South Beach synagogue auctions off seats for at least $1.8 million
Just in time for the Jewish High Holidays, two lifetime front-row seats to services at the historic Temple Emanu-El synagogue in Miami Beach are being auctioned off on eBay with a minimum opening bid of $1.8 million.
Besides getting to sit up close to the rabbi, the winning bidder's family name will be engraved on Seats 1 and 2 of Row 1, Section DD, and they will receive free parking, two custom-made prayer shawls and yarmulkes, and a hefty tax write-off. And it is for life.
The auction ends Monday morning, but as of Saturday evening, no one had made a bid. Rabbi Kliel Rose, who came up with the concept, said he was not surprised. He said the auction was more about gaining the attention of Jews who are disconnected from their faith.
"It has very little to do with the money," Rose said. "Hypothetically, if the money comes, it would be great, but the idea was really just to be edgy."