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Sunday Check-In

07/05/2020 06:25:19 PM

Jul5

Friends,

 
Do not worry - Ken is OK. I just decided as the President of the congregation, to give him the night off and write my own Sunday Check-In with you all.  I hope you are all planning on joining us at the Congregational Annual Meeting being held virtually on Wednesday, July 8th at 8:00 PM.  Our theme for the evening will be "Community as Family." We will hear from Rabbi Cooper regarding our process for re-starting in person religious services and the upcoming high holidays. Our COVID task forces will report on planning for all aspects of synagogue life - including our initial action plan and our intention to hold Town Hall meetings with the congregation at large. We will vote on the nominated members of the board of directors for 2020-2021, and also we will be voting on the election of Ellen Moscow and David Rittenberg to additional terms as Synagogue Endowment and Rothschild Trustees. We will share memories of the past year - evidence of the important role the synagogue and our community have played in making our congregation into our family. You can join us on Wednesday at 8:00pm by clicking here.  The password is 2020Review.
 
This summer, we will initiate a program for our younger members to assist with their professional development and to provide for social programs. Attached here is an announcements for 6 evenings specially designed for the young adults in our congregation. If you know of anyone who may be interested in participating, please contact Emma Dorsch at erdorsch@gmail.com. We will also start including all members over 21 in all congregational communications, so that we can provide this group with meaningful connections to all aspects of synagogue life.

Our initial week of challah deliveries was a success. If you are able to bake challah this week or would like to receive one, please click here. 
 
As many of you know, Rabbi Cooper will be retiring in two years. We will be planning many celebrations and commemorations of the lasting influence that Rabbi and Lori Cooper have made on our community over the past 30 years.  At the same time, we are planning for the future by establishing a search committee for our next spiritual leader.  I am excited to announce that we have formed a search committee, which will be led by Ranita Thomas and Holly Nelson, as co-chairs. Joining them are members of our congregation that represent all the diverse elements that make up our great community: Paula Strokoff, Sharon Stumacher Gold, Melanie Wolfson, Adam Ehrlich, Lewis Gantman, Mike Elkins, Jonathan Weiss, Jackie Goldstone, Rabbi Mike Uram and Cindy Bowman. This group will be representing all of us and will be your points of contact with any questions or comments regarding this important process. Stay tuned for announcements of focus group meetings, surveys and emails to assemble as much information from our entire community regarding our search for our next rabbi.
 
Oh, and back to Ken - our Executive Director, as well as our entire Senior Staff including Hallie Chandler, Rabbi Cooper, Lisa Richman, Hazzan Rosner, and Judith Scarani have been working harder than ever to keep everything working and facilitating all the activities going on virtually and, now, in person.  When you see or talk to them, please give them a well deserved show of appreciation (socially distant, of course). 
 
To conclude, I would like to share something that was shared recently on Facebook:
 
MY SYNAGOGUE IS OPEN,IT'S OPEN EVERY DAY.
BECAUSE MY SYNAGOGUE IS NOT A BUILDING.
IT IS THE PEOPLE WHO ARE HELPING EACH
OTHER AND THEIR COMMUNITY.
IT IS THE PRAYERS FOR THOSE WHO ARE
STRUGGLING MEDICALLY, FINANCIALLY, 
AND EMOTIONALLY.
MY SYNAGOGUE NEVER CLOSED.
IT JUST OPENED IN EVERY HOME.
 
I look forward to seeing you on Wednesday night!

Joel

 

 

Mon, April 21 2025 23 Nisan 5785