Kol Nidre Address
Lester Blumberg, President
Temple Emunah, Lexington, MA
September 21, 2007 – 10 Tishre 5768

My dear friends, my chevre, what an honor it is to stand before you again as we usher in another new year as brothers and sisters joined together by the richness of our history, the beauty of our traditions, and the depth of our faith. Last year I made my Kol Nidre remarks as new president, awed by the responsibility I had undertaken, and humbled by the trust you had placed in me. Let me begin as I did last year, by thanking you for the opportunity to be of service to this holy community.

Among my goals as president has been an effort to maintain and enhance the inner strength of the shul; the connectedness we feel as members; the sense of belonging and caring that we strive for everyone to feel. To the extent that I have succeeded in some small measure, I could not have done it without the help of the dozens and dozens of you who are active in conducting the business of the synagogue. In the course of this year I have come to understand at a much deeper level than ever before how the vitality of this community springs from the love and devotion of our professional and lay leadership, and the work of countless hands taking on every task, from guiding our youngsters as they prepare divrai Torah for their bar or bat mitzvahs, to pulling weeds and spreading mulch. To the officers, committee chairs and board members, minyan leaders, Torah readers and service greeters, to kitchen volunteers, social action ambassadors, to 55 Plus-ers who help us reach our older congregants, to committee members who inspire our teens and adult educators who enrich our minds; to those who stand ready to comfort and aid the bereaved, or to lend hand to a family in need, to those of you who know the insides of the building like your own homes, and those who devote their hours to ways and means, and so many others. You are the life blood of our community, and I thank you.

I am most particularly grateful to the officers, members of the Board of Directors and committee chairs. Together with our exceptionally talented professional staff, each devotes many hours executing the programs and activities that exemplify the excellence of this community. They are the face of our lay leadership. I would like to ask the officers, members of the board and committee chairs (whether on the board or not) to stand and be recognized. Thank you.

And let me introduce once again, our new Executive Director, Alan Bell. In the few short months that he has been with us, Alan has become a true partner in the administration of the Temple. Alan, please stand so that people who have not yet met you can know who you are.

On this night reflection and atonement, I know that we still have work to do to make our community more inclusive, accessible and attractive to more members. I am heartened by the ever increasing numbers of participants in our adult education classes, of young families who take part in our family and tot Shabbat programs, of older members who are taking advantage of activities and programs geared towards their needs and interests – and I am thankful to members from all demographics who are helping us better understand how to meet their needs. But in spite of this all, I know that there are still those among us who do not feel as fully welcome or included as we wish them to be. To those for whom our efforts have fallen short, I pledge to you tonight that we will re-double our efforts, for it is the most painful complaint for me to hear that we have failed to make a family feel at home here at Temple Emunah. The circle of active, committed members is large, and we must make sure there is room for everyone within it.

As President, I feel a responsibility to model the behavior that I ask each of us to exhibit towards one another - behavior that is respectful, inclusive and welcoming. Despite my best efforts, however, I am sure that I have given offense, either by act or omission. To those whom I have offended and for those areas in which I have failed to fulfill my responsibilities to the community, S’lach li - on this night of Yom Kippur I ask your forgiveness. To our professional staff, and the officers, committee chairs and members of the board, for the times I have been unable to give you the support and guidance you might have needed, S’lach li, - on this night of Yom Kippur, I ask your forgiveness. To Robin and Molly and to Jake (who had the wisdom to go away to college the year I became president), for the evenings I have been out at meetings, the hours spent in front of the computer, and for asking you to pick up the slack at home, S’lach li – on the night of Yom Kippur I ask your forgiveness.

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So how is it that we continue to move the community forward, sustaining the best of what we are, growing and building on our strengths? What is the nature of our responsibility to one another? I have come to see our role as leaders, and I think as members at large, as one of stewardship. We have been given the blessing of this congregation, with its rich history and tradition, to have and to use for the present while we are here, and we have a responsibility to leave a stronger, stable and even more vibrant community for our children and grandchildren, and for those who will be here long after we are gone.

The essence of this stewardship is nurturing the neshema – the soul – of our congregation. Our neshema is found in the joy of our worship together, the beauty of the melodies we sing, the richness of Shabbat, the intimacy of minyan, the values we express as we care for one another and engage in social action, the intellectual and spiritual growth we foster as we study together and in the fun we have at social events. As stewards we have a responsibility to take part in these dimensions of our communal soul – each in our own way – to embark on a journey of growth, for this is a soul that thrives only when it is used – when it is stretched, probed – and yes, challenged by those who are committed to its survival.

To those of you who come to Temple just a few times a year – welcome back – it is wonderful to see you here this Yom Kippur. We have missed you. But I challenge you to dip your toes in a bit more. Look around, and I am sure that you will find something that will bring you back during the course of the year to come. If you don’t, let us know what it is that might inspire you to join in.

To the many for whom Emunah is a more regular part of your lives – it’s also great to see you here this evening! Help us to understand better what brings you to shul. Stop in and schmooze when you are dropping your kids off for religious school. Attend another lecture, study a text, come to Shabbat services, help us with minyan. Take a step into leadership by joining a committee or undertaking a project.

And to those for whom Emunah is at the core – you have a special obligation to the rest of us, for there is something here that has sparked your soul. You must share that spark so that it can ignite other souls. For the core of the community cannot be an exclusive club or clique. It must be a circle without boundaries, open and welcoming, ever expanding. That is the essence of stewardship.

There is, of course, another critical element of stewardship, and many of you have heard me speak of this before. As stewards we have a responsibility to ensure the fiscal stability of our synagogue for the present and for the future. This is not just about giving money. As officers and members of the Board we have a duty to assure that the Temple spends its funds in a responsible manner, that our programming and staffing are configured to meet the needs of the community, that our building is well maintained, and that we plan for future contingencies – both those that we can predict, and those that will surprise us. The Board is comprised of talented, dedicated and responsible stewards who take their duties very seriously. The Temple’s budget is balanced every year. W e never run a deficit, and we continually save for future needs. Our building, both the old part and the new, has its challenges. Not every system works as well as it should, some of our facilities need repair or replacement. We are doing our very best to plan for both short and long term maintenance and capital repairs. Every project needs a champion, and I appreciate the passion that some of you feel for one particular project or another. But this is a team sport, so I invite all the champions to join together in helping us tackle each one in a coordinated and deliberate way.

Of course, stewardship is also about money. I am thrilled to announce that we have had another extremely successful Kol Nidre appeal. Thanks are due to Robert Cohen and Craig Klein who took over the appeal this year, relieving Joe Nissenbaum who somehow managed to have his knee replaced two days before we kicked it off – (Joe next time just ask.) Although we got started a little late this past June, so many of you have responded with the generosity that has characterized this appeal every year. I know that we did not reach every member over the summer, and for those who included your Kol Nidre pledge in your dues commitment for the year – you have my thanks. It is never too late. If you have not yet made a pledge, please do so – whether you are able to give $18.00, or $18,000 – it is your participation that counts.

Our Sustaining Membership program continues to be an important part of our annual planning. My deepest thanks to those of you who have made the annual commitment of dues payment above the standard categories to become sustaining members.

The Kol Nidre appeal and our sustaining membership programs are essential parts of our annual budget. But as stewards, we must also prepare, and do all that we can to ensure the fiscal strength of the temple for the future. Last year I announced that we would commence an endowment campaign that would help sustain our congregation for the generations to come. It has been a busy year. Over the course of this past year, David Ezekiel, Rabbi Lerner, and small group of other leaders have worked tirelessly put us in a position to launch the campaign shortly after the holidays. Our endowment campaign will fortify the success of our capital drive. B’Emunah – With Faith in our Future - We have built the building, and now we will secure our ability to fill it with prayer, learning and joy. Very soon you will be receiving news about the launch of our campaign – it is an exciting and inspiring project – for at its core are members of our community who have dedicated themselves to the future of our congregation, beyond this year or next, beyond even this generation, to the generations to follow. I would like to recognize these stewards tonight: The General Chairs of our endowment campaign are: Sharon & Gary Curhan and Melissa & Jon Hirschtick. Honorary Chairs are: Beth & Rich Fentin, Norman & Milly Koss; Phyllis & Samuel Rubinovitz; Jerome and Sharon Smith and Amy & Roberto Tenenbaum. Chairs of the Advisory Council are: Lisa & Mo Diamant; Betsy & Joe Nissenbaum; and Susan & Sid Rubenstein. My friends, your dedication to our community, and the example you set for all of us is an inspiration.

Last year I spoke of how the beauty of the Hebrew language ties us together. Though as you may recall, I got myself into a little trouble with Fred Ezekiel and French – something about a group of friendly goats. In the ensuing months, as I have had the pleasure and honor of sharing the bima with Rabbi Lerner and Rabbi Jacobs, I have become more aware of the power of melody as a vehicle for worship and community spirit. My favorite niggun comes from Psalm 98 which we sing during the Kabbalat Shabbat service. Yram HaYam – Let the sea roar… Let the rivers applaud in exultation! The words are inspiring, but it is the tune that stirs my soul. It brings me peace each time I hear and sing it. Oftentimes during the week I find myself searching for it in my mind, and when I do, a smile always comes to my face. Now, I promised my family that the one thing I would not do as president was to sing in public. But one of the really cool things I get to do is to ask our beloved Hazzan, David Srebnick, to add a small piece to his Kol Nidre repertoire.

So please accept my and my family’s wishes to you for the new year. May it bring you health and a measure of happiness, and may this be the year in which we find the world at peace. Have an easy fast, and David, if you could take us back to your USY days, and lead us together in song.

G’mar Hatimah Tovah

Lester Blumberg
President

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