Two lifetime front-row seats to services at a Miami Beach synagogue are being auctioned off on eBay with bids starting at $1.8 million. The winning family’s name will be engraved on Seats 1 and 2 of Row 1, Section DD, at Temple Emanu-El, The Associated Press reported. The winner also will receive free parking, two custom-made tallitot and yarmulkes, as well a tax write-off. The seats can be passed down to family members. “It’s a gift that goes from one generation to another,” said Rabbi Kliel Rose, who came up with the concept with the help of two congregants who work in advertising and marketing. The auction ends Monday morning, three days before the High Holy Days, but as of Saturday evening no one had bid. Rose said the auction was more about gaining the attention of disconnected Jews. Temple Emanu-El, a 1,400-seat Conservative congregation, was founded in the 1940s on South Beach. It once had thousands of members but not now has about 200 families.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
