As President of our congregation, I get to hear a lot of opinions on how Temple services should be conducted: more Hebrew, more English, more singing, less music, more Torah content, more social content, longer sermons, shorter sermons, early services, shorter services, longer services, more food at Onegs, less food, no food… and the list goes on forever.

I, too, have offered my share of constructive suggestions on how to improve things from time to time. We all think of Temple Beth El as “my” Temple because it is, and we always want our Temple to keep getting better. However, as President, “my” Temple seems to get even more personal when I visit other Congregations for life cycle events and services. It’s more like checking out the competition. OK, maybe it’s just me who thinks that way.

So, here is my opinion after two years of observation at Temples in California, Ohio, Alabama, Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota, Texas, Georgia, Florence, Italy, and Toledo, Spain: we have the most beautiful and spiritually uplifting B’nei Mitzvah, Weddings, Funerals, and Shabbat services I have seen. We take so much for granted that does not exist in other congregations: spirituality,
warmth, music and sermon quality, and, yes, the best Oneg and Kiddush delicacies anywhere.

I always enjoy walking into Temple Beth El. However, I have never been prouder to be a member of Temple Beth El than at my children’s Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, and, as I am sure I will be, at Marcy’s Anshei Mitzvah service. I know that each of you has had special services that have touched you in our Sanctuary, and those moments live within us forever.

This one-man survey has yet to find a better High Holiday, Shabbat, or life cycle event than the ones we experience here at our Temple. I’m sure be�er services exist, but I’ll bet they are few and far between. There is a reason for this: Rabbi Schindler, Cantor Bernard, Rabbi Barras and Mary Thomas. Our Clergy are extremely talented and dedicated individuals, and it shows every week.

But they are not the entire reason our Temple provides such a great experience. They, and all of us, are supported by Sara Schreibman, Susan Jacobs, Stephanie Brodsky, Betty Crawford, Stephanie DiPaolo, Holly Gainsboro, Debora Gluick, Pam Linker, Bill Loya, Karen Morano, Lori Pearson, Steve Rosenauer and many dedicated volunteers and Madrachim.

It is the sum total of each person’s energy on the pulpit and behind the scenes that makes walking into Temple Beth El a most special and holy experience. I want to say thanks to each and every one of our staff for making our Temple so great and making my job as President so easy. I urge you to take your critic’s hat off for a minute as well, and say thanks every chance you get to these wonderful people who run our Congregation. They are making a difference at Temple Beth El, in our lives and in our world.

Thanks again to each of you.

Fred Dumas, President