Synagogue Updates

I have been thinking a lot about dealing with uncertainty and risk recently (well, since shortly after taking this job 8 years ago). Jewish institutions and especially synagogues and preschools have been wrestling with these concepts for a long time. In some ways, we have had a lot of training in dealing with the concept that we have to make decisions without being able to predict the future, and without knowing what the proper balance between competing interests might be. One of our congregants shared this video of a pediatrician talking about parent decisions about schools on facebook today, and I found it very helpful (personally and professionally). We don't know what the future holds and all we can do is make the best decisions based off of the information that we have. We have to step forward, and then allow ourselves to make the decision that is right for ourselves and our families. In reading about uncertainty, I stumbled upon a d'var torah by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks that talked about this very issue from about five years ago. I encourage you to read it and then to give yourself permission to not know everything and not be in total control. It is hard for all of us and the desire for control is definitely adding to many of our stress levels.

As a synagogue, we are working on finding our own balance. As Rabbi Cooper has said, we will be having a strong virtual High Holiday experience this year, but we have purposefully not made a final decision on what our in person experiences might look like. Knowing that we will have the virtual option is allowing us to wait until we are a little closer to make a final decision on the numbers that might be allowed in the Sanctuary (current Pennsylvania guidelines list that number as 25).  

This past week, we had our biggest challah round yet. Thank you to everyone that has been baking, delivering, and receiving. We have been receiving such incredible feedback on the connections that people are starting to make. I know in my house, we have enjoyed starting to bake challah on Thursdays for this initiative (two weeks ago came out great, last week, not so much). If you are able to bake challah please sign up - and I encourage you to sign up to receive a challah as well. Allow a new friend to bake for you.  Sign up here.  You can sign up for each week until the end of August right now. 

Tisha B'Av is this Wednesday night/Thursday. Please be on the lookout for an email from Hazzan Rosner tomorrow with the full details of our commemoration.  Our senior staff retreat is tomorrow as well. Thank you to all that sent in book suggestions. I will be sharing it with our team. A part of our day will be planning out the year ahead (with a few alternative plans). Do you have any ideas that we should consider, any ideas of programs or classes that would be meaningful to you? We welcome your feedback - and we welcome it on an ongoing basis. One of the greatest things that I have found about this community is that our congregants are the inspiration and the power behind many of our great programs and projects. This is true for large scale programs such as Hava Nagrilla and for smaller ongoing actions like our challah initiative. So while if you have an idea, I can't guarantee that we won't come to you to help us make it happen, this type of crowdsourcing makes us a much better community. 

Thank you to everyone that has already sent in your committment form or initial payment. If you have not done so yet, I want to encourage you to send in your membership forms as soon as possible. Our first round of invoices for the year will be going out in the beginning of August. As with many nonprofits and businesses, we are looking closely at our finances for the year. Knowing what our membership numbers will look like is important to our planning process. We know that these are uncertain times for many (there is that word again), and as a community, we have made the decision to work with anyone that needs financial assistance for membership dues. Please be in touch with me if we can be of service. Membership forms are available online here. 

Wishing you a great week and a special cheer for the Phillies, Sixers and Union who are back to playing!

Ken