1000 Lux or Enlarge the Books?
Ohr Yisroel Aron Kodesh
The Bais Medresh seats 300 bachurim
"I'd like to buy 1000 lux light fixtures," Mr. Nachum Carmen, CEO of Ivgi Carmen Architecture, told the light fixture salesman. He was intent on putting the finishing touches on the new, modern building he had designed for Ohr Yisroel Yeshiva (Petach Tikvah, Israel).
"Take the 600 lux fixutres. 700 lux- max!" advised the salesman.
Nachum took a Gemara out of his briefcase and showed it to the salesman. "Look at these tiny letters. The bachurim pour over books like these for 14 hours a day. They need great lighting."
The salesman thought for a moment and came up with some inspiration.
"Tell you what- Buy the 600 lux and ask the Rosh Yeshiva to enlarge their books!"
Oh, dear.
Nachum laughs and explains to me just how important it is for a frum, experienced architect to be the one behind new yeshiva and shul projects.
Yeshiva K’tana ‘Malchut HaTorah’: As the bachurim walk in through the Main Hall’s great doors, they behold 6 hand-carved life-size Sidrei Mishnah:
Shisha Sidrei Mishna.
The bachurim shtayging in the Beis Medresh.
The Baba Sali’s Keven in Netivot:
Take for instance, a Rabbi who approached him with a dilemma:
"Please help me design a more spacious, inviting shul. Due to bureaucratic reasons, the city has forced me to use the services of the municipality's architect. But she got everything wrong. She is not frum and does not understand the needs of a synagogue."
Unfortunately, that Rabbi is still waiting for City Hall to approve Nachum's plans.
But over 20 Israeli, even one French, shuls and yeshivas have enjoyed and are still enjoying Nachum's professional architectural services. His deep understanding of the frum kehillos and their needs is what keeps his customers coming back.
Meir Yissa Bracha Synagogue: Rabbi Menachem Biton shlit”a challenged Ivgi Carmen to plan a Morrocan-style shul/community center, including a mikva:
More Israeli shuls designed and planned by Ivgi Carmen:
When we first spoke over the phone, he expressed a lack of excitement over the current parochet trends.
"Everything is so traditional, the same."
Now that we've met, I'm sure he'll change his mind about the current state of parochet design!