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March 2023 President's Message

GOOD PURIM!   I was reading the very first Holy Beggar's Gazette that was printed on Purim 5732 (1972). It transcribes tapes made of Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach teaching about Purim. One of his stories is about a poor man, Pinchas, who would only mumble a "good Purim" greeting because he was so downtrodden. The Kozhnitzer Maggid insisted that he say "Good Purim" forcefully and practiced with him until he had it down right. From that moment on,...Read more...

January 2023 President's Message

Cheers to all of us past, present, and future!   Tovah asked me to submit my president’s article to the “VOICE”. It will likely be my last. It makes me wonder if anyone actually reads my articles. My reason for being president had little to do with me, and everything to do with sustaining a community that is committed to preserving our beautiful culture and traditions. We recently completed the monumental task of sorting, cleaning,...Read more...

November 2022 President's Message

Does anybody have the time?   I had a teacher at the Wydown Middle School who posted a sign next to the clock in her classroom that read: “If you have time to kill, work it to death”. Somehow that message has stuck with me for 55 years.   How many of us have heard these lines?   • Time is money. • Time waits for no one. • Better three hours too soon than a minute too late. • Lost time is never found again. •...Read more...

September 2022 President's Message

Kol Rinah is Built on Volunteerism and Engagement   Kol Rinah’s culture is influenced by many different factors, including people, leadership, and transparent communications. It is the key ingredient to our survival and future success.   Every synagogue strives for a positive, inclusive, and welcoming culture where people enjoy participating on so many different levels. We nurture and grow off the energy we bring and provide to...Read more...

July 2022 President's Message

Who needs a president? We do. Believe it or not my two year term as Kol Rinah’s president will end this year. It is crucial for us to continue the work of our president and establish the next leader who will take office January 1, 2023. In fact we have had a combined, Brith Sholom, Kneseth Israel, Shaare Zedek, BSKI, and Kol Rinah, 83 presidents! I have served 3 different times. Louis Goodman served as President of Shaare Zedek for 27 years!...Read more...

May 2022 President's Message

“When I am employed in serving others, I do not look upon myself as conferring favors, but as paying debts. I have received much kindness from men to whom I shall never have an opportunity of making the least direct returns; and numberless mercies from God, who is infinitely above being benefited by our services. Those kindnesses from men I can, therefore, only return on their fellow-men, and I can only show my gratitude for those mercies from...Read more...

March 2022 President's Message

I have more questions than answers.   We have many reasons these days not to attend synagogue: Fear of COVID, protocols, masks, no kiddush, streaming or Zoom services from other sources, changes in our routine, business, hobbies, sports, TV, internet, etc. What’s your reason? What permanent effects will this have on our lives as Jews?   Our synagogue has continued to function. We continue to have meetings, daily minyan, lifecycle...Read more...

January 2022 President's Message

“Kol Rinah welcomes everyone. This means YOU! We embrace a diversity of all Jews. including: Jews by choice, Jews of all hues, singles, couples, families, Interfaith households, LGBTQ Jews, Jews of all abilities and disabilities, the Jew-curious, and more!”   Kol Rinah should be a place where Jews and their families of all backgrounds can gather together without judgment. Kol Rinah prides itself on being an inclusive community, and...Read more...

November 2021 President's Message

There is an old saying… The third time is a charm. Perhaps in my case it has taken me three times to get it right. And right now, it feels right. According to Jewish law, once something is done three times it is considered a permanent thing. This is called a “chazakah,” a presumption of ownership, presumption of status. Let’s say you decide to take on a new task. If you do it once and succeed — it’s beginner’s luck. A second...Read more...

September 2021 President's Message

Creating a Special Community Within Our Space Over the past several years we have done an amazing job of raising support, funding, designing, and building our new congregational home. I realize we have barely used it, but our accomplishments are truly spectacular. At this time of the year we take a closer look at where we have been, where we are, and what the future holds for us, individually and as a community. Some might say that times are...Read more...
Sat, March 25 2023 3 Nisan 5783