President's Message

Disappointment. Loss. Change. Sadness. As I write this early December, I reflect upon this time of year. While this time of year brings secular as well as Jewish holidays and many automatically think of happiness, joy and celebration, it is important to know that this is also a very difficult time of year for many.

I am proud and honored to be a part of our community. I am touched to feel embraced by loving arms in good times and in lonely, sad times.

However, I am an “insider”. It was not always so. There were years when I did not feel that this was MY community and that I was accepted and embraced. Part of that was me, I’m sure. Part of that was being relatively new, or disengaged, or not putting myself out there, so to speak. Or maybe just not being met in MY place with my needs.

My goal is that we widen the circle. That we find better and quicker ways to welcome people into our community, whether they have been around for years or whether they have just found us. Our vision of joyful song and the most inclusive, welcoming community can and must be improved upon.

If you are reading this and thinking, “Yeah, sure,” call me. Let’s have lunch, or coffee, or a drink, or let me cook you a nice Shabbos dinner. I want your input. In this confusing sometimes very lonely, frightening world, we could all use a little more warmth and acceptance.