Temple Beth Elohim - President's Message Archive

President's Monthly Meanderings
by Larry Hepner, President

What To Expect at the High Holy Days
September 2006

Last year during the High Holy Days, the Rabbi said that we would not be in Brewster High School in 2006. Well here it is, and at this writing, it looks like he was right, and we will have services in our new Sanctuary.

I want you all to know what to expect. It will still be a work in progress. In fact we are working for temporary Certificates of Occupancy just for those days of worship on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

Here are some things to expect so you won't be disappointed:

Everything is not yet perfect.
Since there will still be work to be done finishing the upper parts of the Sanctuary and Social Hall, the flooring may not yet be installed. We will have to deal with bare cement floors.
Since we will still be using our Ark in the old building, we will use our temporary Ark that we have used in our services at Brewster High School.
Since we will not have time to receive the new chairs for the Sanctuary, we will have to use what we have and perhaps rent more seating.
The landscaping will not be in place, and the classroom wing may not be finished.
All this will be temporary.

The main thing is that we will all be together for the first time in our new home. Remember that there will still be much work to be done to complete the project.

Also of note is Sunday, October 15. Temple members will carry our Torahs from our old home on Route 22 to our new home at 33 Mt. Ebo Road North. This is traditional and is known as Hakafot, as I have come to learn. Everyone can be involved.

There will be an escort car from the Sheriff's Office to provide for everyone's safety. The plan is to have a relay all the way to our new Sanctuary, handing over the Torahs from one to another. As more details are finalized, look for information in our publications.

For all involved, it is truly an honor to participate. As you or someone in your family carry one of our Torahs next to your heart, I hope and pray that you will be moved both emotionally and spiritually. I pray that you will let your heart move you to make a special donation for that day to honor our odyssey that was years in the making.

We are truly in the final stages and expect to move into our new home in due time.

Summer Thoughts
June 2006

As with any summer season, it is a time for relaxation, family trips and a recharging of the batteries. What ever you are doing, it is my prayer that you have a wonderful and safe summer.

As you are relaxing and recharging, please keep in mind that things will be different with the coming of the new year and Rosh Hashanah. We will be a Temple in transition.

Over the summer, you will note that packing will be under way. The August Men's Club Flea Market will be jammed with things that will be donated from the possessions of the Temple that will not go to the new building. Also we hope to have need of temporary storage as we acquire furniture for classrooms and office furniture that may be donated. (For some or our needs we will have to take "hand me downs"). A group of people will be planning the general move to the Temple and all the associated ceremonies.

In the fall, we will start our year in the old Temple. The goal is to have High Holy Day services in our new home. So far, as of this writing, thing are on track for that. If for any reason we fall behind in construction, the priority is to have the sanctuary and social hall done. This will give us the opportunity to request a single use certificate of occupancy for specific use, i.e. the use of the building for our worship services for the High Holy Days.

Religious school will move to the new building as soon as possible when we have a full certificate of occupancy. This will be a great move forward for us as we look to have a new environment for the education of our youth.

You will see new faces as the new year progresses. Some of you have already met our Rabbinic Intern, Leah Berkowitz, a student at Hebrew Union College. As a student, she will be learning from us and our Rabbi. She will also be working on youth and adult programming. We will have a formal custodian to handle our new building and the basic maintenance required. You have already met Eve Tripodi, our new bookkeeper. These additions to our staff will make the coming year a very exciting one.

When you look to return with the start of the new school year, with your physical, mental and emotional batteries recharged, come back ready to pitch in. Things will not be perfect. Many things will be in a state of flux. As always we will be looking at anything you can do to help to our building fund. If you know of unaffiliated Jews looking for a home, bring them to us as we move.

Come High Holy Days, Temple Beth Elohim will be a very exciting place. I am looking forward to the completion of our new home and all the creative and exciting days to follow. Enjoy your summer.

Jewish Demographics
June 2006

As of this Israeli Independence Day it is "official". Israel is the largest community of Jews in the world, with the Jewish community in the United States now second largest. (Jerusalem Post 4/5/06).

Good News/Bad News. Good because we all want to see Israel succeed and flourish. Bad news is because Jews in America are assimilating.

That is why our new home is so important. The main reason for building was for the religious education of our youth. They are our future. It is also a place for parents to act as Jewish role models for their children.

I have heard that people are tired of hearing about the need for more money, but this new home is a valuable beacon of Judaism in the area. That home is under funded and will be a concern of the Board for several years in the future. As the previous generation built Temple Beth Elohim with sacrifice, caring and a focus on achieving results, so will we.

It's all right to be Americans, and like the Greeks, Portuguese or Brazilians, it is also all right to maintain your cultural roots here in America. These groups keep a portion of their culture and language alive as they also join in mainstream America. Our new home will help us all play a role in keeping Judaism alive in our lives, homes and future.

But for our part of the world the future looks bright. Many of our Temple youth return to visit and identify with their Jewish roots. Our school is strong, and our youth have strong experiences with their Temple family. That bodes well for the future of our small part of the American Jewish scene. But again, it will take commitment.

Will we continue to urge our children to be involved in the Temple or will we see that becoming Bar or Bat Mitzvah is all there is? Will we take an active part in making our Temple a regular part of your family activities or will we make the Temple participation one of convenience? Will we encourage other non-affiliated Jews to come join us or will we take a wait and see attitude? Will we be only critical of the Temple or will we join in and make our new home just an integral part of our lives.

Food for thought, where do you place your Judaism in your life? It's a question we should all think about.

Israeli Youth
May 2006

On April 2nd our area was treated to another performance of talented Israeli youth. It was the presentation of the Afula Conservatory Orchestra & Chorus. What delightful young men and women performed for us! It reminded me that we are in for a treat in June.

Last year we scheduled the Israeli Scouting Caravan to join us at the Temple for a program of exchange, home visits and a performance of their talents with a flavor of where they call home. It was truly on the same level as the performances by the Afula Conservatory. Both groups work for weeks on their performances and the results are top notch in all categories.

This year the Israeli Scouts are back. There are 3 things you can do to make this a greater success than last year. First, if you have not hosted yet any of these fine young people from Israel, then you are missing a great opportunity to share your life and theirs by opening your home as they open theirs remotely. The scouts each have an album of what their hometown is like along with images of their family and lives. It is a truly unique experience for all. Contact the Temple to see if host family opportunities are still available.

Second, for whatever gatherings, workshops or just general get to know you session, please make every effort to attend. You can meet these great young people and get a flavor of Israel at every turn. It is also great to see them interact with our Temple youth.

Third, make sure you attend the performance of the Israeli Scout Caravan in June here at our very own Temple. The setting is cozy, warm and intimate. You will see them up close and personal. A truly wonderful evening is in store for you. I am looking forward to seeing you all there.

This leaves me with a food for thought conclusion. We as a Temple family have some wonderful young people in our congregation also. We have up and coming Junior Youth Group segments in our Temple, but what is missing, and is of concern to me, is the presence of a solid Senior Youth Group program.

It is my hope that these Israeli Scouts can serve as an inspiration for us to see that it is our mission to bring about a solid Senior Youth Group Program in our Temple.

A Dose of Reality
March 2006

Since the beginning of the year 2006, a lot of things have been in the works, including the planning for our next fiscal year that begins July 1. I would like to let everyone know what to expect.

The building is going up, and the time line we have is to be able to hold High Holy Day services in our own new Temple Sanctuary. Mind you that we may not be completely done with all the final finishes in areas like the classrooms, but the main reason for our new home is to worship, first and foremost.

The operation of the new building is something that we have wrestled with on the budget side of the house. With approximately four times the space, you may expect to see the operating budget increase. Not only will we have additional expenses, but payroll will also increase as we will need a full-time custodian to come on board to make sure the facility is always clean, well-maintained and secure.

As for the religious school, the classrooms will be up and running sometime in the fall. The Board of Education will let you know of some of the changes in the works, but the educational environment will be head and shoulders above what we have now. There will be lots to look forward to in the new school.

All this goodness comes at a cost. The operating budget has gone up, and therefore so will the dues structure. The religious school fees will also increase. I wanted you to know this ahead of the annual meeting in early June. This is just the cost to operate our new home, and a beauty it will be.

We are still in need of capital gifts, and the committee for Ways and Means/Fund Raising is working on that aspect. There is an ongoing urgent need for enthusiastic people to help follow up on campaign pledges and to explore other means of raising funds to cover the cost of the new structure.

A key aspect of our long term budget is the usage of the building. Of course the Social Hall is a draw. However, if you know of any organization that is in need of meeting space, point them in our direction. We have lots of potential to serve our community in our new home.

Over the long haul, there is one certain way to help yourselves and the Temple. Find someone who is looking for a spiritual home or in need of a religious education for their kids. Bring them along to see our new home. New members will help distribute the financial load.

We are so very close to realizing our dream. There is still a lot of work to do, and there will be times of trial. All of us working together can get it done. Please be informed and do your share.

Those That Do
March 2006

As a member of the Board of Directors for several years, I really appreciate those that volunteer their time to maintain the important functions of the Temple. It occurred to me to wonder why these people give a lot of their time to our synagogue.

There are three main reasons that motivate our volunteers. First, volunteering is in their blood. Maybe it is a gene, because most of these folks volunteer in other areas of their lives as well, schools, civic groups, and charities.

Second, there is a love of the Temple. There are times I have seen the need for a volunteer to take charge of a project, and it is one of our members who has a lot of love and devotion to the Temple that steps in. Yes the job gets done, but as the old adage goes, many hands make light work.

Third and most important I think is that our volunteers get something spiritual out of their work. Whether it is dealing with the finances of our synagogue, helping in the repairs of the building, or organizing a social or ritual event, I believe there is a feeling of serving God. There is an inner satisfaction that derives from this service.

The future of our Temple is now very exciting and demanding. As we prepare to make our new home a House of Worship, House of Learning and a House of Gathering, we will need more of those that do. Particularly when it comes to expanding the opportunities for learning and gathering.

I am thankful for all those who work for the benefit of our Temple Family. I am also concerned for the future. As we work weekly towards the building of our new home, I am struck by the amount of new projects that will need volunteers. There is no way for those that volunteer now to deal with all the new additional requirements.

For those that do, you should thank them too. They are doing their best for the betterment of the Temple. One of the best ways to thank them is to join them.

I expect that sometime in the near future, you might receive a phone call from one of our volunteers at the temple. They will invite you to join in by participating in some activity or committee. Make it your first impulse to say yes (even though your first impulse will be to say you are too busy). Who knows? You may find a new link to your temple family in terms of finding new friends and a new spiritual link in being one of those that do.

Mitzvot
January 2006

There is something marvelous about mitzvot that start out as a group project and become a community mitzvah. The adult Bat Mitzvah class of a couple of years ago decided, as part of their mitzvah projects, that they as a group would go to Putnam Ridge Nursing Home on Mount Ebo Road North (soon to be our neighbor) and conduct Shabbat morning services there once a month.

After they each became Bat Mitzvah, they recommended that the various groups from the Temple continue the Shabbat morning services. I know they have gained a great deal of satisfaction in putting together a program and passing it on to the greater community, our Temple.

There have been services conducted for the residents by the Board of Directors, Sisterhood, Men's Club, the Shabbaton classes, religious school classes and many others. To coordinate this greater mitzvah for our Temple family, one of the members from the adult Bat Mitzvah class has made sure that it continued. Audrey Grifel has done a great service for the Temple in giving every one of us a chance to share in the joy and satisfaction of a Shabbat morning mitzvah.

Having participated in two of the services at the nursing home, I can see why she continues. The residents look forward to having us visit. Some aren't capable of reading or singing along, but it is our pleasure to share challah and grape juice as we conduct the service. Some can sing along and join in. Mostly it is the chance for them to reminisce about the Jewish neighborhoods of their youth, share with us some of their memories and have a Jewish presence in their lives. Whether it is just holding a hand, refilling a cup or learning a resident's name and where they were from, the experience is uplifting.

Audrey deserves a great deal of thanks for being dedicated to making this a bit of Tikkun Olam for our community, that of enhancing the lives of the elderly. If you have participated in one of these services, then you know the feeling of giving of yourself to bring a little bit of joy to those that can't get out and around as they used to. And thanks to the adult Bat Mitzvah class for creating this wonderful gift to add to the many facets of the Temple's history of giving.

It always amazes me that there is so much that all members of our Temple family can involve themselves with. If you are a member of any group that is invited to conduct a Shabbat morning service for Putnam Ridge residents, you will be doing a mitzvah that you won't soon forget.

Where I Stand
January 2006

I do not presume to speak for the Temple on matters of political public policy. As such I am highly incensed and disturbed that the URJ would choose to speak on my behalf on U.S. foreign policy in the tone and manner recently passed by the recent Biennial in Houston.

The item at hand is the Resolution on Iraq that was passed by 85% of the floor delegates. The resolution was then accompanied by a letter to President Bush explaining the rationale for the resolution. (The Resolution on Iraq and the accompanying letter may be found on www.URJ.org)

I received an e-mail from Robert Heller, Chairman of the URJ to copy me as to the letter and the methodology of how the Resolution came about. As with any deliberative body, any set of members may propose resolutions. At the Biennial, all resolutions are reviewed by the URJ Resolutions committee, “a diverse committee of 33 leaders”, Mr. Heller's preface says.

There are two issues I would like to raise as a result of the Resolution on Iraq passing through committee and accepted by vote on the floor of the convention. One is the tone and message delivered by the resolution and the second is where the members of the Biennial are getting their information.

The general tone of the resolution is one of failure. There were failures of intelligence, failures of planning, failures of implementation, failure to secure multi-lateral support, failure, failure, failure. I don't know about you, but it certainly sounds like the drum beat coming from Howard Dean and the DNC. There are only 3 grudging sentences that assert that there was any benefit in going to war. The message is one of condemnation of an administration at war, an administration that can do nothing right.

Not that I disagree with everything. I agree with the requirement that funds for Veterans be increased, especially for medical services and benefits.

Where is all this negative information coming from? You guessed it, the “main stream media”. The footnote citations in the Resolution are six. Two are from government sources and the remaining come from either articles or polls from New York Times, CBS, Associated Press and American Jewish Committee.

From these sources, all that has been reported and clearly referenced in the Resolution is the U.S. casualty rate and polls showing the lack of support for the conduct of the war in Iraq. Clearly in war there are battles that have victors and heroes. Has any of our press reported on the successes in the field, of marines that have gone into battle and eliminated literally scores of enemy combatants capturing a strong point and sustained comparatively light casualties? How would this be reported by the likes of the New York Times, CBS and AP? “More U.S. Casualties in Iraq,” would read the headline. To quote one pundit, “No matter how many towns are wrested from the control of the terrorists by American or Iraqi troops, it just isn't front page news like the casualty reports or even the doom-saying of some politicians”. (Thomas Sowell) No wonder the polls are skewed, the full story is not being told.

Additionally there is an implication that maybe we are occupiers and the Iraqis don't want us there. Don't you think for a minute that if there were thousands of protesters in this new Iraq that the media would be all over it? If there were a few hundred protesters, the media would be all over it. If there were 20 or 30 protesters, the media would be all over it making it look like hundreds (maybe even thousands, but I digress into cynicism). I haven't seen any of these types of protests in the news.

There are good things going on in Iraq and the information is out there such as the per capita income for Iraqis being up significantly from before the war. Look at how many Iraqis voted on Dec. 15. From personal experience, one mother I spoke with had 2 sons in Iraq and they both related to her how the Iraqi people were constantly thanking her sons in uniform for changing their lives for the better.

As far as getting information is concerned, Chris Matthews of “Hardball” said it best in an interview. If you are only getting your news from him and his show, then you are doing yourself a disservice. If you read the New York Times, then also read the Washington Times. If you watch CNN, then also watch Fox News. If you listen to Rush Limbaugh, then also listen to Air America. Then you will get two perspectives and perhaps see two sides to every story.

Unfortunately, the URJ Biennial Resolution on Iraq did not represent a balanced view, one that had the perspective of two sides of a story. The Resolution does not speak for me and now you know where I stand.

A Torah Thought
December 2005

The High Holy Days concluded with Simchat Torah. I was struck by an article written by Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo regarding how we Jews look at the way we read the entire Torah to the end each year and then immediately begin to read it all over again.

To some that may seem pointless. In today's world with so much to read, so much information to consume, such variety of input, many of us mostly look to get through everything (books, magazine articles, or TV programs). Rarely do we look forward to re-reading anything.

There is something of the eternal in the annual process of beginning the reading of the Torah anew. We Jews have, in effect, declared that the study of Torah is never ending. This process has been ongoing for thousands of years. One might wonder if Jews will ever complete their reading of Torah.

Rabbi Cardozo states, "Its (the Torah's text) divinity is rooted in the world of eternity…" This is one of the many threads and traditions that will bind us together as Jews for future millennia. It will serve as that bond on into eternity. This constant restarting of the reading of the Torah "protests against the culture of the need to end." Maybe that's why we have been around so long.

With the coming of the New Year and the reading of the Torah from the beginning again, there will be an additional Shabbat service each month at Temple Beth Elohim. There had been requests made of the Ritual Committee and the Rabbi for a Shabbat Morning Service on a regular basis.

So it is done. When no morning Bar or Bat Mitzvah is scheduled on the first Saturday of the month there will be a Shabbat Morning Service and, you guessed it, Torah Study. The first Shabbat Service on November 5 was truly a new beginning in both reading the Torah and a morning Shabbat service. (For those that might be interested, the topic from the Torah that week was Noah.)

Temple Beth Elohim has many ways for our members to participate in worship, programs and service. This addition of the first Saturday morning of each month for Torah study and a Shabbat service is one that I would like to see grow and flourish.

I don't know for sure about the others who attended the November 5th Torah study, but I believe they might have had a similar reaction to mine. The rest of Shabbat day seemed more peaceful and relaxed.

Yom Kippur Address 5766: This Could Be The Last Time

Today I would like you to take a good look around... ... go ahead, look around. I want you to remember this auditorium... ... and I want you to realize that this could be the LAST TIME we hold our High Holy Day services here!!

For over 15 years, we have been dreaming of a new Temple, and the exciting news is that it has begun. Even more exciting is the real possibility that we can complete our new building for the High Holy Days next year. I want to update you today on where we stand.

Take a drive up to our land. The foundation is being poured, the steel is set to arrive, the masonry is being delivered and weekly project meetings are being held to monitor our progress. I want to thank those on the building committee who have put in many hours of devotion to this project. I want to particularly thank those who are now making themselves available to attend the weekly construction meetings to lend their expertise: Jeff Heymann, Brad Goldstein, Joe Coco and of course, our chairperson, Joe Greenfield.

We are so close, so very close to realizing our dream of a new home, but we also have a challenge ahead and that is continuing the funding for the project. Here are the basics of the financial situation.

The cost to build the building is $ 5.5 million.
We have secured a $ 4 million construction loan.
We have the potential to sell our current building with an appraisal value of 1.2 million.
The outstanding pledges to be paid are $ 1.3 million.
We have used the pledges collected and other donations to buy the land outright, get full architectural designs, and paid for site prep to get ready for the construction phase.
Doing the basic math that leaves us approximately $ 3 million that we must find a way to offset.

We are so close to having our new home. So very close. With our new building, we can have a Jewish pre-school, expanded religious school, a social hall where we and the surrounding community can hold life cycle events and functions, a Jewish summer day camp, community service programs in our classrooms, and, most importantly, a beautiful new sanctuary in which to worship.

To finalize our dream we will need to raise more money to reduce the amount of the long-term mortgage we will need to assume. Some of our members have given very generously with their pledges and I thank you all very much. As in any family, when there is a need for a new home, a new addition, or a new goal, the family members all pitch in to help achieve that goal. I am asking all members of this congregation to look into your hearts and help our Temple family to financially reach our goal. That goal is to reduce the amount of mortgage we will need to assume to the lowest amount possible. For those of you who have not yet made a pledge to the building fund, it is time to step up and make as large a donation as you can so that your family will be part of this momentous and inspiring achievement.

Take another good look around... I don't want to be here again next year. It is up to all of us to do what we can to finally realize the dream of the beautiful Temple on the hill. The leadership and staff of the Temple are committed to seeing this through. The members of the Board and committee leaders may contact you regarding our project. Remember this day and be open to receiving that call. With your help and increased commitment and with the help of Adonai, this will be the last time we celebrate High Holy Days here.

Come next High Holy Days, I want your family and mine to be able to walk out on our veranda after the first day of Rosh Hashanah, look out on that beautiful vista that extends for miles and say, "G-d bless our new home and G-d bless this giving and loving congregation."

L'Shana Tova