Sale of Nakashima Furniture

The leadership of TJC had decided after a careful process of deliberation to sell the Nakashima furniture our congregation has been fortunate to possess for many years.  This includes the four chairs in the Bet Midrash and the wooden table used to hold Kiddush items on Shabbat.  The decision was primarily based on the chairs no longer being used for their intended purpose as bimah chairs, the cost of maintaining and insuring the chairs, and the priority placed on using the proceeds of their sale toward other beautification/improvements to our facility.  

A long and careful process of identifying the donors of these items and, when possible, checking with them about the plans to try to auction them, was conducted.  We also went through an extensive process of analyzing various options for selling or auctioning the items, and requested proposals from two leading auction houses before making our selection.

The artistic and sentimental value of the furniture was certainly considered in the process that went before the Board of Directors.  The table was a very attractive piece of furniture and happened to have a very high value; the Board felt that we could put that value to better use if we were to auction the table at a substantial price, and then be able to use the funds for needed facilities improvements and to have a replacement table designed and built.  The Board has already voted on a magnificent replacement table for the sanctuary that will be constructed in a similar style as we are accustomed to, and making the new table incredibly special is that it will be made from a piece of the actual Princeton Elm tree.  The Princeton Elm is historic for being one of only three trees in North America that survived Dutch elm disease, which killed all other elm trees.  Consequently the Princeton Elm has been cloned to repopulate the continent with elm trees.  The tree survived for 370 years old before it had to be taken down, and in its place new shoots from the roots are still sprouting.  It is a fitting symbol of the endurance of the Jewish people and our relationship to the Princeton community.  The chairs were offered at auction but did not meet the high reserve price we set, to make sure that they were not sold at too low a price.  Our House Committee is in the process of evaluating other options for auction or sale.

As with many decisions, this was not easy, but the lay leadership serves to represent the best interests of the congregation.  Some in the congregation have expressed an interest in personally conveying their opinions on this decision.  The Board's next meeting is Monday July 21 at 8:00 pm at TJC.  This meeting, like all other meetings of the Board is open to the congregation, and we will specifically allocate time on the agenda of this meeting for comments by interested congregants.