When I spoke last Yom Kippur I talked about how everyone has their part at Temple Beth Sholom and asked what your part would be and how maybe you or a group could do something for the first time.

Over the last year there have been many accomplishments both on the individual and community level. Many members of the congregation, including myself,
took up the Rabbi’s challenge and read
verses from the Torah. Others have
created new events that took place
throughout the year.
The Ritual Committee started monthly
Simcha Shabbats which have been well
attended and many members have stepped up to sponsor
the Kiddushes afterwards which have made the Shabbats
even more special.
The Social Action, Programming and Food and Services
committees put on three Shabbat dinners over the last
few months and the Social Action committee will be
sponsoring a luncheon following Sukkah decorating this
coming Sunday.
With such a variety of programs and events, there is truly
something for everyone here at Temple Beth Sholom.
Every Shabbat, as I will also do later this evening near
the end of services, I read the weekly announcements. A
few weeks ago, I picked up the pages and immediately
noticed that they were thicker than the usual page and a
half that I read. I quickly skimmed through them and yes
they were longer than usual but it was only when I started
reading them that I actually realized how many events
and programs would be occurring in the upcoming weeks:
Men’s Club zoom events, Sisterhood dinners and events,
Sukkah decorating, a Simcha Shabbat, and many services,
to name just a few.
When I finally finished, and if you haven’t heard the
announcements lately, later tonight you will know what I
mean by “finally finished”, the Rabbi remarked that it is
a credit to how the Temple is thriving that there were so
many announcements.
All of these events have been great additions to our regular
programs provided by groups such as Adult Education,
Sisterhood, and Men’s Club…but what will be new this
year? Is there something you can help provide?
Do you have an interest that other members might also
be interested in? For example, just a few weeks ago a
member approached me asking if he could possibly lead a
tai-chi class. It could be anything…
Maybe it is bringing a new tune or version of a prayer to
the congregation. If you have an idea or a program that
would be a great addition, don’t be shy, let us know.
Before I get to the part of the speech you are probably
looking forward to, I would like to say that traditionally
this speech is the kick off to the High Holiday Appeal
fundraiser and yes, you will soon receive this year’s High
Holiday Appeal mailing. As President and a former member
of the Budget Committee, I want to assure you that the
affordability of our membership dues is a top priority and
a subject that is strongly considered each year when the
committee meets to create the yearly budget. The committee
works to keep our dues as reasonable as possible for every
member and our commitment is to ensure that financial
considerations do not become a barrier to participation.
While our membership dues are a vital component of our
revenue, they simply do not, on their own, cover the costs
associated with all the diverse programs that are offered.
All of our programs both ongoing and new would not be
possible without your generosity and your support.
As I was saying, there are many ways to do your part at
TBS. There are some people that are “front and center”
whether it is being a chairperson of a committee or
organizing a program. Others may not serve on a board
or be chairperson, but they are just as important to the
success of Temple Beth Sholom like this year’s Presiden
Award recipient which I know is the part of this speech
you have been waiting for.
This year’s recipient has been a member for over 35 years
and in that time has become a dedicated member of the
morning minyan or as they call themselves “The
Minyanaires”. He regularly leads the service and is one
of the morning minyan Torah Readers earning the
distinction of completing the 100 Yod dash for reading
100 Torah verses. For many years he has also read Torah
on the High Holidays and like he has done for many years,
last week was the ba’al Tekia blowing the shofar on the
first day of Rosh Hashanah. Over the last few years he
also has been one of the members leading Shacharit
services on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. I mentioned
earlier about bringing a new tune to a familiar prayer,
and as we heard on Rosh Hashanah he has introduced
the Canadian Shema tune to our services.
In addition to all that he does for our Morning Minyans
and High Holiday services, until just recently over the
last 4 years, along with his wife Karen, he wrote the
monthly Israel Matters column for our Temple bulletin.
Outside of Temple Beth Sholom, he has been a professor
at Yale for nearly 40 years where he serves on the
Executive Committee of Yale Jewish Academics and
Friends, a Yale faculty group with over 200 members that
came together to promote Jewish community on campus,
combat antisemitism, and pursue links with Israeli
universities to combat the academic boycott of Israel.
In recognition and appreciation of his longstanding
dedication and commitment to the improvement of our
community, this year’s President’s Award is presented to
Ed Kaplan.
TBS President
Jonathan Engel