Temple Judea to Break Ground on New Synagogue

After years of planning and fundraising, the Jewish community of Doylestown is poised to begin a construction project that will usher in a new era for its families.

Temple Judea of Bucks County will break ground on a new synagogue on Sunday, Dec. 18, just days before Hanukkah begins on Dec. 20.

The future home of the reform synagogue will be built on eight acres of land at Rogers Road and York Road in Doylestown Township. Plans call for a two-story, 20,000-square-foot building that will incorporate "green" features such as the use of native plants in landscaping, the ability to collect roof run-off to water the plants and the creation of bike paths around the building.

Construction is expected to take about a year.

Sunday's groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. No parking is available at the construction site; shuttles will leave Linden Elementary beginning at 2:30 p.m., organizers said Tuesday.

Expected to be on hand for the groundbreaking are local and state politicians and members of the Doylestown clergy and business communities.

After the ceremony, a celebratory Hanukkah party at will start at 4 p.m., featuring light refreshments and entertainment.  

Temple Judea of Bucks County was founded in 1959 and has been in its present building since 1967. The temple bought the Rogers Road property in 2001 and has spent years winning the official approvals and raising the money it needed to build.

The new synagogue building was designed by the architectural firm of Voith and Mactavish and will be built by Caldwell, Heckles and Egan Inc.