Yesterday, as I watched children dance, play games, eat latkes and celebrate – as I watched parents join with them and build connections with one another – as I watched volunteers from our parent’s group and our men’s club work tirelessly – as I sat back and watched all of this, I was incredibly moved and inspired. Over a hundred people joined together yesterday for a very special event.
There is a renewed energy at Temple Beth Sholom that continues to marvel me. New families and members are increasingly finding ways to be involved and engaged. Longtime members are recognizing the importance of stepping up and supporting the synagogue.
Despite Rockland County’s challenging demographics, our synagogue community is shining – and we should all be grateful.
I want to especially thank Shanna Straut, our religious school director, all of our amazing teachers, parent coordinators Nicole Weinstein and Amy Cazes, Debbie Ginsberg for getting us all coffee!!, the Men’s Club, religious school vice-president Debra Stein, religious school board member Heather Kopleff, president Marion Osterlitz and all others involved in yesterday’s program.
Chanukah arrives this year with such turmoil in the world. The war in Gaza and the rise in antisemitism have made all of us feel vulnerable. Yet there is also this renewed energy – this sense that the Jewish world is ever more cognizant of the need to support our synagogues and Jewish institutions.
There are those who have asked me what they could do in this precarious time.
Support your local Jewish community. There is nothing more important right now than to support the institutions, organizations and synagogues that give Jews a voice and a presence in this world. Whether that be the JCC, your local Jewish Federation, the Jewish Family Services, Israel Bonds or yes, your synagogue — supporting the Jewish organized community where you live should be a priority.
Judaism does not survive without the collective organizations, institutions and synagogues that bring Jews together. It does not survive if it is only a tradition practiced in the home.
Judaism needs a public communal expression – that is the only way it has survived to this day.
Judaism needs you – it needs your involvement, your engagement and your support. It needs you to call on others to be involved as well.
I am so very excited about our community and look forward to the days ahead.
A happy Chanukah to you and your family
RBL