Cleaned up and modernized, this fall Ohel David and Shlomo has a fresh, new look. With modular walls, chestnut flooring, crystal and mood lighting and Lucite chairsit has become the sassiest space in the neighborhood. Always dependable and easy, this new renovation has taken Manhattan Beach shul to a whole new level.
Edmond Dweck explains, We were always a go-to venue for bar-mitzvahs and brit milah, but now we are seeing so many more engagement parties and weddings, even from non-community neighborhood people. Theres a lot of buzz, and we are welcoming all of it. We are very excited!
Making an event at the shul is simple. Choose a date, and make your list. The specialized lighting, which could cost thousands of dollars, is included. The chairs, which would be at least $10 apiece, are included. Standard sized tables are also part of the deal, so you can avoid rentals altogether. You just pay for the price of the room, which is quite reasonable and very fair, especially when compared to the other options out there. Pick your favorite caterer and florist, (they are all welcome), and youre good to go.
Frieda Yedid made an engagement party for her daughter recently. She was one of the first hostesses to enjoy all the new amenities. She gushed, We loved the room! It was warm and cozywe barely had to decorate! It was also brand new, so that night everyone thought I had done something so amazing, but it was easy!
Of all the different venues throughout Brooklyn, Ohel David and Shlomo is the one of the only choice where the hall is on the main floor. Many are located either upstairs or in a basement, and are dark and confining. Some have difficult parking situations and surly looking people out front, and others are guaranteed to break the bank. None offer the ease and simplicity or the day at the beach feeling of this little bayside gem, and certainly none offer the spectacular waterfront views.
We decided to make a melava malka in Manhattan Beach, in honor of the birth of our granddaughter, Rozie Mathews explains, But it quickly morphed into a magnificent dinner and cocktail party. The room looked lovely and everything worked out perfectly for us. The coordinating was easy and everyone was flexible about set-up and preparation. I would make another party there in a minute.
Michelle Meltzer echoed Rozies thoughts when talking about her sons brit. Oh my G-d; we were incredibly happy with everything! Esther Yedid, as well, enjoyed making a brit there so much that her cousin, Esther Mizrahi, decided to do a repeat performance for her baby a couple of weeks later. Its fresh, up to date and convenient, Esther recalls, everything was beautiful!
Manhattan Beach Synagogue holds about 400 to 500 guests. If you use the outside areas (with tenting), you can fit up to 600 people comfortably, and enjoy the spectacular gardens as well. In addition to the social hall, the synagogue itself holds exceptional beauty for any type of ceremony. When the sunlight comes streaming in, there is nothing else like it. Valet parking in and around the area is also a unique pleasure. With one phone call, you can have it all arranged. You can do more than you need to, or lessthats up to you; there are no limitations.
Bunny and David Ben-Hooren held their daughters meeting of the family in the wonderfully renovated hall recently. Bunny smiles as she recalls, I met Anatole the caretaker firsthe is the cutest guy on the planethe knows everything! The place was fabulous and the party came out stunning. Manhattan Beach is a pleasureyou are able to fit many more people than you could in a home, and you dont ruin your floors! The price is fair and they are very accommodating. Other halls are not so simple to work with. Everyone involved made it so easy. I cant say enoughwe could not have been happier.
Norma Cohen has planned extraordinary events all over New York City and the world. Right here in the neighborhood, she was equally pleased with the quaint beauty of Manhattan Beach Synagogue for Marilyn and Eli Tawils daughter Elizabeths wedding. She explains, Its cozy and comfortable, the palette is easy to embellish and the layout flows nicely. The atmosphere can be transformed into anything you want it to be and the caterers and florists enjoy working there. Im thrilled that we laid out a blueprint for many affairs to come. Its simple, and it just works.
The folks at Kesslers Catering agree wholeheartedly. David explains, Caterers should be thrilled to work in the Manhattan Beach Synagoguedo you know what its like to get all your gear into a midtown Manhattan venue? You could wait, double-parked, for hours until you get everything inside and up the service elevator to the banquet hall. Here you just back your truck up to the rear entrance and youre in! Its a pleasure! Everyone involved is so easy to work with and pleasant to be aroundand Anatoles English has gotten much better over the years!
Louis Konstantinos, from Avenue J Florist is of the same mind, It is a breath of fresh air to come to a place that has an ambiance that does not have to be created, just accented. The temple needs very little dcor, and the ballroom looks twice the size with the new renovations. You just have to add a little individuality and it looks amazing. The clean design also allows a client to do anything they want at a reasonable cost. For once I can utilize my passionflowersand I dont have to be an interior decorator. There are lots of pluses, the main one being the serene feeling you get when you cross over that bay. Its the same sensation you get going into Manhattan, just in the other directionyou feel like youre entering another world.
Ohel David and Shlomo has been around for almost 20 years, but today it shines brighter than ever. Our little jewel by the bay is a happy place. Its simplicity is its secret, and its convenience is its strength. Now prettier than ever and still 10 minutes away from most every guest, Manhattan Beach Synagogue is truly a place to rejoice without all the heartache that can sometimes bog you down. After all, arent you supposed to be celebrating?
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Sophia Franco is a resident of Manhattan Beach and a member of Ohel David and Shlomo Congregation.
