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As 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!

We’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.

Now 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)

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!