Elaine's Installation Speech, June 19, 2008

GOOD EVENING FELLOW CONGREGANTS. It is difficult for me to believe that it has already been a year since I was elected as your President. I would like to take this opportunity to recap events that have happened during the last 12 months. When I accepted office, I took a great deal of time in filling positions on the Executive Board and adding new members on the congregational board.  I established new committees and positions onto the executive board. These ideas proved paid off, as you will hear in the next several moments.

 

My goal and the goal of my board has been to re-establish the positive image of TBI in our community. I am proud to report that this is happening. We have been in the newspapers several times as well as on the radio. Many in other congregations say they hear good things about Temple Beth Israel.  We are well on our way to regaining our name as the best Conservative congregation in Broward County.

 

We hired an incredible Rabbi, who along with his terrific wife, Sonia, and their precious children, Gali and Benjamin, have helped bring TBI renewed public recognition. The fact that  they are multi-lingual has helped us reach out and become known in the entire Jewish community.

 

Our membership now sits at 167, a nice increase since Rabbi Bater has joined us.  This figure includes families, seniors, and singles. We know there are many others waiting to see where we move before they join, and I will talk about our future home in a few minutes.

 

Now, at the end of my first year, I can honestly say the process of renewal has been exciting. Once again, we are a vibrant and active congregation. We have a nice group of people of all ages from small children to seniors attending our Friday night services.  Everyone enjoys listening to Jessica Wald’s beautiful voice as she accompanies Rabbi Bater.

 

Each Shabbat morning, Rabbi brings the Parscha to life when he helps us to relate and understand the weekly readings.  His words of wisdom have made our services very inspirational and very well attended. When new faces enter our doors on Shabbat or during the week, there is always a smiling face to greet them and answer questions about membership. Our monthly calendar is full of activities for all ages.

 

1.      We hold Friday evening Shabbat Dinners following services and then we all sing and dance with the various musical groups that we bring into the Shul. Attendance has been increasing at each dinner.

2.      Our monthly TOT Shabbat services—attended by young families—some are members and some are looking  - are also a success.

3.      We have the singing Chavarim for babies to 4 years of age held on Thursday afternoons and the Al Galgalim classes for 3yrs to 6 yrs on Sunday at noon.

4.      On Tuesday afternoons, we have Hebrew school classes for children 9 to 11 year-olds, and on Thursday afternoons we have classes for those preparing for Bar/ Bat Mitzvahs.

5.      Our Shabbat Lunch and Learn sessions led by Rabbi Bater or Eli   Kavon are well received.                   

6.      Our Hazak chapter meets monthly and has programs geared to seniors.

7.      Our monthly Rosh Chodesh evenings for ladies only and led by Rabbi Bater are a terrific success. We discuss topics from a woman’s point-of-view and have lively discussions moderated by our Rabbi.

8.      Our monthly Havdallah/Movie nights are also successful. Here too, I have noted a steady increase of attendees.

9.      And last, but certainly not least, is our Latin Salsa Shabbat—  a bilingual service and innovative oneg that has brought many new faces to TBI. Many have joined while others say they are waiting to hear where our permanent home will be.

 

I am proud to report that this past year we have once again  become a full service Temple.  We even have had baby namings, Auf Rufs, and Bar and Bat Mitzvahs – events that were missing from our services for the past few years.

 

All that I have just read to you is a big menu and it could not have been accomplished with just the Congregational board doing the work. Some members helped, but now we are at the point that we need more help from everyone in this room. You need to help us as we continue to grow. We need every member to serve on committees and make things happen.  If you do not, then we should just close the doors and say goodbye to TBI. WITHOUT YOUR HELP WE CANNOT CONTINUE! I urge you to help our Temple grow and survive. For these activities to continue and more to come, I need the participation and support of all of our members. A precious few people have been doing the bulk of the work for each activity.  I am asking each of you to PLEASE HELP THEM. People listen to this very carefully. If we don’t have enough people actively working to rebuild Temple Beth Israel, then we will have to be realistic and face the fact that without adequate support, we need to consider dissolving.

 When I am finished speaking, I am going to pass around a list of all committees. Please sign up for ONE or more committees. The future depends on YOU!

 

Now about our new home. I hope you all will be active volunteers so the work of the Real Estate team will not have been in vain. Ron Rubinoff and his committee have been looking in the Plantation area, as we promised, for our new temporary home. They are now negotiating on two spaces that can house us. Also, Ron is negotiating on land in western Plantation, for a permanent location—I am sorry I cannot discuss this further as this may hamper any negotiations.

 

Now for our High Holidays Services. To repeat, if you all volunteer and truly fulfill your promise, then they will be held at Signature Grand again. When I am done and AFTER you sign up for a committee, please look in the back of the social hall at the chart of seating assignment. Please listen carefully.  Do not write on the board.  Permanent seat holders, you were placed where you were last year—if this is okay, please take a slip of paper from the pad near the board. Write your name, and say okay. If you do not like your seats, then choose new ones, take a sheet of paper and write down the seat numbers and sign it. If you are not a permanent seat holder, choose seats, write it down and sign your name—someone will be standing next to the board to answer questions if you need more help.

 

In closing, I want to once again thank you for the honor of being your President and letting me guide the renewal of TBI. Please remember to sign the committee sheet because, without your help, the renewal will become an unfulfilled dream and we will have to dissolve. After all the other reports are presented, remember to check out your high- holiday seats.

 

THANK YOU