A Rabbi's Reflections

MAKE US PROUD

I am particularly proud to be one of the rabbis of Temple Beth El!  Our annual Mitzvah Day program was a remarkable success, with more than 500 volunteers of every age gathering to join in a day of social action projects helping those throughout our city and literally across the world.  As we fed the hungry, cleaned up the environment, helped the needy and the poor and the infirm, contributing our efforts to more than thirty projects, we understood what it truly means to be partners with God in completing the work of creation.  We did our part to accomplish the goal of tikkun olam, the perfection of our world.  Thank you to every participant, and especially to Stuart Meyerson, our Mitzvah Day Chairman, and his remarkable team of project captains, and to everyone who helped make Mitzvah Day a great success!!

But my pride in our congregation is not limited to this day of volunteering.  Our Social Action Committee, our R.A.I.N. team, our Caring Committee, and numerous other groups within the Temple are constantly challenging us to use our energies to help others, transforming our faith into action.  Our new Second Family program will help us to reach out to assist congregants in need.  Earlier this year, Rabbi Spitalnic led our congregation to take a leadership role in forging a coalition with others to combat Gun Violence, an effort which won national acclaim and earned the prestigious Fain Award for Social Action from the Union of American Hebrew Congregations.  I am proud of the national recognition earned by all of our clergy: Rabbi Judy Schindler has been honored to be selected co-chairperson of the Women’s Rabbinic Network,  the national organization of Reform Jewish Women Rabbis, and as such will serve on the Board of Directors of the Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR). Cantor Bernard serves as a member of the Joint Commission on Synagogue Music and other national positions.  I have been asked to serve as chairman of the CCAR Task Force on Spiritual Leadership.

I am also proud that the rabbis and cantor are able to regularly visit members of the congregation who are in the hospital, nursing homes, or those at home who are in need of our presence. We are grateful when you call the office to tell us of situations that may require our attention, of hospitalizations, and especially when you ask us to be there for you.  Please help us out by being our eyes and ears.  

I am proud of the wonderful teachers and students who make up our religious school and Hebrew School programs.  Our Bar and Bat Mitzvah students thrill and move us each Shabbat morning as they lead us in worship and study.  The adult learners who participate enthusiastically in our Adult Education programs make us equally proud as well.

I am proud of the volunteers who make Temple Beth El tick.  Whether stuffing envelopes in the office, answering the phones, ushering at services, helping out in the Religious School, serving on one of our committees, or dozens of other tasks, the selfless volunteers are critical to our success.  I am particularly proud of the remarkable people who give selflessly of their time and energy to serve on our board of directors.   Likewise, I am proud of every member who makes an effort to support our financial needs through annual commitments, endowment pledges, and other contributions.

James M. Bennett