Newly renovated Beth Israel Synagogue Community Room opens its doors to public

Upstairs in A-building at Southeastern Community College, the newly renovated Beth Israel Synagogue Community Room was unveiled on May 19 to the Jewish families who attended the former synagogue location in Whiteville. After the Beth Israel Synagogue was demolished and the property was sold, the synagogue members and the SCC Foundation worked out a plan of action that would contribute $75,000 to the room’s renovation.  

Jewish family representatives Gary Kramer, Ricky Leinwand and Terry Mann presented a $200,000 gift to the SCC Foundation on March 7, 2024. The Foundation set aside $125,000 of it to establish the Beth Israel Synagogue Endowment Fund. Proceeds from this fund will be used annually to provide education and programing to students, faculty and staff of SCC with a special emphasis towards antisemitic education.   

English explained that the Beth Israel Synagogue Community Room is a meeting space for the community that SCC serves. He said that Jewish families and formers of the synagogue were eager to play a role in providing a state-of-the-art meeting space for people to use.  

“It’s a great way for their legacy to live on forever with that namesake being on the wall next to its entrance,” English said. “We’re able to celebrate those families and the impact they have had and still have on this community. This is the community’s college, and we want them to have access to everything we can offer.” 

Equipped with more than 20 seats, adjustable tables, a podium, computer, projector and screen, the new community room will be used for conferences, meetings, virtual meetings and presentations. The walls were painted, new ceiling tiles were installed and new lighting fixtures were put in place. Walking inside the room, to the left, is a wall-length countertop space to set up food and beverages.  

“For the college, this gives us an official meeting space, so we’re not so spread out across campus,” English said. “One thing we’ve lacked is a central space with all the technology to accommodate special guest presentations, and now we have that.” 

SCC Foundation Board Chair Nathan Moore commended the contributions of SCC Foundation Executive Director Terrie Priest and Jennie Simmons, Administrative Assistant to the President and Board of Trustees. He said their decorative touch of the countertop space adds an official SCC look to it that also honors the Jewish families of the community. 

“That room looks amazing,” Priest said. “It’s beautiful with the new furniture and technology, and it has a great view of our new Chadbourn Bell Pavilion.”