SYNAGOGUE SEARCHES FOR HOMES FOR ARTIFACTS

Temple Beth El, the last Jewish synagogue in Quincy, will soon close. Members in recent months agreed to sell the building and are considering whether to merge with another congregation. An equally important question now, though, is what to do with the temple’s collection of fine and Judaic art, including a number of pieces that were commissioned by its late rabbi, David J. Jacobs, and created by Lexington artist David Holleman.

Temple Beth El, the last Jewish synagogue in Quincy, will soon close. Members agreed to sell the building and are considering whether to merge with another congregation.

Dina Rudick/Globe Staff

SYNAGOGUE SEARCHES FOR HOMES FOR ARTIFACTS

Temple Beth El, the last Jewish synagogue in Quincy, will soon close. Members agreed to sell the building and are considering whether to merge with another congregation.

Dina Rudick/Globe Staff

This is the Rabbi David J. Jacobs Sanctuary. Soon the building will be sold and members are desperate to be sure such holy items are provided for.

The Temple Beth El congregation is grasping at what to do with the temple’s collection of fine and Judaic art, including a number of pieces that were commissioned by its late rabbi David J. Jacobs and created by Lexington artist David Holleman.

Dina Rudick/Globe Staff

Ed Gurwitch, a longtime member of Temple Beth El, is the man working to have his synagogue's stained glass windows, Biblical texts, and other art works appraised and offered for sale with all proceeds to go to a charitable endowment.

Ed Gurwitch, a longtime member of Temple Beth El, is working to have the synagogue's stained glass windows, Biblical texts and other art works appraised and offered for sale with all proceeds donated to a charitable endowment.

Dina Rudick/Globe Staff

While some of the artifacts have found new homes, dozens of works of various sizes and media are still displayed in the Conservative synagogue whose classrooms and benches -- once filled to capacity – are all but empty.The synagogue's stained glass windows -- which tell the stories of Creation, the Burning Bush, the Holocaust, and the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt, among others -- are potentially for sale, either to the new owner of the building or a third party.

While some of the artifacts have found new homes, dozens of works of various sizes and media are still displayed in the synagogue.

The synagogue's stained glass windows, which tell stories of creation, the burning bush, the Holocaust and the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt, are potentially for sale. They will be sold to either the new owner of the building or a third party.

Dina Rudick/Globe Staff