PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE: 5785
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE: 5785
We are together today to celebrate both Yom Kippur and Shabbat …a double mitzvah. It is a pleasure to see so many faces, old and new, all joined in celebration, and to know that we are providing livestream access for those unable to come to our sacred home.
Founded in 1840, CMI is the oldest Jewish congregation in Connecticut, second oldest in New England, and the 14th oldest continuous operating synagogue in the United States.
“This is the hour of change, and within it we stand quietly on the boarder of light. Shall we draw back, or cross over:” As we have for generations, We Cross Over; turning back is not an option.
As we do every two years, we elect new lay leaders; and I am honored and privileged to succeed those who sustained and guided CMI for 184 years.
Fortunately, our spiritual leaders have a longer tenure. We have had only four sitting rabbis since Rabbi Goldburg took the pulpit in 1948—he retired after 34 years, Rabbi Brockman served for 32 years until his retirement in 2017, Rabbi Immerman served for five years when he moved back to the Midwest. I want to express my/our appreciation for Rabbi Dennis Ross’ leadership last year as we searched for a new Rabbi.
This year, I am incredibly excited to share the Bima with our NEW Rabbi, Daniel Schaefer, with Cantor Arthur Giglio, and our rabbinic intern Ellen Van Dyke Bell. But sadly, as I recently announced, after 15 years of beautiful melodies, b’nei mitzvot, and cantor’s concerts, Cantor Giglio will be retiring in June. A committee has been formed to find a successor and you all will be invited to contribute to that process. Also, stay tuned for plans to celebrate the impact he has had.
This morning, I would like to speak with you about two aspects of belonging to an organization: involvement and commitment.
INVOLVEMENT, aka membership:
As we start this year, our overall membership stands at 415 families. Why did we become, and remain, members of Congregation Mishkan Israel? I will start...you think about why you are members:
I am part of an interfaith marriage, and discovered early on how CMI recognizes the beauty of our diverse human community and welcomes not only interfaith families but people of any race, background, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or ability. I discovered the quiet wisdom of Rabbi Brockman as my non-Jewish wife, June, and I were wondering how we should raise our children. During our conversation, Rabbi said if you try to raise your children to be both Jewish and Catholic, they will be neither, and they will probably become confused. Raise them to do good and to appreciate both of your faiths…when the time is right, they will decide. We decided they would have religious instruction in my wife’s faith, but we would celebrate ALL holidays…and we still do. It was the food. It is amazing how many different dishes you can serve when Chanukah falls on Erev Christmas…yes, it is a thing. Many years later, my wife now joins me for Shabbat services, and our son has begun to attend as well. Who knew.
I am told I formally joined CMI in 1995 and for most of that time I only went to services: always at Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, and the occasional Friday evening to remember parents and grandparents. Every year I attended what was then called the Meditation Service during Yom Kippur; in 2000, I responded to an invitation to be part of the service, taking a giant leap by injecting humor—with a message. Those of you who attend that service know the rest--Still crazy after all these years. Rabbi Brockman and some members of the congregation said maybe laughing during Yom Kippur, was not such a bad thing.
But enough about me. I am sure you all have your own stories about joining and being a part of CMI. Please feel free to share them with Past President Sarah Greenblatt, chair of a reconstituted membership committee that is developing a plan for recruitment and retention. Better yet, share them with your friends and neighbors and bring them to CMI events.
So, you come for the High Holy Days or Shabbat services or bring your children to religious school. But do you realize how much more CMI has to offer? How much more there is for your membership? How much more you are needed above dues support?
Here are just a few things to get excited about:
- Our Early Learning Center is growing under the leadership of Director Jenn Verrier, with almost 70 children and more expected in January.
- For our youngest members, Rabbi Schaefer is planning regular Tot Shabbats, Abby Friedman is organizing Shabbat Schmooze get-togethers every month and it is not only for the kids…there are parents and grandparents [or at least of that age]. Always with an Oneg---remember what I said earlier about the food?
- Religious school enrollment stands at 88. and Director Michelle Goldstein reports that enrollment continues to increase. We have an unprecedented number of teens signed up as madrahim, helpers in the religious school this year to provide extra support to the younger kids and create a bridge between generations.
- Under the leadership of Julie Chevan and Michelle Abrams, the Rosh Chodesh group has created a space for women in the congregation to come together to celebrate together each month and has created so many dimensions of joy for those involved.
- The Brotherhood of Men and Women led by Rob Homer, sponsors a coffee shop every Sunday that the religious school is in session. Come for the food [there is that word again]; stay for the conversation. They also sponsor our annual Deli Night, this year with a Jewish trivia contest and other social and cultural events.
- The Ritual Committee, under the leadership of Jeremy Schwartz and Corey Stone, just completed another successful summer of lay leadership of Shabbat services. And again thanks to them for polishing our sacred silver.
- At CMI, we believe in the value of working toward Tikkun Olam: the repair and healing of the world. Since our founding in 1840, we have been committed to ensuring the continuity of Jewish culture and heritage through worship, study, social action, and community. Over the summer, I recommended the creation of a Tikkun Olam umbrella committee for the oversight of the ten or so different committees involved in serving our community. Under the most capable leadership of Board member Nancy Moss-Racusin, the committee chairs meet every month to discuss their activities. From the Confronting Racism group to Life is Delicious to the Pe'ah Garden, Chevra Hands, Chesed, and the Social Action Committee, our community continues to follow the path of Rabbi Goldburg and Rabbi Brockman in fulfilling our congregational imperative to tikkun olam.
- People attending CMI for the first time are in awe of our music--- our wonderful Cantor and our music director and pianist Eric Trudell, and incredibly talented congregants such as David Chevan, Jonathan Zabin, Matt Lupoli, Hedda Rubinstein, Cynthia and Dana Astmann, and Jonathan Dranoff, affectionately known as the Oy Street Band who add a special dimension to our religious services.
- Our library is now open with so many shelves of books for all ages, fiction and non-fiction, but Judaic in scope, thanks to the hard work of Larry Schaefer and his team of volunteers. If you haven't been there since their team restored and modernized it, please go check it out.
And so much more for you to discover…
Later this fall the Board of Trustees will be holding a retreat to begin the development of a new three-year strategic plan, including a review of our By-laws. Your participation as this plan develops is necessary to ensure that we all have a Jewish home that grows and prospers.
OUR future depends on all of US participating and contributing, financial and otherwise. As I like to say, we are confronted with insurmountable opportunities.
COMMITMENT: aka how did I get to be up here, today, addressing you? Oy!
I mentioned going to the meditation service...that was 25 years ago. Then I attended the philosophical discussions on all aspects of Judaism, led by Professor Shelly Kagan. Totally engrossing—the graduate seminar to end all graduate seminars. Then, over the years, I attended presentations by members of CMI’s Social action committee. I am so glad I stayed to see the changes over the years. As my rabbi when I was growing up used to say—why are you leaving; what else do you have to do today?
I am not sure what else I did other than coming to Shabbat services and CMI events.
I joined the Brotherhood of Men and Women—you know fill out that little card that comes with your dues statement; when I was asked to be on its board, I said YES.
I was asked to be the BMW representative to the Board of Trustees, and I said YES.
Then, after services one Friday evening in 2023, first year president David Silverstone asked if I would consider being president when his term ended. I did NOT say YES-- immediately. I said REALLY? ME? He said yes. I said “you checked my references? —of which I had none that I knew of—and he again said yes. But we have to get you on the Board of Trustees and its Executive Committee. Other than wide-eyed amazement that I was taking on yet another responsibility, my family asked if I was sure; I said I think so.
So, they made me Assistant Treasurer; and then, and then the annual meeting on June 2. And it was done. And my friend and mentor David Silverstone finally got the job he for which he had been training for the past two years: Immediate Past President. You are not president until there is a past president.
Now I am not saying you have to commit to become president…but you can become a member of the Board of Trustees or a member of one of our many committees.
As I say in my Shabbat announcements, with so many activities in our spiritual home, continue to be a presence.
My appeal to you this year is not to stand by but to get involved…there is so much to do, and so much that needs to be done.
And commit to ensuring CMI’s future.
And there is no way to get from here to there except by joining hands and marching together. Hope is Mandatory!
And let peace and friendship be our shelter from life’s storms.
On behalf of our clergy, the Board of Trustees, the CMI Staff, and my ever-supportive family, shanah tovah u’metukah.