Category: President’s column

President’s Column (This one’s fortified!) March, 2013 By Bruce Spiewak, Temple Emanuel President

February was a month fraught with fabulous functions and events that filled the foundations of Temple Emanuel with fun-filled fortifications!  (Say that quickly three times.)

Bruce Spiewak On February 4, I attended a  Presidents’ Dinner in Fairfield CT, organized by Rabbi Sue Levi Elwell of the URJ.  It was a networking meeting to get to know, face to face, other Reform Synagogue Presidents (and other officers) in the area.  Including Rabbi Elwell, there were ten of us, representing Congregation B’Nai Israel (Bridgeport), Congregation Mishkan Israel (Hamden), Temple Shalom (Norwalk), and of course, Temple Emanuel.  We have gotten each others’ contact information for follow up discussions, and will have another group dinner in April.  This is an example of how we at TE are using the resources of the URJ to help us collect information about how to improve our synagogue.

On another front, as a direct result of our meeting in January with the New Haven Jewish Federation Leadership, as of February, TE will be participating in a Federation Synagogue Presidents’ meeting on March 5, to further pursue the concept of the Federation acting as a facilitator for a dialogue about resource sharing and symbiotic relationship building among congregations.  Hopefully this will result in a strengthening of individual synagogues as well as the greater synagogue community.

Our Dues Task Force is formulating a proposal for reorganizing the way we structure our congregation membership obligations in a way that will simplify and clarify the system while at the same time enhancing the financial sustainability of our future.  Hopefully the presentation of this proposal will also allow you to understand the basis for the decision to induce positive change.

Unfortunately, some of our February events had to be rearranged due to the blizzard which hit Connecticut the weekend of February 8-10.  Our Shabbat Friday evening service and Saturday Torah Study had to be cancelled, as was Sunday School.  The Divrei Laila program scheduled for Saturday evening was postponed.  The inability to leave our homes due to the heavy snowfall and difficulty of clearing the roads gave us all a clarified perspective on some of the things we normally take for granted, as well as a respect for priorities.  Luckily there was very little loss of power.  The cooperative spirit that I became aware of in the greater community reminded me of the same spirit that we enjoy at TE even when there is no emergency situation.  As one example, many neighbors reached out to others to either provide assistance or ask for assistance during and after the blizzard.

The Purim celebration, including the adult Purim Party and Purim Spiel, as well as the Purim for Kids of all Ages event planned for the end of February will happen after the writing of this column, and I anticipate that they will be great fun for all who participate and attend.  As you read this column, think back on the events and relate them to the spirit of cooperation displayed during the blizzard!  TempleEmanuel does not need a blizzard to develop a strong sense of community and caring – that’s part of our existence.  Join the party!  Shout “hineini!”

February President’s Column (This one’s getting its foundations strengthened!)

Bruce SpiewakA lot of exciting and stimulating events have been happening at TE and in our community in the last month.  I’ll try to give you some highlights here, but cannot include everything.

  • Aside from the usual Family Shabbat Friday evening service at the beginning of January, we had our “New” Shabbat Morning Torah Service.  This was a service that concentrated on the Torah reading and included interactive discussion among the congregants attending.  It was a very stimulating and enlightening educational experience. It is an event that will be continued periodically.
  • There was also an Adult Education class led by Tom Bleeks, held at the home of Ed Cantor and Rise’ Siegel.  “Living Jewishly – Reform Judaism and Halachah” was the topic of discussion.  Sign up for the next one if you missed the last one!  It is a great opportunity to mix education and social interaction in an informal setting.
  • The Social Action Committee’s second in the series “Divrei Laila” did instigate creative, thought provoking and respectful discussion on the history and complexity of the situation in Israel and how we relate to what is happening there.  Thanks to Debbie Elkin for inspiring it, Max Case (and his able assistant Samuel Farbman) for his skillful role as moderator, Jim Silk and Jim Graham for their inspiring and enlightening presentations, and the 30 +/- attendees who contributed many perspectives to the discussion.
  • There was weekly Torah study on Saturday mornings at the House Library with Rabbi Farbman.  All are welcome!  Sign up!
  • Social Action Community Service Committee sponsored the Social Justice Shabbat Service, which incorporated special readings by congregants of all ages and a short movie!
  • A new adult evening Haftarah class is off to a great start and is open to all!
  • TE Executive Board / Finance Committee Task Force members met with URJ Lay Leaders to discuss URJ resources and perspectives available to TE with respect to financial sustainability of congregations in the current economic climate.  A review of our dues structure is in process.  Stay tuned….
  • TE Executive Board members met with New Haven Jewish Federation Leadership for a discussion regarding the possibility of the Federation serving as a forum or facilitator for area congregations and agencies to dialogue about resource sharing and symbiotic relationship building, in this age of financial awareness. Stay tuned…
  • TE hosted the Debbie Friedman Memorial Concert, invited the Jewish Community to attend, and held a special bake sale.  The extraordinary TE Band and Children’s Choir were featured!

If any of this sounds intriguing to you, please consider this an invitation to attend events, participate in committee projects and otherwise increase your involvement in our vibrant TE community.  Again, many thanks to you all, who make these things possible!

President’s Column (This One’s Composite!)

Bruce Spiewak“Welcome! Temple Emanuel is a warm, caring and open community of approximately 160 households. As a small Reform synagogue, our members have the opportunity to know one another and have meaningful input into how our synagogue operates. Temple Emanuel is a participatory, diverse, non-judgmental and intellectually vibrant congregation. Our membership comes from many towns in the greater New Haven area, and the Valley, adding to the diversity of our congregation.”
Does the above quotation sound familiar? It should—it comes from our Temple Emanuel website, www.templeemanuel-gnh.org. Have you visited it recently? Many people have done so, whether they are currently members or prospective members. Our website presents our congregation in a true and welcoming way in order to inform our members of events, past, present and future and in order to be inviting for prospective new members.
“What does that have to do with composite?” you may rightfully ask. Well, the reference to composite, in the context of architectural columns, according to Jackie Craven, who writes for about.com, is “to bring to mind a style of column that combines the Ionic and the Corinthian orders of architecture. Developed by the Romans in about the first century BC, composite columns have highly decorated capitals (tops). The leaf decorations of the Corinthian style combine with the scroll designs that characterize the Ionic style. In contemporary architecture, the term composite column can be used to describe any style column molded from a man-made composite material such as fiberglass or a polymer resin.”
So, the leafy Corinthian designs are combined with the scrolls of the Ionic style, which can be seen as a metaphor for the diverse interests and styles of TE members. The more modern use of materials in a composite column is similar to the way that Reform Judaism in general and Temple Emanuel in particular have developed to include traditional Jewish concepts and practices with a more modern outlook on the evolution of Judaism.
In a more generic sense, composite refers to something “consisting of separate interconnected parts.” Again, this reminds me of the composition of the Temple Emanuel Congregation. We all have our unique and separate lives, and yet we are connected by our community at TE.
In science, a composite particle is one made of smaller particles. So, if Temple Emanuel is one particle in the universe of Jewish existence, then each of us is a smaller particle that helps to make up the TE particle. The strengths and skills that we contribute to the composite particle are what makes it unique and what makes it strong and what makes it survive.
Last month I summarized some areas of concentration for our Board of Directors and Member Families, including Membership, Governance and Finance. In the past month many of our Committees, Board Members and Members have taken to heart the invitation to participate on many levels. We are moving forward and making great strides toward our goals and encourage you to join us if you have not already done so. We have focused direction and enthusiastic involvement, and we welcome you! Keep up the good work in responding “Hineini!”

President’s Column (This One’s Reinforced!) by Bruce Spiewak

Bruce SpiewakThis month I will share with you a report on some important events, concepts, goals, and directions for TE. As you know, our synagogue is generally managed by our Board of Directors and Officers. There are various standing committees as well as some special committees, which are all supervised and directed by the Board. Based on a variety of circumstances, issues and ideas generated by the Board and our Membership, there has been a general consensus among the Board that we need to pause, take a breath and evaluate and plan for our congregational future based on both our history and our vision for that future. In response to this consensus, I contacted the URJ (Union of Reform Judaism), which is a national organization to which we belong as a member synagogue. The URJ has a plethora of resources available to members, which you can peruse on their website at www.urj.org. The URJ responded to my contact by first sending a Congregational Representative to meet with the TE Executive Committee and then by organizing an all-day training session for our Board of Directors and Rabbi, which came to fruition on Sunday, November 11. Some people would refer to this session as a “retreat.” I prefer to use the term “advance.” The focus of this “advance” was determined by the attendees with the guidance of URJ facilitator Rabbi Sue Levi Elwell, Rabbinic Director, East Geographic Network, URJ. The process was both invigorating and exhausting, and by the end of the day we had formulated three major areas of focus for TE, taking into account changing demographics and economic conditions: MEMBERSHIP, GOVERNANCE and FINANCE. This “advance” is just the beginning of a continuing effort, spearheaded via the Board, to formulate specific goals, and the tasks, milestones and processes necessary in order to achieve those goals. The Board, Rabbi and Committees will be reaching out to each of you in many ways to encourage your participation, including: membershiP: ☞ Attend services and events. ☞ Reach out to your network of family, friends, colleagues, neighbors, etc., and invite them to join you at a TE service or other event. ☞ Use your “Board Buddy” as a conduit to communicate your ideas and comments to the Board. ☞ Encourage our TE youth to continue their participation post Bar/Bat Mitzvah.
GoVernAnce: ☞ Communicate with your “Board Buddy” (A Board member who will contact you to open direct communications). ☞ Become active or more active on a TE Committee. ☞ A ttend an occasional Board meeting. (They’re always open to members.) ☞ Prepare for future nomination to become a member of the Board. ☞ Prepare for future nomination to become an officer of the Board. FinAnce: ☞ Reach out to your network of family, friends, colleagues, neighbors, etc., and invite them to join you at a TE service or other event. ☞ Become active on the Fundraising Committee. ☞ Become active on the Program Committee. ☞ Volunteer to help out for a specific fundraising event/program. ☞ Become active on the Finance Committee. ☞ Offer any special financial skills or expertise to the Finance Committee, Office Administrator or Treasurer. ☞ P re-pay your dues/financial commitments to TE by mid-December if possible to take advantage of any appropriate tax deductions, which may be changing in 2013. ☞ Re-evaluate your family’s relationship with our TE Community, and if feasible, increase your financial commitment this membership year.
In a recent article in Reform Judaism Magazine, entitled “Why Do We Need Religion? Ask Darwin,” (http://reformjudaismmag.org/winter_2012/issue/) Jonathan Sacks discusses the concept of creating within the minds of each individual synagogue member a strong identification with and concern for the group as a whole. “As Darwin showed us, without altruism there can be no community, and without community we cannot survive.” Please, ask yourself “what unique skill, talent, and knowledge do I have that I can share with the TE Community?” Remember, when you receive a call or request to help, shout “Hineini!”

President’s Column (This One’s Braced!) by Bruce Spiewak

Bruce SpiewakAs I write this article for the October Shofar, it is early/mid-September, and I recently attended the Annual New Haven Area Reform Selichot Service at Congregation Mishkan Israel in Hamden. There, Rabbi Brockman, Cantor Giglio, and the CMI Chorale were joined by the rabbis, cantors, cantorial soloists, and choirs from the other five participating congregations in a beautiful service of prayer and song in preparation for the High Holy Days. I was one of several members of TE who attended and sang with the choir. I think we all appreciated the feeling of greater community that surrounded us with warmth, friendship, and support as we shared our prayers. After the service there were refreshments (of course) and a session of group discussions where we were encouraged to sit at a table with people we did not yet know. We discussed specific Psalms—a different one at each table, with a Rabbi as discussion leader. All in all, it was a great community experience. We listened in awe as a twelve-year-old young lady at our table expounded on what the Psalm meant to her in her daily life! By the time you read this article, we will have experienced another year of High Holy Day services and events, including services, discussion groups, holiday meals, holiday fasting, family get-togethers, Sukkah building and more. Look back on these events as you look ahead to the New Year. Think about your nuclear family, extended family, TE family, local community and so on—including the greater world community, and how we all provide support and brace each other throughout our lives. Contemplate how you as an individual will contribute to the world around you and will help to make it a better place for all of us now and for generations to come. Also, remember that it is a given that each of us will find it necessary to reach out for support to those around us on various occasions in our lives and will rely on receiving the necessary bracing to carry us through certain times and events. There is no shame in relying on that support when you need it, and there is great pride and honor to be able to provide that support to others in their time of need. Thanks to each and every one of you who has volunteered your time, energy, enthusiasm, support, participation, and love to the betterment of the TE Community. You know who you are, and so do others! Let’s keep up the great work and move on together into the next half century. L’Shalom!

President’s Column (This One’s Load-Bearing!) by Bruce Spiewak

Bruce SpiewakWe’ve made it successfully through the wonderful events of August, culminating in the TE Tag Sale. Whew!!!! We even continued to function well despite the various vacation schedules of our Rabbi, Office Administrator and many of us congregants, who have asked others to “cover” while we are away. I have become increasingly aware of the amazing talent and generosity of all involved in TE when it comes to sharing the load. Yes, it does “take a village….” It reminds me of the song by the Hollies: (If you can remember it, you will now hum it for the next few days!) The road is long With many a winding turn That leads us to who knows where Who knows when But I’m strong Strong enough to carry him He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother So, on we go His welfare is of my concern No burden is he to bear We’ll get there For I know He would not encumber me He ain’t heavy, He’s my brother If I’m laden at all I’m laden with sadness That everyone’s heart Isn’t filled with the gladness Of love for one another It’s a long, long road From which there is no return While we’re on the way to there Why not share And the load Doesn’t weigh me down at all He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother He’s my brother He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother…
So if you are feeling overwhelmed with your responsibilities, remember that the TE Community is here. If you are feeling that you want to jump in and help support TE, speak up, and your support will be welcomed! Our foundations are firm, our structural support system is redundant and robust, and includes you! Thank you all for being there.

PRESIDENT’s COLUMN August 2012 (This one’sTuscan!)

Bruce SpiewakNow that the excitement of the past months’ events has settled down a little bit, it’s time to evaluate once more how we can simplify and clarify our lives and their meaning, and how we can best incorporate our relationship with the Temple Emanuel Community into our lives.  To paraphrase a much wiser and more experienced President, “Ask not what the Temple Emanuel Community can do for you – ask what you can do for the Temple Emanuel Community.”  As you ponder this suggestion, think about three levels of response:  1)  The short term   2)  The medium term 3)  The long term.

For example:

A short term response might be to volunteer to assist with an individual TE project or event.  This can serve as an opportunity to interact with other congregants that you may not have known before on a social level, while you cooperate to achieve a successful outcome.  It involves a small contribution of time and effort, and is finite in scope.  As a side benefit, you can learn more about others and share more about yourself.

A medium term response might be to volunteer to serve on, or co-chair a committee.  Think about your special interests and talents and what might be a good match for you.  Our committees include (but are not limited to):
Finance:          Budgetary and financial affairs of the Congregation
Education:      Religious School, Adult Education, Library (Yes, we have books!)
Fund Raising:  Annual and special fund raising events, special memorials and funds
Membership:  Recruitment and Orientation of New Members, retention of existing (not necessarily “old”) members
Liaison:           “Troubleshoots” issues that members may not want to bring to the officers or Board of Directors
Ritual Advisory: Works with the Rabbi in reviewing, renewing and revising as needed our congregation’s rituals, practices and observances
Youth Advisory: Youth activities and program participation for “junior” and “senior” youth members as well as college youth
Buildings and Grounds:  Maintenance of buildings and property, and use of the physical plant by members and non-members of the Congregation.
Cemetery:       Advises members on purchase of cemetery plots, works with funeral directors, oversees perpetual core of the TE Cemetery
Social Action and Community Service:  Engages TE Congregants in activities and programs for local, national and world communities.
Sisterhood:     Builds a community that provides the atmosphere and opportunity for women to meet and socialize with other women in the community.  Sponsors diverse programs to learn, share ideas, benefit the Temple and HAVE FUN!

Contact any Board Member or the Office if you have a thought about what is a good match for you, or if you have an idea for a committee that is not listed or doesn’t yet exist.

A long term response could be a commitment to the longevity of our Congregation and community by:

  • Helping to form a long range planning effort to examine the past, present and future of Temple Emanuel
  • Maintaining your membership and participation long after your children have grown and “flown”
  • Committing to becoming a Board Member and aspiring to the role of an Executive Committee member
  • Including Temple Emanuel in your estate planning

Contact me at president@templeemanuel-gnh.org with your ideas.  Be constructive.  Remember, “If you kvetch, you fetch!”  (Anonymous)

My First Column (Is it Doric, Ionic or Corinthian?) By Bruce Spiewak, Temple Emanuel President

Bruce SpiewakFor 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!

IT'S HERE!

It’s here. Finally. 5772. For once the event, or should I say events, will live up to the hype. No disappointment here like Geraldo Rivera
had when he opened Al Capone’s vault; no trace of John Lackey, A.J. Burnett or Jason Bay here; likewise no needless worry about a YT2k Bug. Temple Emanuel’s 50th Anniversary
(or if your prefer our Second Half Century) will not only meet expectations, but will exceed them. We have had the kickoff pre-50th celebration—the TE barbeque in September.
Over 160 people came to pray and also to play, eat and socialize, all things we do well. And now 5772 is here…and excitement is in the air.
The reason why our events will meet the hype while the others didn’t is that we have a solid foundation. We are not inventing the wheel here, but rather we are building upon
the hard work that others did for 50 years now. While your current Temple leadership is working hard, we are merely following the lead of our predecessors who had a vision for
Temple Emanuel. From Temple Emanuel’s initial creation, our spiritual leaders and membership have through the years worked hard to make Temple Emanuel what it is today.
Our spiritual leaders, Rabbi Winer to Rabbi Brieger to Rabbi Farbman, while they may have gone about things differently, have all shared a common goal and have worked
hard to make the TE experience a meaningful one.
During 5772 we will have many events to commemorate what has been accomplished—we will have visits from Rabbi Winer,
as well as from Jeff Klepper and Rabbi Dan Freelander; a gala party will be held on May 12. We are lucky to have our
Rabbi Emeritus, Jerry Brieger, remain an active participant at TE. TE is indeed a special place to us, as it was to its founders.
I wish all of you a happy and healthy new year.
L’shanah tovah.

Getting better…

President Lew Shaffer

I’ve got to admit it’s getting better…

If you were around Temple Emanuel this August, you couldn’t have missed all the renovations. Floors in the Social Hall and swing space were being removed and then replaced with very attractive tiles. The ceilings of those rooms were being painted and a new roof was put on the Sanctuary building. In addition, the building’s duct work was cleaned, and arrangements were made to fix the gutters.

Outdoor lights were also installed so that we can have evening events on the TE grounds (Hopefully you will be at our September 9th barbeque to kick off the celebration of our second half century.) The improvements are not only visual. As membership grows, members are sitting further back in the Sanctuary. On the High Holy Days we expect that people will be sitting deeper into the Social Hall. And those members will now be able to hear. We have purchased a new speaker system that will be utilized in the Social Hall. Arrangements are also being made to improve the acoustics of the room now as well.

The improvements are not limited to the Sanctuary building. The TE House is also being renovated. Though the TE Board had planned on making changes to the House, we were forced to make the changes sooner than intended as a leak from below had caused a flood in the step-down room. As a result the carpet had to be removed and the walls opened up to both remove soggy materials and locate the leak.

The educational system at TE has also been revamped. New teachers have been hired to replace those who have retired, and a new curriculum has been put in place. Exciting programming for all members is also on the way.

Some of this work is being paid for by insurance proceeds (I’ve discussed this in a previous column), some by our operating budget, and much of it is funded by the Second Half-Century Fund. By now you have undoubtedly figured out what comes next—a very gentle reminder that if you haven’t already made a commitment to the Second Half-Century Fund, please do so now. While I would prefer that the commitments be large, you are hereby reminded that commitments of any amount are appreciated.

Getting so much better all the time.