Category: President’s column

THE PRESIDENT’S COLUMN (Hearth, home, humanity, health, happiness)

Bruce SpiewakThe month of December carries many seasonal images for those of us living in Connecticut.  Thanksgiving has passed and so, this year, has Chanukah!  (That’s a little hard to accept!)  I hope that you had a chance to share some holiday festivities with family and friends, from near and far.  The warmth and glow that emanates from such gatherings can keep our hearts and souls warm for months to come.

We are definitely into the Winter season, and the weather has changed to bring us freezing temperature.  A  blanket of snow is more and more likely to decorate the earth.

All the more reason to gather our coats and blankets around us and try to capture the warmth that emanates from our bodies and our surroundings.

When our “blood relatives” have concluded their holiday visits and returned to their homes, we know we can rely on our “Temple Emanuel Family” to continue to provide some of the comfort and warmth that we all relish in life.  You can feel it at weekly services, whether Family focused ones or “standard” ones.  The music of the TE Band can change a stress-filled week into a relaxing weekend!  The beautiful sound of TE voices singing in harmony creates a warmth of its own.   You can feel that same warmth when you attend a Torah Study class, a Sisterhood Event, a TE Fun-raiser, or simply read the Shofar or Shofar Blast.  Our listings of “Mitzvahs & Memorials”, and “Person to Personals” are an indication of the sources of warmth emanating from the congregation’s members.  Whether you are celebrating the birth of a child or grandchild, a marriage, Bar / Bat Mitzvah, or experiencing a death in the family, the TE congregation is here to help warm your soul.

As the secular year comes to an end, it provides another opportunity to reflect on the TE experience that you have had thus far and ask yourself how you can enhance that experience for yourself, your family and your community.  Did you get to the Interfaith Thanksgiving Service? Did you help wrap gift baskets for others around Chanukah? Did you experience the Magevet Concert at TE?  Did you participate in a TE Committee or Event Planning group?  Share the TE “hearth” in the coming year and spread the warmth in as many ways as you can experience.  Involve your entire family when possible.  Smile at a new member family and introduce yourself.  Bring a friend to a TE event and encourage them to become a member.

Add some kindling or even some logs to the TE fire.  Together we can create shelter and warmth throughout the winter.  R U In?

President’s Column (Fortified by great support!)

Bruce SpiewakBy Bruce Spiewak, Temple Emanuel President

October, 2013

Since my last column, the Temple Emanuel Community has begun the New Year of 5774 with incredible participation and cooperation in the preparation and carrying out of the High Holiday events, which crept up quickly after the summer hiatus. As I write this column we have received our new TE Calendars and Yahrtzeit Listings, and have also successfully put together our Sukkah, which we will have populated for the Sukkot Service by the time you read this. We had a very successful BBQ, with attendance by new and longer term members.

The enthusiasm and welcoming spirit exhibited at our events continues to be contagious and invigorating. Simchat Torah will have again given us the opportunity to gather, together with the Religious School, and witness the unrolling and re-rolling of the Torah Scroll to start reading at the beginning once more! As we gathered in the Sanctuary to “lend a hand” we reflected again on the concept of how “many hands make light work!” Todah Rabah to all of you, who planned, participated in and picked up afterwards!

October is filled with events and activities including the Cook and Care Walk-a-thon, Adult Education courses, Shabbat Services, the Family Service, Torah Study, Religious School, and more! We have a Joint Sisterhood / Hadassah Program hosted at TE addressing Jewish Music, with our own Rabbi Farbman as the presenter. There is a Sunday morning study session on Genetic Testing as well as a Sisterhood Book Discussion Group. Our Long Term Planning Committee continues to study and evaluate long term options and visions for the Congregation.

The Facilities Planning Committee has made some recommendations for the short to mid-term that encourage creative use and repair of our physical plant facilities. As an integral part of the overall concept of addressing Membership, Governance and Finance issues, it is great to introduce the Community at large to our congregants, congregation and facilities. The LeaveA-Legacy Campaign continues to enlist more and more participants, eager to help ensure the TE Legacy for generations to come.

Once again, comes the opportunity to think about your participation in attending, planning and organizing for these TE events and activities, as well as with the standing Committees, as listed in your TE Directory. Also, think about friends and acquaintances who might appreciate an invitation to attend a TE event with you. Consider having a small group gather at your house to help welcome new members. Again, thank you all for standing up together and shouting “hineini.” Standing together, we are Temple Emanuel!

President’s Column (Maybe short, but well braced)

Bruce SpiewakSummer, 2013 By Bruce Spiewak, Temple Emanuel President

This is a combined summer column / edition of the Shofar, so we need to consolidate space a little.   (That’s the excuse for a shorter than normal column!)

It has been about a year since I began serving our Congregation as President and I have some important observations to share:

We have been making progress on the goals set out for the Board to address issues of Membership, Finance and Governance.  This involves many efforts including:

  • the new Fair Share Dues Structure,
  • the Bylaws changes to allow a Second Vice President and an Assistant Treasurer,
  • events open to the community to draw non- (not yet) members as well as members.
  • reorganization of the administrative functions of the Office and the accounting systems,
  • formation of the Long Term Planning initiative,
  • investigation into the future and maintenance of our physical plant,
  • coordination of the “Leave a Legacy Program,
  • re-evaluation of the way things have been done historically with a fresh outlook towards our method of organizing committees, events and programs,
  • introduction of new children’s programming and educational events,
  • fresh approaches to our religious services and introduction of new ideas,
  • many more efforts that you can add.

I am constantly energized and refreshed by the incredible support and participation provided by our Board and our Congregants, in sharing skills, knowledge, time and resources.  The Community is incredible and continues to amaze me.  That is what gives me the strength to carry on!  Thank you every one and let’s have another outstanding remarkable creative year!  L’Shanah Tovah!!

President’s Column (Repair, Renew, Restore, Reconstruct, Reconsider, Review, Revise, Reevaluate)

Bruce Spiewak Definition:  “REPAIR. The reconstruction or renewal of any part of an existing building for the purpose of its maintenance.”  This is a technical definition as it applies to buildings under the CT State Building Code.

Tikkun olam (Hebrew: (תיקון עולם or תקון עולם‎) is a Hebrew phrase that means “repairing the world” (or “healing the world”) which suggests humanity’s shared responsibility to heal, repair and transform the world. In Judaism, the concept of tikkun olam originated in the early rabbinic period. The concept was given new meanings in the kabbalah of the medieval period and has come to possess further connotations in modern Judaism.  This is a definition from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

So, why are these two terms relevant?  We are at a period in the evolution of Temple Emanuel where we find ourselves reevaluating and reconsidering many of the policies and procedures that we have historically kept and used for guidance during the last 50 or so years of our existence.  During this period of review we discover the need to revise and reconstruct some procedures, methods of operation, bylaw provisions, committee organization, Board structure and mission, etc.  Also there is an element of renewal and revitalization.

Members of TE have gotten together with members of other Synagogues and Jewish Organizations to start a dialogue about how we can work together in a symbiotic way to benefit us all.  We have had follow up meetings to our initial ones and I am gratified to see that there is continuing dialogue and progress on several fronts.

We have investigated and have begun a restructuring of some TE Committees in order to revitalize and reinvigorate the process and participation.  There is a focus on Membership and Social Action/Community Service as specific Committees being reviewed.  Last month I asked you to think about your own involvement and where you would like to become more active.  To those who contacted me directly, todah rabah!  To those who have not yet done so, but are thinking about it, please do so at president@templeemanuel-gnh.org and we can take it further.

By the time you read this we will have had our special meeting on April 28 to vote on the proposed revisions to our bylaws to allow an Assistant Treasurer to serve on our congregation Board of Directors.  Also, the new system of organizing our membership commitments will have been rolled out for your review and understanding.  Our Erev Cinco de Mayo “funraiser” will have successfully completed and will set a great example of how TE works cooperatively for both fun and fundraising.  In addition I will have announced the appointment of a new, reinvented committee, which will be following up on some of the overall reevaluation and renewal concepts mentioned in this column.

Hopefully, by now you have had the opportunity to interact with our new Office Manager, Miriam Cheng, who has now completed the baton pass from Nancy Weber.  Contact Miriam at office@templeemanuel-gnh.org or 203-397-3000 if you have questions or if you need to contact the office.

We look forward to the May 17th Friday night service at which Maya Levine-Ritterman will be awarded the Susan Bleeks Scholarship.  Also, please sign up for the May 31 Shabbat dinner and tribute to Gloria Levine, second TE President, featuring our TE Band.  By now you have probably been contacted to help prepare and participate.  If not, shout “hineini!”  Contact me directly at president@templeemanuel-gnh.org  or contact any Board Member – perhaps your “Board Buddy!”  (You’ve heard that before!)   Chodesh Tov!

President’s Column (This one may be long, but it demonstrates stability!) April, 2013 By Bruce Spiewak, Temple Emanuel President

Bruce SpiewakAs predicted last month, the TE Erev Purim and Adult Purim Party and the Purim for Kids of All Ages at the end of February were well attended events with lots of enjoyable performances and participation by TE members and friends.  Thanks to all who helped organize, arrange and produce these activities.  It was a humongous effort, and we are blessed with many talented members!

Our Family Shabbat Service in the beginning of March was heartwarming as we witnessed Rabbi Michael gathering the children around him on the floor while he read a story to them.  For those of us who are grandparents, even if our own grandchildren were not in attendance, this Family Service enhanced the community family spirit that permeates TE.  I urge you to bring your family, regardless of their ages, to share a Family Service in particular.  They start at 6:30 usually the first Shabbat of each month, to encourage family participation.

On March 5, I participated in the Jewish Federation hosted Presidents’ Meeting for area synagogues, as noted in last month’s Shofar.  We discussed such topics as Purchasing power for office supplies, custodial needs, landscaping / snowplowing, fuel purchase and health care benefits.  Also we have a common interest in encouraging synagogue membership for unaffiliated families.  The demographic information collected by the Federation is particularly relevant to some of the items discussed.  There are synergies for physical facilities, administrative support, religious schools and youth groups.  As a result of our meeting, Sydney Perry, Chief Executive Officer of the Federation will be organizing and facilitating some of the ideas and activities discussed and will be distributing contact information for the participants.  Hopefully this is the beginning of a continuing effort to communicate, cooperate and creatively address common concerns.  Sydney and Don Hendel, President of the Board of Directors of the Federation, have been invited to our TE Board meeting on March 21, to continue the dialogue.

TE hosted the Orange Interfaith Scholar in Residence program on March 10, which was well attended by the community and our Orange Clergy presented a “panel discussion” on the topic of Multiple Perspectives on Holiness.  I was impressed by how much we all have in common!  There was a potluck dinner before the presentation and everyone seemed to be impressed and enthusiastic.

Our Dues Task Force is continuing to formulate the 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.  You will be getting more information shortly, if you have not already received it by the time you read this!

March will have ended with a great TE Second Night Seder for those who were around, and a new TE Bakes 4 You effort, to provide homemade Kosher for Passover desserts and challah.

Don’t forget to go to our website www.templeemanuel-gnh.org and see how it has been improved, with online registration and payment among other things.  “Try it, you’ll like it.”

Traditional TE events and some new events and ideas have all benefited from our member volunteers as well as our Rabbinical and staff support.  Your participation in both attending and in helping organize is a vital component to the successes.  Keep up the great work, and think about what ideas and events best match your skills, knowledge, availability and interests.  Shout “hineini!”  Contact me directly at president@templeemanuel-gnh.org  or contact any Board Member – perhaps your “Board Buddy!”

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!