Synagogue Updates

Friends,

I have what can be an annoying tendency - I almost always look for the positive in any situation (trust me, it can be an annoying quality when someone just wants to kvetch and you are pointing out the bright side).* But in my position, the focusing on the positive and the act of hakarat hatov/recognizing the good has so many benefits. 

Over the past year, I have been reminded of a line from the movie Clerks (a quintessential movie for anyone that grew up in New Jersey where and when I did) - "I am not even supposed to be here." Covid-19 has given me the opportunity to be at services and programs that I have not normally attended, that were traditionally days off. The act of being present has given me so much more though. Hoshanah Rabbah - where the willows are hit against the floor - was beautiful to see for the first time. Online Shiva minyanim have enabled me to hear stories about our congregants and their families, often from people from all over the country that have been able to join in. I have seen our outdoor spaces being used more than ever before and the Chapel/Chapel Patio has become one of our most impressive spaces to utilize. 

It is often really easy to focus on our challenges - and there can be many - but I have found that shifting my perspective to try to focus on the positive, especially over the past year, to be really uplifting.  As the High Holidays and Sukkot have now come to a close, there are so many positive things to recognize. Outdoor Neilah was beautiful. The Sukkah Village was a great opportunity to come together. The Torah Land Simchat Torah BBQ was so creative. We have even started using alcohol left over from previous events to give out complimentary glasses of wine at Friday night services. I especially want to recognize the staff. Our teachers, office staff, facilities staff and clergy have worked incredibly hard to put together interactive experiences together and to start the school year off in a really positive way. We are so appreciative of their work and their positive energy in a really challenging year. Please join me in recognizing their hard work and dedication.

There are some great things coming up - last week I highlighted our Adult Ed programs. This week, there is MidSummer's Night Dream auditions and Rosh Hodesh returns, and then our Sisterhood Opening Dinner is here. 

They say that keeping a gratitude journal has a great correlation to life satisfaction/happiness. I have never had the motivation to keep one, but I do want to ask you to join me in thinking through some of the positives that we are finding, even in these strange times. Please email me and share some things that you have been appreciative of. I would love to see them. 

Thank you! I hope you have a great week, the weather is looking beautiful.

Ken
513 503 9559 (my daughter suggested adding this reminder - if you text me, please make sure to add your name to it)

* I do have to be candid that this positivity does not carry over to all aspects of life. As a Jets fan, I am trained to not focus on the good, but to expect the bad.