Below is part one of three from my prepared remarks for the Congregational High Holy Day Appeal. To see and hear what I actually said, go to https://bnaitikvah.org/watch-our-services/ on the internet.
My prepared remarks:
G’mar Hatima Tova (May you be sealed in the Book of Life)
Rabbi Wolkoff’s sermon on the first day of RH discussed community. This was something I had been thinking about, too. Our community “US” is made up of many people with different interests, yet we have more in common than we have differences. Among numerous common things are wanting health, happiness and a sweet new year for our families and friends; wanting Israel to continue to be a strong, democratic nation; and wanting CBT to continue to be a vibrant, thriving beacon for us (more about how you can help with the last item a bit later).
As I intimated in my September HaKol article, I did not wake up one day as President of Congregation B’nai Tikvah. In fact, I did not seek it out. I had been happy to serve as the Chair of the Budget & Finance Committee for more than 20 years. While I had served on our Board and as the VP of Administration, the Budget Chair role suited me, as a Certified Public Accountant and its (mostly) seasonal nature.
Around a year ago, Ruth Anne Koenick, Nominating Committee Co-Chair and a Past President (also a long-time member of the Budget & Finance Committee) contacted me indicating that she wanted to discuss something with me face-to-face, over coffee or lunch. Keep in mind that I was born more than 66 years ago (then) and not yesterday. Even so, I decided to hear her out and knew that she would hear me out. I was humbled and honored to be asked.
A standing joke for many is “how could you be crazy enough to be synagogue President?” On the contrary and for your consideration, I have found that every volunteer situation I’ve undertaken (be it at CBT, the South Brunswick Board of Education, the Education Foundation of South Brunswick Township and being a teenage member of the Tenants Association of the Linden Houses in Brooklyn) has given me more than I’ve put in.
My theme for this year is WELLNESS. Wellness is the quality or state of being healthy in body and mind, especially as the result of deliberate effort. I’d like to focus on one its synonyms: wellbeing. In my mind, part of that wellbeing is having a place that serves more than our religious needs. I love this place.
By “place,” I don’t particularly mean the building; I mean the people who make up our community: all of you. All the things CBT offers; there is almost “something for everyone” – and I don’t mean “A Comedy Tonight” (apologies to Burt Shevelove, Larry Gelbart and Stephen Sondheim, who wrote the book and music for “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum”) – although we will have Murder Marinara on October 26. Dessert. Drinks. Death. (although that could mean you’ll die laughing).