans with clergy and staff, additional needs and refinements in both facilities and programming have been identified, resulting in some added cost along with unforeseen increases in construction costs. To that end, we are looking to raise an additional $1 million or more for our future, and remain confident that as a congregation, we can meet the challenge. Stay tuned for a new matching opportunity to be announced soon!
BUILDING PLANNING UPDATE
The completion of our playground in November set the tone for the L’Chayim Campaign. Our students have enjoyed exploring the thoughtfully designed play areas.
This milestone represents both tangible progress and a glimpse of the vision that lies ahead.
Over the past several months, our team and program directors have been meeting regularly to align program planning with the construction timeline and budget. We have made considerable progress on integrating our programmatic vision into the various phases of construction.
The first construction phase will focus on the extension of the Blum building, and is expected to start this summer and last about a year. Exact timing will depend on the permitting process, which has been going well. Through extensive preparation and coordination, we are confident our various programs will continue to run as seamlessly as possible as construction moves forward.
In parallel, as the first construction phase will primarily affect our school and youth programs, we have been working closely with our parent leadership team to communicate upcoming plans and address questions and concerns within the wider community.
Thank you to our incredible congregation for supporting this important effort. Your continued partnership and trust mean so much to us. We look forward to sharing additional updates as we continue moving forward together.
With gratitude,
The L’Chayim Campaign Team
Willow Lobby (1 of 13)
Dream With Us - A Sneak Peak_ _ __________
The design process is ongoing but see what's being visualized...
A Place of Belonging
The L’Chayim Campaign will enable us to create a greater sense of connection, welcome, and spaciousness through upgrades to our facilities. A new Willow Avenue Entry will provide the shelter of a covered canopy and improved functionality of new doors, leading into an expanded, light-filled lobby area and adequate space for security guards. A new lift will take those with physical disabilities or accessibility needs to the sanctuary and main floor. A lounge and flexible meeting rooms will offer many comfortable spaces for casual conversations, with couches, a coffee bar, and places to relax and read.
A Place of Learning
As stewards of our tradition and history, we value lifelong Jewish study and learning. We aspire to transition to a full-time teaching staff dedicated to our KESHER learners and have recently welcomed a B’nai Mitzvah Specialist to support their journey. Additionally, our plans include enhancing our programming with more scholar visits and special events. The full version includes a state-of-the-art multimedia learning center, updated and repurposed meeting rooms for education and study, relocated and modernized classrooms and a new multipurpose event room in the preschool wing, increased security for nursery school children and staff, and a versatile multipurpose, centrally located, youth center. These spaces will support a wide variety of programs, such as our adult spirituality series and anti-bias seminars for high schoolers.
A Place of Caring
Larchmont Temple cares for us at important times in our lives. Here we support each other through achievement or challenge, celebration or sorrow. We also extend our care beyond these temple walls. Campaign funds will help create spaces for care-focused programs such as Family Mitzvah Corps and other ways that we practice Tzedakah. For example, a revitalized Garden Room – with improved visibility, acoustics, lighting, and kitchen facilities – will support many activities and events. Program enhancements will deepen our mission of caring, for instance, an expanded LT Cares that encompasses support groups for caregivers, mourner aftercare, special needs parenting, and parenting of teens.
The L’Chayim Campaign is an all-congregation initiative to further enhance and strengthen Larchmont Temple’s presence as...
Why launch a capital campaign now?
Giving Levels
All gifts are graciously welcomed.
All donors of $180 or more will be recognized on the campaign Donor Wall.
Donors at the Sustainer level and above will be recognized on the Sanctuary Lobby wall.
The L’Chayim Campaign Co-Chairs:
Rob Rothman, Karen Zimmerman
Ambassadors:
Dana and David Carlos, Jordana Davis, Steve Lehman, Jennifer Mitchell, Michael Nathan, Lee Perlman, Jane Sable-Friedman, Neil and Wendy Sandler, Carol Scharff, Carol Scheffler, Brad Scheler, Amanda Schosid, Laurie and Jon Shapiro, Janna and Michael Stern, Harri Taranto, Jeff Wang, Ben Zoffness
Every member of Larchmont Temple is invited and encouraged to participate in the L’Chayim Campaign! We hope you will join in this living covenant with our past, present, and future, and with each other.
