We're Moving to Bell Road!
Temple Chai is moving to a beautiful new home at 6025 E Bell Road. This is a thrilling new chapter for our community, and we want you to be part of every moment. Here's everything you need to know.
Pardon our Dust!
Some Notes on the Transition to Our New Building
FAQ:
When is our move happening?
Everything from Marilyn Road will be picked up by the moving company on Tuesday May 26th and delivered to Bell Road on Wednesday May 27th. On those days, our staff and clergy team will be focused entirely on our physical move and the temple office will not be open for typical operations. With the exception of one emergency line, our phones will be disconnected. If you have a pastoral or lifecycle emergency, please call the temple and leave a message on the emergency line and it will be shared with our clergy team promptly. We are grateful for your patience as we move spaces!
How are we saying goodbye to our Marilyn Rd. Campus?
This moment of transition, though very exciting, is also bittersweet. We have enjoyed decades of experiences and important moments spent together on our Marilyn Road campus. While we will take our memories and the preciousness of our community with us to our new home, it is also sad to leave behind a physical location that has been our home for so long. We are grateful for the sweetness of the years we spent on Marilyn Rd.
Individuals:
During the first half of May, we will be offering opportunities to sign up for a time slot for individuals, couples, or families, to come spend individual time in the sanctuary and on the Bimah, to say a poignant goodbye to this special space. You can sign up for a time slot and can elect to have time alone or with one of our rabbis.
Our Community:
We will be holding a special ritual of Havdalah (separation) and Deconsecration on Tuesday, May 26th at 7:00pm. This ceremony will create space to express the gratitude for the special moments, memories, and years on this campus and in the sanctuary in particular, and to honor the grief and feelings of loss associated with leaving this space. The Havdalah and Deconsecration will include liturgy, silent space, as well as physical rituals. Following the ceremony, we will enjoy a dessert oneg to bid a sweet farewell to our Marilyn Road campus.
How are we celebrating our new home at 60th & Bell?
The Celebrations Begin in late May!
Halichat Sefer Torah (Torah Walk): Thursday, May 28th at 7:30am
We hope you will join us as we usher our Torah scrolls from our Marilyn Road campus and walking to our new building on Bell Road. The procession will be accompanied by a police escort, and there will be a festive hop-on/hop-off trolley available for those who need a break from walking. We expect the procession to take approximately two hours, and we are starting early in the day to beat the heat. A light breakfast nosh will be served upon arrival. Please note that while we will say special blessings as we depart and as we arrive, our Torah Scrolls will not be ceremonially brought into our new sanctuary and placed in our ark until the following evening.
Hachnasat Torah (Bringing in the Torah) and Consecration Celebration: Friday, May 29th at 5:30pm
Join us to celebrate as we say the blessings for hanging our Mezuzot on the main entry of our new home and at the entry of our new sanctuary, to ceremonially carry our Torah Scrolls in and place them lovingly in our new ark, and consecrate our new home during our first Kabbalat Shabbat service. A festive celebration with food will follow as we welcome Shabbat with this joyful new beginning.
The Celebration Continues in the Fall
Celebrations will continue in the fall, when we will hold a formal Chanukat HaBayit (dedication ceremony) for our new campus.
Will everything be 100% ready when we move into our new building, or will it take a while to settle in?
It will definitely take time to settle in, complete important aspects of moving into our new home, and to finish up details. The Building Committee, our subcommittees, clergy, and staff focused on completing the physical structure of our building so we could obtain our Certificate of Occupancy in time for us to remain on schedule for the end of our lease on the Marilyn Road campus and to apply as soon as possible for re-licensing of our ECC with the state, as required for a new facility. During the summer months and beyond, we will focus on the remaining details: hanging artwork, arranging furniture where it best fits, and preparing classrooms for the ECC and Religious School.
After our initial move-in, we will also be able to turn our attention to important donor and memorial recognition, including the Honor Wall, Tree of Life, Memorial Boards and the many plaques that still need to be installed and reimagined. These projects, along with installing the sports field and outfitting the Mi Cha Mocha Café, remain important next steps. In the meantime, we can all enjoy our beautiful and secure new campus and to be sure these important building elements are given the time and care they are due.
How are we recording and honoring our history as we leave behind our longtime campus on Marilyn Rd?
Honoring our history is incredibly important; the path we have walked as a community has made us who we are, and we stand on the shoulders of our past leaders, including past presidents, board members, clergy, and staff and our wonderful volunteers and community members who have given so generously of their time, energy, and spirit to serve our community. During this time of the unique confluence of celebrating our 50th anniversary and moving into our new building, we have honored and will continue to honor our history in many ways, including:
Our new campus has been a true labor of love! From our parlor meetings where we listened to what congregants felt important to have in a new campus, to our capital campaign leaders, building chair, VP of Finance, clergy, staff, lay leaders, architects, project managers, building crew, banking representatives, and generous donors, our new secure campus has been built with thought and purpose. The new building carries many layers of meaningful symbolism built into the architectural design, its new ritual elements, and legacy objects that have been re-installed in our new space. It was thoughtfully constructed to focus on flexible spaces, community and relationship building, and financial and physical sustainability.
The new Temple Chai campus is a gift that will continue to serve the Phoenix/Scottsdale community for generations to come. Here, we will create special memories, honor loved ones, celebrate lifecycle events, dance with joy, share tears, pray sacred text, and continue to learn about our cherished Jewish traditions, rituals, and text. We will open our hearts and doors to those in our community, with a cup of coffee in our Mi Cha Mocha cafe, an educational event in our beit midrash, a class or art project in the beautiful, state-of the-art ECC classrooms, hear the sound of children in religious school and youth group events, and the utilization of our expanding air walls and flexible social hall and courtyard spaces for a myriad of events. Temple Chai is and always will be a welcoming safe space.
After we move into our new building, we will be creating an information page on our website about the symbolism and meaning of the architectural and ritual elements of our new building and we are exploring ways to share the most important information with visitors in our new home.
How are we honoring donors, past and present?
Our past and present donors have built the Temple Chai we know and love.They have molded us into the exceptional, renowned institution that others try to emulate. The leaders of the future will continue to nourish us, lead us, and project us into this new chapter. We are deeply grateful to all of our donors, past and present. Therefore, after our move into our new building, we will be installing special donor recognition displays for both past and current capital campaigns, a new art installation made out of the previous Tree of Life leaves, and individual donor plaques. We will keep you informed as these details progress.
What about parking for major events?
Our new parking lot has 94 spots, and there is parking available on both sides of 60th Street. We are also exploring overflow parking options at one of the local churches, with trolley/shuttle service to & from the temple, during high-volume events and services (such as we did for our groundbreaking in April of 2025).
How will security be addressed and determined?
Our architects and security consultants designed the building to make sure it was as secure and welcoming as possible. Our new building has significantly upgraded security compared to our Marilyn Road campus, and we have been assured that we will now have the most secure synagogue facility in Phoenix. It incorporates multiple layers of secured entry points, a fully walled campus, strategically-placed security cameras, and a state-of-the-art security system. Our security committee will continue to guide our practices regarding security for our operations and events, in conversation with local and national law enforcement agencies.
If I am visiting the campus after hours how will I be admitted?
Staff and volunteers will be able to view those desiring entry via a closed circuit camera and a key pad that will allow you to be admitted.
Where is the main entrance to the new building located and how do we access entry?
The main entrance is located off of 60th street on the west side of the building. There, you will see a triangular overhang, just east of the handicapped spaces.
How many people can fit in our new sanctuary and social hall?
Our new sanctuary can seat approximately 275 people, and when we open the folding wall into the social halls, we will be able to fit approximately 600 people seated in rows for events such as the High Holy Days. The social hall can also be subdivided into 4 different quadrants or 2 halves.
Can we rent out the social hall or other spaces for private events?
Yes, you will be able to rent our social hall and other indoor and outdoor spaces, and the pricing will be available on our web page under Facility Rental. Whether it is a B-Mitzvah party, wedding reception, birthday parties, or private meetings or events, you will be able to rent this beautiful space.
I am so excited about our new campus that I want to support it. Are there still naming opportunities available?
Yes, please contact Wendy Cohen [email protected] or Rabbi Segal [email protected] for information on remaining opportunities and supporting our new home.
Everything from Marilyn Road will be picked up by the moving company on Tuesday May 26th and delivered to Bell Road on Wednesday May 27th. On those days, our staff and clergy team will be focused entirely on our physical move and the temple office will not be open for typical operations. With the exception of one emergency line, our phones will be disconnected. If you have a pastoral or lifecycle emergency, please call the temple and leave a message on the emergency line and it will be shared with our clergy team promptly. We are grateful for your patience as we move spaces!
How are we saying goodbye to our Marilyn Rd. Campus?
This moment of transition, though very exciting, is also bittersweet. We have enjoyed decades of experiences and important moments spent together on our Marilyn Road campus. While we will take our memories and the preciousness of our community with us to our new home, it is also sad to leave behind a physical location that has been our home for so long. We are grateful for the sweetness of the years we spent on Marilyn Rd.
Individuals:
During the first half of May, we will be offering opportunities to sign up for a time slot for individuals, couples, or families, to come spend individual time in the sanctuary and on the Bimah, to say a poignant goodbye to this special space. You can sign up for a time slot and can elect to have time alone or with one of our rabbis.
Our Community:
We will be holding a special ritual of Havdalah (separation) and Deconsecration on Tuesday, May 26th at 7:00pm. This ceremony will create space to express the gratitude for the special moments, memories, and years on this campus and in the sanctuary in particular, and to honor the grief and feelings of loss associated with leaving this space. The Havdalah and Deconsecration will include liturgy, silent space, as well as physical rituals. Following the ceremony, we will enjoy a dessert oneg to bid a sweet farewell to our Marilyn Road campus.
How are we celebrating our new home at 60th & Bell?
The Celebrations Begin in late May!
Halichat Sefer Torah (Torah Walk): Thursday, May 28th at 7:30am
We hope you will join us as we usher our Torah scrolls from our Marilyn Road campus and walking to our new building on Bell Road. The procession will be accompanied by a police escort, and there will be a festive hop-on/hop-off trolley available for those who need a break from walking. We expect the procession to take approximately two hours, and we are starting early in the day to beat the heat. A light breakfast nosh will be served upon arrival. Please note that while we will say special blessings as we depart and as we arrive, our Torah Scrolls will not be ceremonially brought into our new sanctuary and placed in our ark until the following evening.
Hachnasat Torah (Bringing in the Torah) and Consecration Celebration: Friday, May 29th at 5:30pm
Join us to celebrate as we say the blessings for hanging our Mezuzot on the main entry of our new home and at the entry of our new sanctuary, to ceremonially carry our Torah Scrolls in and place them lovingly in our new ark, and consecrate our new home during our first Kabbalat Shabbat service. A festive celebration with food will follow as we welcome Shabbat with this joyful new beginning.
The Celebration Continues in the Fall
Celebrations will continue in the fall, when we will hold a formal Chanukat HaBayit (dedication ceremony) for our new campus.
Will everything be 100% ready when we move into our new building, or will it take a while to settle in?
It will definitely take time to settle in, complete important aspects of moving into our new home, and to finish up details. The Building Committee, our subcommittees, clergy, and staff focused on completing the physical structure of our building so we could obtain our Certificate of Occupancy in time for us to remain on schedule for the end of our lease on the Marilyn Road campus and to apply as soon as possible for re-licensing of our ECC with the state, as required for a new facility. During the summer months and beyond, we will focus on the remaining details: hanging artwork, arranging furniture where it best fits, and preparing classrooms for the ECC and Religious School.
After our initial move-in, we will also be able to turn our attention to important donor and memorial recognition, including the Honor Wall, Tree of Life, Memorial Boards and the many plaques that still need to be installed and reimagined. These projects, along with installing the sports field and outfitting the Mi Cha Mocha Café, remain important next steps. In the meantime, we can all enjoy our beautiful and secure new campus and to be sure these important building elements are given the time and care they are due.
How are we recording and honoring our history as we leave behind our longtime campus on Marilyn Rd?
Honoring our history is incredibly important; the path we have walked as a community has made us who we are, and we stand on the shoulders of our past leaders, including past presidents, board members, clergy, and staff and our wonderful volunteers and community members who have given so generously of their time, energy, and spirit to serve our community. During this time of the unique confluence of celebrating our 50th anniversary and moving into our new building, we have honored and will continue to honor our history in many ways, including:
- New History Page on our Website: Our marketing & engagement coordinator, Molly Levy, is working with volunteers and past leaders to create a robust and interesting page on our brand-new (soon-to-launch) temple website about our history, including important moments in the life of Temple Chai and recognition of past leaders.
- 50th anniversary Gala & 50th anniversary Legacy of Leadership Shabbaton: Both our Gala and our Legacy of Leadership Shabbaton weekend beautifully highlighted our rich history, the leaders who built the foundation for our community, and celebrated the path we have walked together.
- Legacy of Leadership Shabbaton and Timeline: The timeline we created throughout the Legacy of Leadership 50th anniversary weekend, will remain on the walls until our move, highlighting special moments in Temple Chai’s history, and allowing people to add their own Temple Chai milestones and important memories to the timeline. We will then take nice photographs of the timeline, record the milestones noted, and document this history.
- Special Objects & Artifacts: A diverse committee focused on honoring our history, creating a historical record of items of meaning from our Marilyn Road campus, and making recommendations based on meaning and possible space about which items should be brought to the new building, and other items to honor or care for in different ways.
- Many objects and meaningful art will come with us to our new campus where they will find new homes.
- The committee is creating detailed histories of each object, including photographs, and our new website will also include historical information on these special objects.
- Items that are not able to be present in our new home will be offered to members of the congregation for caretaking and safekeeping.
- Meaningful ways our new building will honor and incorporate our history:
- The metalwork from the Marilyn Rd sanctuary ark will adorn entry portal doors into our new sanctuary.
- The stained glass mosaics from the Marilyn Road Small Sanctuary have been beautifully mounted in the first window of the seven on the north wall of our new sanctuary, honoring the first day of creation, on which God said, “Let there be light.”
- Our Small Sanctuary ark is coming with us and will find a new home in our new Beit Midrash (study, meeting, and prayer room)
- Our Confirmation pictures are being reframed and will hang on one of the entry walls leading into education center
- Our Berlin Tapestry and wimple came from a specific synagogue in Berlin. On the site where that synagogue once stood, there is now a JCC that is an important fixture in the Jewish community today in Berlin. In partnership with the Jewish community of Berlin, a Temple Chai trip to Berlin and Prague is being planned for the special mission of returning these meaningful items to their rightful home in Berlin. We will soon be sharing information about how to sign up to be part of this unique journey.
Our new campus has been a true labor of love! From our parlor meetings where we listened to what congregants felt important to have in a new campus, to our capital campaign leaders, building chair, VP of Finance, clergy, staff, lay leaders, architects, project managers, building crew, banking representatives, and generous donors, our new secure campus has been built with thought and purpose. The new building carries many layers of meaningful symbolism built into the architectural design, its new ritual elements, and legacy objects that have been re-installed in our new space. It was thoughtfully constructed to focus on flexible spaces, community and relationship building, and financial and physical sustainability.
The new Temple Chai campus is a gift that will continue to serve the Phoenix/Scottsdale community for generations to come. Here, we will create special memories, honor loved ones, celebrate lifecycle events, dance with joy, share tears, pray sacred text, and continue to learn about our cherished Jewish traditions, rituals, and text. We will open our hearts and doors to those in our community, with a cup of coffee in our Mi Cha Mocha cafe, an educational event in our beit midrash, a class or art project in the beautiful, state-of the-art ECC classrooms, hear the sound of children in religious school and youth group events, and the utilization of our expanding air walls and flexible social hall and courtyard spaces for a myriad of events. Temple Chai is and always will be a welcoming safe space.
After we move into our new building, we will be creating an information page on our website about the symbolism and meaning of the architectural and ritual elements of our new building and we are exploring ways to share the most important information with visitors in our new home.
How are we honoring donors, past and present?
Our past and present donors have built the Temple Chai we know and love.They have molded us into the exceptional, renowned institution that others try to emulate. The leaders of the future will continue to nourish us, lead us, and project us into this new chapter. We are deeply grateful to all of our donors, past and present. Therefore, after our move into our new building, we will be installing special donor recognition displays for both past and current capital campaigns, a new art installation made out of the previous Tree of Life leaves, and individual donor plaques. We will keep you informed as these details progress.
What about parking for major events?
Our new parking lot has 94 spots, and there is parking available on both sides of 60th Street. We are also exploring overflow parking options at one of the local churches, with trolley/shuttle service to & from the temple, during high-volume events and services (such as we did for our groundbreaking in April of 2025).
How will security be addressed and determined?
Our architects and security consultants designed the building to make sure it was as secure and welcoming as possible. Our new building has significantly upgraded security compared to our Marilyn Road campus, and we have been assured that we will now have the most secure synagogue facility in Phoenix. It incorporates multiple layers of secured entry points, a fully walled campus, strategically-placed security cameras, and a state-of-the-art security system. Our security committee will continue to guide our practices regarding security for our operations and events, in conversation with local and national law enforcement agencies.
If I am visiting the campus after hours how will I be admitted?
Staff and volunteers will be able to view those desiring entry via a closed circuit camera and a key pad that will allow you to be admitted.
Where is the main entrance to the new building located and how do we access entry?
The main entrance is located off of 60th street on the west side of the building. There, you will see a triangular overhang, just east of the handicapped spaces.
How many people can fit in our new sanctuary and social hall?
Our new sanctuary can seat approximately 275 people, and when we open the folding wall into the social halls, we will be able to fit approximately 600 people seated in rows for events such as the High Holy Days. The social hall can also be subdivided into 4 different quadrants or 2 halves.
Can we rent out the social hall or other spaces for private events?
Yes, you will be able to rent our social hall and other indoor and outdoor spaces, and the pricing will be available on our web page under Facility Rental. Whether it is a B-Mitzvah party, wedding reception, birthday parties, or private meetings or events, you will be able to rent this beautiful space.
I am so excited about our new campus that I want to support it. Are there still naming opportunities available?
Yes, please contact Wendy Cohen [email protected] or Rabbi Segal [email protected] for information on remaining opportunities and supporting our new home.