A Center for Jewish Connections
The Zerner Campus will serve as the central address for Jewish life in busy Bangkok, offering visitors and locals alike a welcoming destination for every stage of life. It serves as home to the Jewish Association of Thailand for the hundreds of local residents as well as thousands of visitors from all over the globe every year.
From a magnificent new sanctuary to a fascinating museum, the Zerner Campus will energize Thailand with joyful and dynamic Judaism.
“When Chabad came, it changed everything and made a full Jewish life possible in Thailand.”
—Abi Kashani, President of The Jewish Association of Thailand—Beth Elisheva
Pictures of
Beth Elisheva’s 1980 building
Beginnings of Jewish life in Bangkok — Beth Elisheva
The city’s oldest existing synagogue, Beth Elisheva was founded upon the vision of the late Mrs. Elizabeth (Elisheva) Zerner, Thai-born daughter of Thailand’s first official Jewish citizens, the Rosenbergs.
More than fifty years ago, Mrs. Zerner donated a piece of land, upon which stood a flimsy wooden house to serve as the synagogue for Thailand’s fledgling Jewish community. Upon her passing, Mrs. Zerner bequeathed funds to the community to replace the wooden structure with a three-story concrete building, which was completed in 1980. Though at the time, she was one of only a handful of Jewish people in Bangkok, she had the foresight and imagination to envision a bright future for her beloved community.
Nearly five times larger than the former structure, the majestic new Zerner Campus will soar beyond the imagination, reflecting both the dynamic community it serves today and offering a beautiful and expansive center for generations to follow.
Social Hall
Our community will gather to rejoice in an impressive and roomy venue, comfortably seating 400, to celebrate life cycle events, from brit ceremonies to bar and bat mitzvahs, as well as Shabbat and holiday meals, Passover seders, or any other special occasions.
Beth Elisheva Sanctuary
The new Beth Elisheva sanctuary will be a crown jewel, attracting diverse congregants to services conducted with reverence and joy. The spacious and bright sanctuary, with grand entryways, will be a place of community connection, personal reflection, and soulful worship.
Even during the high holidays, the shul will comfortably accommodate the hundreds of worshipers who traditionally gather.
Mikvah
Our new state-of-the-art mikvah complex will serve the growing community with three important components:
- a women’s mikvah with three exquisite dressing rooms in a modern spa-like setting
- a new men’s mikvah
- a mikvah for immersing vessels
Children Education
Recognizing that children are the future of our community, our education wing is a major component of the new center. Dedicated teachers will foster the children’s understanding and love for their Jewish heritage in a bright and cheery environment. Adjacent to the sanctuary, the education wing will feature spacious classrooms, a children’s playroom, a youth lounge, a rooftop playground, and a library in which to explore the wealth of Jewish heritage.
Kosher Food Logistics Center
For the growing number of kosher-observant families in Bangkok, obtaining a Yahrzeit candle, a simple tub of hummus or a bottle of wine for kiddush used to require a lengthy outing. The new JCafe/Kosher Shoppe has changed that. Creating a hub for kosher food and a community meeting space. The new home of the JCafe will be in this new campus.
End-of Life Traditions
The campus will house the community’s Chevra Kadisha, which honors our departed loved ones with traditional rites while providing solace and compassion for families undergoing loss.
Dedication Opportunities
Naming of the Campus . . . . . . BETH ELISHEVA
Naming of the Jewish Center . . . . $2,000,000
Synagogue Dedications
Main Shul Dedication . . . . . . . . $1,000,000
Aron Kodesh—Main Sanctuary . . . .RESERVED
Bet Midrash Dedication . . . . . . . $250,000
Ezrat Nashim . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $250,000
Aron Kodesh—Bet Midrash . . . . . . . . $100,000
Bima . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $100,000
Synagogue Seating. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $72,000
Ark Platform . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $54,000
Amud Tefilah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $36,000
Yartzeit Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $25,000
Rabbi Lectern . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $18,000
Kohen washing station . . . . . . . . . . . . . $18,000
Prayer Book Cabinets (x12) . . . . . . . . . $10,000
Talit Rack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $10,000
Tzedaka Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . RESERVED
Educational Wing
Main Dedication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,000,000
Rooftop Playground . . . . . . . . . . . . . $250,000 Preschool Lobby . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $100,000
Preschool Classrooms (x5) . . . . . . . .$50,000
Teachers Lounge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$50,000
Administrative offices (x2) . . . . . . . . .$36,000
Campus
Thailand Jewish Museum . . . $1,000,000 Social Hall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $750,000
Community Café . . . . . . . . . . . . $500,000
Security Enhancements . . . . . . $250,000 Gourmet Kosher Kitchen . . . . . $250,000
Tree of Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $180,000
Youth Lounge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $150,000
Kosher Shop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $150,000
Entrance Lobby . . . . . . . . . . . . . RESERVED
Dairy Kitchen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $75,000
Elevator 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $75,000
Elevator 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $75,000
Library . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . RESERVED
Rabbi’s Office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $72,000
Sukka Plaza . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $54,000
Administration Offices (x3) . . . . . $36,000
Mezuzah (30) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$10,000
Main Mikva -Women
Mikvah Dedication . . . . . . . . . . . $500,000
Bor Hatevila . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . RESERVED
Preparation Rooms (x3) . . . . . . . . $54,000
Mikva Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$72,000
Amudei Taharah (x10). . . . . . . . . . . $10,000
Mikva—Men & Keilim
Mikvah Dedication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $150,000
Bor Hatevila . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $50,000
Keilim Mikva . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$50,000
Mikva Sponsors (x12) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $5,000
Wall of Honor
Visionary Founder . . . . . . . . . . . . $100,000
Platinum Founder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $50,000
Founder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$20,000
Builder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $10,000 Sponsor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $5,400 Foundational Brick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,800
Foundational Brick
Campaign
Build the future of Jewish Thailand.
Donate $75/month over two years and be part of history in Thailand.
“I want my grandchildren to know our family had a part in building Jewish history in Thailand.”
Please join us as we embark upon an historic undertaking to create an enduring edifice for our Jewish community, the Zerner Campus for Jewish Life: the heart of Jewish Thailand.
Am Yisrael Chai!
Rabbi Yosef C. Kantor
121 Soi Sai Nam Thip 2, Sukhumvit Soi 22 Bangkok, Thailand
Phone: (66) 81 837 7618
Email: rabbi@jewishthailand.com