This month, the Board of Directors will establish the Nominating Committee, which will be tasked with the responsibility of identifying candidates for various vacant offices, positions on the Board of Directors, and Trustee roles. Just like Groundhog Day determines if spring is just around the corner or 6 weeks away, the Nominating Committee determines what’s next for Temple Beth Sholom. (more…)
#BeAMaccabee
A week before Hanukkah started, the USCJ, along with the Conservative/Masorti Movement partners, launched a hashtag campaign for Hanukkah to encourage Jews to post symbols of Jewish pride on social media. The campaign was a continuation of the solidarity efforts the Movement has been promoting since October 7, 2023. (more…)
Even though I’ve never set foot in Israel, I firmly believe that one can establish a profound connection to a place through various means beyond physical travel. (more…)
Kol Nidre – High Holiday Message
When I sat down to write my speech, I put on my Andy Grammer Spotify playlist. Andy Grammer is a singer/songwriter known for engaging, energizing, and empowering his audience through songs that have a positive and inspirational message that everyone can relate to.
Last year he released the album called The Art of Joy. One of the songs called “Joy,” conveys a message of resilience, finding happiness in the face of adversity, and cherishing the love and relationships that bring joy into one’s life. In fact, the chorus emphasizes this power of joy, by repeating the phrase “I found joy in my life.”
And, yes, maybe the “Joy” in the song is really Andy Grammer’s wife, but “Joy” can be anyone, anything or anywhere. It can be your friends and your family, the restaurants where you eat, or the things that you do. It can be where you are tonight – Temple Beth Sholom.
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“Volunteers don’t necessarily have the time; they just have the heart.” – Elizabeth Andrew
Our lay leadership, our committee chairpeople, and our committee members, are all volunteers. They are teachers, lawyers, doctors, real estate agents, nurses, bankers, engineers, artists, retirees—you name it! There are many days when they go from their day jobs, their appointments, and their errands straight to the Temple. (more…)
This summer was not just for rest and relaxation, it was for meetings, planning and getting ready for the upcoming year.
In lieu of a formal meeting in July, members of our Board of Directors joined me for a brainstorming session. We discussed different ideas, including the Back to Shul Open House on August 27th (I hope you were able to attend or will be able to attend the next one), and cleaning and organizing the storage rooms.
If you came to services during the summer, you may have seen that we had many boxes with books and miscellaneous items spread out on multiple tables. We channeled Marie Kondo and spent time cleaning and reorganizing the storage rooms. We have more spaces to tackle, so if you LOVE to organize and would like to help, please contact me…immediately. (more…)
As my first year as president of Temple Beth Sholom comes to a close, I have learned so much from the individuals in this room, on Zoom, and even from those who were not able to come tonight. I’d like to take a moment to recognize them as their efforts are much appreciated. (more…)
“Confessions of a Temple President: Part II”
It’s hard to believe that I have been TBS President for ONE YEAR. Where has the time gone? It feels like yesterday I was being installed. There has been so much that has happened this year. I’ve shared many of these things in my Bulletin messages, and you will get to hear more at the June 20, 2023 Annual Meeting. Please join us at 7:30pm (following the Board of Directors Meeting). The Annual Meeting includes reports from the Offices and Chairpeople, and a vote on the new slate of officers and on any changes to the by laws. Each member unit receives one vote. Until then, I know you have been eagerly awaiting “Confessions of a Temple President: Part II”. (more…)
How will TBS Remain Resilient in a Post-Pandemic Era?
I recently participated in a Zoom Meeting hosted by the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (USCJ). Synagogue presidents and vice presidents from all over New England, New York, and Canada discussed themes around the topic: “Tradition, Transition and Change: What to Keep, What to Tweak, and What to Get Rid Of”. One of the USCJ synagogue consultants shared that synagogues are in an “adaptive change moment” and showing “resilience.” We used our breakout sessions to reflect on and share the adaptive changes that have been made at our own synagogues. More specifically, we discussed what we did during the pandemic, and what we are doing post-pandemic. (more…)