Back in December I attended the biennial conference of the Union for Reform Judaism in Washington, DC. Six thousand people, amazing atmosphere, learning, camaraderie… When I bumped into Eisner Camp’s director, he handed me a large button which had the Camp logo and the following phrase: ‘Because of Camp I…’ and invited me to come up with my own answer and to wear it with pride. I paused for a moment, and then I wrote ‘because of camp I know the future leaders of our movement’.
Throughout the conference, people stopped to look at my button and nodded approvingly; someone even remarked, ‘I wish I said that on mine!’ Much as I enjoyed the compliment, I felt a little embarrassed. My comment was, in fact, quite literal – I was ordained at the Leo Baeck College in London and am a relatively recent ‘import’ into this country. I do not have the kind of connections with the young leaders of our youth movement I had in England and in the former Soviet Union as a result of my many years of involvement. So for me, the two weeks I get to spend at camp are not just about summer, informal education, and excited Jewish children – it is also about getting to know the song leaders and camp counselors, and the rabbinic and cantorial students who spend their summer at camp. It is about learning what matters to them, what motivates them and what the future holds for our people and our movement.
My comment was very personal, but it resonated with everyone who also happens to think that camp, one of the strongest Jewish identity builders, is a place to get to know the future leaders. This is why, along with many of my colleagues, I go to camp for two weeks every summer!
The future is very much on my mind as I write this column – especially the future of Temple Emanuel. The celebrations of our 50th anniversary continue to reverberate in my mind, especially as I continue to enjoy the wonderful collages currently displayed in our swing space. Looking back at the pioneering spirit of TE fills me up with pride, but also reminds me of the incredible responsibility I feel for helping TE continue to reach its true potential every year, every month, every week.
The last few years of transition have given us the opportunity to take a closer look at who we are, what we can achieve, and what we should aspire to be able to do. We are a small congregation with limited resources and incredible spirit – what at camp and youth movement gatherings is referred to as ‘ruach’. TE’s got it! We have a disproportionately large number of highly committed volunteers who make TE what it is – a truly inspiring community. What we need is to find a way to support all of our wonderful volunteers, to have our office serve as much more than just an office, but as a true hub of TE community.
I am delighted to welcome Nancy Weber to her newly-created position of Temple Administrator. She brings with her wonderful organizational skills and creativity, as well as a life-long love and commitment to Temple Emanuel. As we begin our second half century, as we begin to build our future, we have a wonderful team to carry us forward.
That’s the future we can all rejoice in!