Annual Meeting Speech
5-21-07
Jonathan Howard

Over the course of this past weekend in which we kicked off the public phase of the Capital Campaign in conjunction with Mitzvah Day, you probably heard us speak of our three-part vision: A Beit Knesset, or “House of Assembly”; A Beit Midrash, or “House of Study”; and, a Beit Tefillah, a “House of Prayer.”

But this vision is not just for the future; it is historically rooted in the traditional multiple roles that synagogues played in Jewish communal and individual spiritual life. What’s more, these various functional categories speak to our current ongoing operations.

We are a Beit Knesset, because we assemble Jews of all ages and interests. Reaching them, engaging them, bringing them into our Temple, and meeting their needs have been among our top priorities.

Overall, we have succeeded in gaining about 90 new families over the past year – and for that we thank Barbara Ziegler, Sera Calif and the Membership Committee. But let me stress that recruitment is a never-ending task, and it is a responsibility for everyone in the Temple family, starting with every member of the Board.

The increase in membership validates our argument for why we must double the size of this physical plant. It is also important, because a larger dues-paying base will reassure the current membership that we will be able to cover the increased fixed costs of operating a facility twice our current size without significantly raising the annual dues.

In addition to outreach, we also plan to redouble our efforts at “in-reach.” As I often say, “If only I could get the attention of the affiliated-but-inactive members, I would tell them that they don’t know what they are missing!”

I would like to thank Stepanie DiPaulo and Beth Daniel for their outstanding work plus the financial commitment of the Merkin Institute.

If they are seniors, and we have not yet connected with them, they are missing the marvelous series of SPICE programs. These educational, cultural and ineractive meetings now regularly draw almost 40 seniors. And for that exciting development, we want to thank Marshall Linder, Carol Sandler and the Seniors Initiative Steering Committee.

This September, we will operationalize another phase of our outreach to seniors when we add a transportation component, to help bring them to and from the Temple.

At the other end of the age spectrum, a record number of B’nei Mitzvah were celebrated this year at Temple Beth El – yet another reason we need more space. But we can do more to make our youth programming even more robust. Plans are under consideration to engage a full-time youth director who will focus on that area.

Another point of emphasis this year has been better communications at all levels – among the staff, within the congregation, and to the outside Charlotte community. Our interfaith and Mitzvah day activities have given us a positive reputation beyond Shalom Park.

We also enhanced our communications by embracing the latest technologies – from the “totem” that directs us where to go to the innovative online downloadable High Holiday services that were available to anyone with broadband Internet access – from a hospital bed in Charlotte to an army base in Baghdad. And this past Friday night, Cantor Bernard and the choir recorded a Friday night service that will be made available as a CD for members of our armed forces and downloadable to an IPOD.

The hi-tech electronic outreach and the high-touch SPICE initiative are just two examples of the concept of creating as many different kinds of “portals” through which we can bring in new members and re-activate old ones. A year ago, I challenged the Board to think of new ideas for adding “portals” of increased accessibility to Temple Beth El. I am now renewing that challenge for the coming year!

In addition to being a Beit Knesset, we are also a Beit Midrash – a house of Jewish study. We have again enjoyed distinguished and provocative scholars in residence thanks to Norman Levin and the Sadie Levin Scholar in residence endowment, and we have continued to expand our adult educational offerings. At a board meeting, we were briefed by Susan Jacobs, the director of education, and by one of her teachers, Barbara Feld, about the success of our religious school program.

On a related front, I’m pleased to announce that the 2007-2008 temple budget will include a salary increase for our teachers, that will make their pay competitive and enable us to attract and retain the finest Jewish educators for our children.

However, Jewish “study” is not an abstract intellectual pursuit. We learn Torah not as an “end” but rather as a “means” to spur us into action, specifically those actions which we call Mitzvot. This year, we merged the Social Justice and Social Action committees, and the new combined team has just finished a temple-wide “audit.” The results have not yet been tabulated, but we look forward to learning how our fellow members feel about critical issues and what stands and concrete actions our Temple should be taking. We are grateful to Mark Levine and Janna Stein for making this survey happen, and for also coordinating yesterday’s highly successful Mitzvah Day.

The third part of the vision is Temple Beth El’s role as a House of Worship, a Beit Tefillah. On behalf of the Board and the entire congregation, I would like to express our appreciation to Rabbis Schindler and Barras and to Cantor Bernard for exceptional, inspirational, diverse, and as I mentioned, technologically progressive services that they have led over the course of the past year.

We want to take this moment to wish Rabbi Barras the best of luck as he assumes his new pulpit in Fort Myers, Florida, and we look forward to honoring him and his family at Shabbat services on June 8th.

I am also pleased to report that our growing national reputation within the Reform Movement led to an abundance of qualified rabbinic applicants who were eagerly seeking the opportunity to serve our temple. And we are delighted to have invited Rabbi Micah Strieffer, a native of New Orleans, and fittingly, a talented musician, to join our clergy team. He will begin on July 1st, but was gracious enough to join us this past weekend for the Congregational Shabbat and Mitzvah Day festivities. Rabbi Streiffer led us in song and prayer, and was very well received.

While we are on the topic of Tefillah – prayer – I wanted to note that the future configuration of our High Holiday services, turns out to be one of the most frequently asked questions whenever we discuss the capital campaign and the expanded facility. Even when we finish our construction, we will not be in a position to provide ample seating for one unified service. So the basic options are to remain at St. Matthew’s Church – and they have been most accommodating hosts, another outside venue– or to hold a pair of “split services” in our new facility. Each option has its pros and cons – and I’d like to ask each of you to begin thinking about this and to share your input with me.

A year ago, when you honored me by entrusting me with the presidency of this organization, I told the story about how my mother was beaming with pride, while my father was in the other room shaking his head, and wondering “what do you need this aggravation for?”

Now, halfway into my tenure, I can report that – as usual – mom’s wisdom prevailed. Yes, I have had my share of sleepless nights wrestling with crises and various issues, but those have been far outweighed by days of pure joy and fulfillment. And as you listened to this brief recounting of what we have accomplished, you can understand why this experience has been rewarding beyond expectations.

Running Temple Beth El – let alone expanding and improving the organization – is a major task and requires a team effort. We are blessed with outstanding professional and lay leadership.
This past year, we have addressed and rectified several major governance issues – promoting best practices and codifying key policies. Our Personnel Committee, led by Ginny Rosenberg and Moira Quinn has revamped the Employee Manual and set in place, with great sensitivity, mechanisms for regular staff and clergy evaluations. We have set up rules to improve necessary disclosure and to avoid conflicts of interest.

I’m proud to stress that for the third straight year, Temple Beth El will operate with a balanced budget of two-point-two million dollars, but for the first time ever, we will protect that budget with a comprehensive formal financial audit thanks to Kathy Rosenfeld and her committee.

To our Executive Director, Sara Schreibman, and her staff, I would like to say thank you for a job well done this past year. Sara has stepped up to the plate whenever asked especially with regard to the capital campaign. She is a pleasure to work with and a pillar of strength and a voice of reason.

To those of you who served on the outgoing Board of Directors, I would like not only to thank you, but to congratulate you for exemplary service to your synagogue, your fellow congregants, and to our community-at-large.

To those of you who are remaining as directors – and to those of you whom we are welcoming to the Temple Board – let me say that we have so much more to do, and we look forward to continuing to work together in the spirit of camaraderie borne of a common sense of commitment.

Finally, I would like to personally single out my predecessor, Fred Dumas, for remaining active and for continuing to show us the way. So much of what we accomplished this year, is a result of following the roadmap that he created and building upon the initiatives that he began… I would also like to express my gratitude to my future successor, Adam Bernstein, who has been active in so many aspects of the Temple’s operations, and we can all feel comfortable that this organization will be in good hands down the road… Fred and Adam, thank you so much.

The highlight of this week’s Torah portion, Naso, is the three-part Priestly Benediction with which Aaron is instructed to bless the people of Israel. In my reading of it, part one, “May God bless you and keep you” corresponds to our vision of a Beit Knesset, a place where the Jews of Charlotte can seek shelter, comfort, and Divine inspiration.

Part two, “May God cause His light to shine upon you and give you grace,” may be thought of us a reference to our notion of Beit Midrash, in which God sheds light through our active engagement in the study of Torah, and through the performance of Mitzvot we gain a special grace.

Finally, “May God lift up His face to you, and grant you peace.” This is our Beit Tefillah, where the meditative process of prayer uniquely enables us to establish a personal proximity to God, and through that relationship to find inner peace.

Let’s turn our vision into a reality – and then that reality will become our legacy as a lasting source of blessing.

Thank you!