NEW BUILDING DESIGN COMPLETED - CONGREGATION PREPARES FOR CONSTRUCTION
On February 26th this year the B’rit Hadasha Building Committee revealed the designs for the congregation’s new building, which will be erected at the corner of Quail Hollow Road and Briarcrest Avenue. They also presented floor plans for the two-story structure, which include much more space for anticipated future growth. The 2nd floor, which will be at street level, will be accessible by stairs, elevator, and a bridge from the sidewalk. It will house the sanctuary, nursery, kitchen, restrooms, and an Oneg Room (for food and fellowship). The 1st floor will include the main offices, classrooms, library, and giftshop.

At the Mid-Year congregational meeting it was further announced that the construction documents were nearing completion, and that (apart from funding) we would be ready to build by the first of the year. The current goal is to break ground sometime in 2006.

In the last week of August, workers brought in truck-mounted drills to do soil samples. The information gleaned from this study will help the contractors know just how to build the foundation. In the following week, construction company officials were on the grounds finalizing their estimates for the new building’s cost.

After years of discussion, prayer, hope, and giving, B’rit Hadasha is now closer than ever before to having a new facility to reach and raise up Jewish followers of Messiah. If you are not already contributing to the New Building Fund, we would invite you to stand with us in this next chapter of our congregation’s history. Let us arise and build...a synagogue for Yeshua!

BRIT HADASHA TO HOLD 2nd PIFER LECTURESHIP SEPT. 18
Dr. David Pifer (local scientist and attorney) was part of the B’rit family, and many of our friends in the community would know him best for playing Yeshua (Jesus) in our Passover plays at Woodland Hills. His life was cut short by cancer in 2002, but he left behind a legacy of public service and faith.

Named in his memory, the David Pifer Memorial Lectureship was created to bring in special speakers to address issues of faith, science and culture for the benefit of the Mid-South community. Last year the congregation played host to White House News Correspondent Bill Koenig, who spoke about the White House’s role in the Mid-East Peace process.

This year’s guest speaker is prominent Messianic Jewish scholar Rabbi Dr. John Fischer of Menorah Ministries. Dr. Fischer is the author of several books and numerous periodicals and is one of the foremost scholars among Messianic Jews. He has lectured on college campuses around the country and is in heavy demand as a speaker. Dr. Fischer is currently the Vice President of the Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations and leads Congregation Ohr Chadash in Clearwater, Florida.

This year’s event will be held at the University of Memphis Fogelman Executive Center on Sunday, September 18th from 3pm to 5pm with a Q&A time and refreshments to follow. The topic is “The Gospels: Reliable? Anti-Semitic?”