2009 – Now Is the Time
It is now time to put our plans into action. As I write this article, various committees are energetically and enthusiastically working on a variety of upcoming events in the Temple. We are just beginning to envision how we will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Temple Beth Hillel.
We will have five more Shabbat Services under our La’atid grant from CJEL. It is the purpose of this grant to develop new ways of experiencing a Shabbat Service. While our most recent Chanukah Shabbat Service involved students in our school, future services will seek to involve all of our congregants interacting during a Shabbat Service in innovative ways.
As we prepare to bring a new Torah into our midst, we are looking at different ways of celebrating this addition to our sanctuary. This Torah from Congregation B’nai Jacob of Springfield Massachusetts will find a welcoming home in Temple Beth Hillel. What a mitzvah it is to perpetuate the use of a Torah scroll and enable its words to live on.
On May 3rd, we will be holding our very first choral festival. Cantor Mekler is rehearsing our choir and coordinating with the other choirs that will be part of this concert. This fundraiser for our Music Fund promises to be an afternoon of beautiful and inspiring Jewish music. You won’t want to miss it!
I want to thank Irv Kurtzman for donating his handcrafted bowls to be sold for the purpose of paying down our mortgage. The sale will begin on Tu B’shvat and continue for the rest of the year. If you haven’t seen Irv’s handiwork, you are definitely going to enjoy the craftsmanship and beauty of these bowls. You will certainly want one for your own.
Towards the end of February, we will be starting Bingo Night. Our Development Committee has been working very hard to get this up and running. They hope to be able to offer Bingo twice a month. This will be one more means of raising much needed funds for the Temple.
I know these are difficult times, but if we all pitch in, we can make a difference. Get involved and participate. We are offering a range of events that we hope will catch your interest. Together we can move Temple Beth Hillel to a more secure financial place. We are a Temple Family and when we work together we can make special things happen. Now is the time for us to come together.
Stanley J. Goldberg
President, Temple Beth Hillel.
