For the micro and the macro families of the Temple Emanuel Community, this certainly has been a season filled with festive events and new beginnings. We have collectively celebrated our first 50 years as a congregation, and at the same time, we welcome the beginning of the next half century, with all of the excitement, enthusiasm and spirit that was characteristic of the special events we have recently shared. Many of us have celebrated B’nai Mitzvot, the demarcation of the transformation of our children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews and friends into young Jewish adults, who inherit the mitzvah of continuing our Jewish faith and traditions. Who among us has not attended or related to a 2012 Graduation, be it from nursery school, lower school, middle school, high school, college, graduate school, or something else special? Graduation…… otherwise known as “Commencement.”
As we begin the new fiscal year, the second half century, life as a Jewish adult, experiencing the world of a higher level of education, a new job, the birth of a child or grandchild, marriage, retirement, or whatever respective new beginning each of us is facing, we each have an opportunity to ask ourselves, “what will I do now that I have not done before to help myself, my family, my community, the world, in a meaningful positive way?” A major part of response to that question is a process which involves an evaluation of where we have been, and how we have arrived at this time and place in the present, as well as whether or not we like this condition. This process then helps provide the perspective to guide the decision making process of creatively moving forward. We must balance the time and effort expended on evaluation with the need to encourage progress. This is not always an easy task, and sometimes blurs the difference between planning and procrastination. As Davy Crockett said, “Be always sure you are right, then go ahead.” However, that must be tempered by the statement, as sometimes attributed to Voltaire, “The perfect is the enemy of the good.”
I encourage each and every one of us to begin the process on multiple levels. With respect to the Temple Emanuel Community, there is an opportunity to share your skills, knowledge, capability and experience with the rest of us, by increasing your participation on some plane. One example is the opportunity to volunteer to participate as a member (or leader) of one of our various committees. Whether you are a “new” TE member or a “long term” member, think about your own resources and view them in the perspective of our TE Family. You need not become a full-time volunteer – your time is valuable, and whatever amount of it is available to share is welcomed! Take a look at the inside cover of the Temple Emanuel Directory – many of the standing committees are listed there. If you identify a need for which there is not yet a committee, perhaps we can form a new one! It has recently occurred to me that we should formalize a resource that has been around informally for years, and which I have witnessed as it provides historical wisdom and direction to our Temple. Let’s form a Past Presidents’ Council, (with Lew Shaffer as the Chair?) to meet occasionally and discuss issues that become important to Temple Emanuel as time goes by. What’s your idea? Everyone’s ideas are welcome, so feel free to share them with me at president@TempleEmanuel-gnh.org, and don’t be surprised if I ask you to help with the follow through!