WORSHIP
President's High Holy Day Message
Rosh Hashanah, 5758
Irwin Joseph
Here we are, one year after my last message to the congregation. And I have to tell you I am thrilled at where we are today at Congregation Shir Hadash. And I hope you share the same pride, no matter how involved you have been this past year.
Last Rosh Hashanah I was telling you about the imminent completion of the classroom building and trying to solicit helpers for the Shir Hadash Schleppers to return our office to Shannon Road. I spoke about commitment, and how each member of the congregation has his or her own way of getting involved. I suggested how those of you who hadn't yet "connected" with someone or something in the congregation could ease the process. Realizing that it takes months and even years to find a "place" in Shir Hadash (after frequently taking six months to a year to decide to join in the first place) I hoped I could strike a nerve with members who weren't yet committed to the temple and provoke a first step towards involvement.
And as I talked to you, I was confident that we would have all of our dreams fulfilled. But, I must confess, I never thought fulfillment could be so sweet and so overwhelming.
I never thought I could be so lucky at the same time. I'm lucky to have been the one who is president during these very exciting pages of history of Shir Hadash. Lucky to have been among those who was in the "ground floor" of projects like our new building and lucky to have been in a place to watch peoples' expectations satisfied and goals and ambitions become a reality.
In case you haven't noticed, things have really been quite amazing.
We moved the office out of Shannon Road and returned in 115 days. We packed a religious school into three green boxes, parked them in the dirt, and opened them four months later into a completely renovated classroom building.
We:
The list goes on.
You know, there was a slogan which we took from "Field of Dreams" during the process of the sanctuary project:
"If you build it, they will come"
But we didn't think they'd come all at the same time...
In fact, this last year has been one of incredible growth. As we speak, our membership is 485 families. Our Sunday religious school has 253 kids. Our Tuesday night Hebrew High School has 95 kids. In the year 1998, we have 49 B'nai Mitzvah scheduled, and in 1999 we have 41 and can likely expect another 5-10 latecomers to join the class.
Rabbi and I have talked about this, often. And we agree that there are a number of reasons for our recent growth:
New arrivals to Silicon Valley for better jobs in the current boom that we are witnessing. The completion of the building. More unaffiliated Jews deciding to become congregation members.
Whatever the reason, we find that new members bring with them needs to which we all have to be alert.
For example, people joined because they found something positive and appealing about the way that Shir Hadash could or would affect their lives. We must be certain that new members don't perceive a dilution of the very things that brought them to us or that they liked most about Shir Hadash.
Also, new members in large numbers need to be assimilated at the same rate as when we were used to smaller numbers. This makes communications more important, and the ability to deal with each new family as personally, as quickly, very difficult.
The Talmud says that "All Jews are responsible for one another." And, in truth, each of us has a responsibility for others in the community.
Hillel said, "If I am not for my self, who is for me? And if I am only for myself, what am I?"
As we are gathered here tonight, let us reflect on what each of us has done in the past year for our community of Shir Hadash. Let us continue to provide for others in need. Let us continue to be responsible for one another, in a generous and meaningful way.
At this particular time in our temple's history, let us celebrate our success. Let us insure that others who join our community have the same opportunities to experience Shir Hadash in the same way that you have.
From the standpoint of personal involvement, make this year the one in which you ascribe to do something extra. Volunteer for something new, not as a chairperson or person in charge. Just participate with others to make everyone's experience more worthwhile. In the next issue of the Notes, you'll see a list of all of the ideas that the Board generated in an attempt to come to grips with growth as a positive phenomenon. If somethng on that list strikes you as something you woulsd like to see, let me or the appropriate board member know that.
From the standpoint of financial involvement, something I like least about this speech, I'm going to make a suggestion. Each of us has been in a situation where a special occasion has called for a contribution to the temple. Today, let us celebrate the success of the past year and our enthusiasm for the year to come by honoring the High Holidays with a contribution to Congregaton Shir Hadash. I'm suggesting each member give one half month's dues or more as a response to this High Holiday Appeal. If the robust economy of Silicon Valley, perhaps combined with an opportunity for some advantageous tax planning through stock gifts, has placed you in a fortunate position this year, try to be even more generous.
In this way, each of us will be providing for the costs associated with providing services to our new members, without delay or interruption.
What does The year ahead look like?
If everyone does everything they said they would do in the Capital Campaign, and does it before April 1, we will completely retire the last portion of short term borrowing on March 31, 1998, one year earlier than projected.
The temple has launched a new Charitable Giving committee. This committee will be designing a total program to advise congregants on the various ways to provide positive financial plans for their families, the role that charitable giving can play, and Life Membership. Our treasurer has waited a long time to see this committee come into being and has selected an excellent group of supporting committee members.
For the first time, with the Cantor's assistance, we will have a music series. Noted performing artists are scheduled for concerts in the new building, the first of which is December 7. Watch the Notes for more information about subscriptions to this great series.
At last year's retreat, we did a short range plan that included our expectations for 1997-98. At this years day long retreat we spent hours trying to figure what it could do to insure that the temple remained close and warm despite its growth. We brain stormed ideas that could be implemented in various aspects of temple life--ritual, finances, social, education, religious school, havurah and others. See the Notes. One of our goals is to establish some of these ideas and programs quickly.
These are just some of the things in our immediate future.
Like a Bar Mitzvah, the last page is devoted to expressions of gratitude.
To my family--Thanks for dealing with the meetings and committments, for all of your support and good advice, and for pointing me in the right direction, figuratively and literally.
To the Board of Representatives--Let us build on our momentum and continue to find new ways to implement new ideas and better ways of doing that to which we are accustomed.
To those who served in lesser known (sometimes invisible) positions during the year because your goal was getting the job done, without the recognition, those who met in one kitchen or another; To--JB, SL, JH, SR, RP, BT-C, BF, CL, CK, MW, LL, Thank you.
To all of those who are support staff members, from Rachael to Matt, to Jill, Ian and Joe; Please know that each of us appreciates the way in which you take your job seriously and do it so diligently.
To Adina and Arthur, who have taken good programs and are making them great--thank you for insuring that our children are given every opportunity to enjoy their Judaism.
To Rabbi and Cantor, my sincere thanks for making our holy place one in which I have been able to find personal satisfaction, while learning and singing and experiencing Judaism and my life with others whom I consider to be my family.
To each of you in the congregation; thank you for your support, for your commitment, for your generosity, for calling when you had a question or suggestion, for your interest, and for being a part of the temple family.
May each of you be inscribed in the Book of Life.
Shanah Tovah.
