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 A golf course, a pool, a boat slip in the marina? Developers typically depend on amenities like these to entice homebuyers.
Now, a development in a southern Oregon is trying something different, offering the adjacent Havurah Shir Hadash synagogue as its most highly-valued attraction.
Aside from orthodox enclaves, this may be the first neighborhood of its kind where the homes are intended to expand the “campus” of an existing synagogue, according to Rabbi David Zaslow of the Havurah.
“We’re thrilled to find ourselves at the center of this unique neighborhood,” says Zaslow, whose focus has been on developing relations between people of all faiths and traditions. “The idea that everyone is welcome, and that everyone will be embraced is consistent with our spiritual mission.”
The Havurah has also become a popular venue for secular concerts and other cultural events, says Laurel Miller, a partner in the development group.
In fact, says Miller, Aleph Springs bears a likeness to the traditional country club community, where residents are drawn by common interests, and a clubhouse serves as the social hub. “The difference is that here, our clubhouse is a synagogue.”
From a historical perspective, there’s really nothing novel about this concept, says Miller. Traditional American towns naturally and intentionally grew up around houses of worship, places which would often double as community meeting houses.
“It’s a sweet way for people to live, and we’re proud help make it happen at Aleph Springs.”
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