FROM THE PRESIDENT
(Continued from page 1) Our Education Committee has grown, we have teachers for every class, and there are more people involved in our school program that I can ever recall. To my delight, this includes several new member families who jumped right in to serve as volunteers and as teachers in our school. As the star chart in our foyer lobby attests, the kids are meeting their service requirements and learning Jewish worship and culture. And we have exciting new ideas for next year, including a recent grant to fund early childhood learning programs. Learning doesn’t stop with our youngsters. We have presented adult education programs and learning activities throughout the year, and will do so again next year (potentially including an “Introduction to Judaism” class led by our rabbi.
if we are operating at a deficit each year. My answer is that fulfilling the mission will drive the financial result, and not the other way around. A synagogue that succeeds in providing a warm and welcoming environment within which its member families can experience the joy and togetherness of a Jewish community will attract the financial support that it needs to continue. We are not proposing to increase dues or fees this year. And we are not projecting a balanced budget. But we are working on a number of ideas that would, if they bear fruit, close our deficit gap without the need for additional fees or assessments. This may take some time, but it is one of our priorities for the coming year. Conclusion I want to close by saying “thanks.” First to the Board members. My challenge to the Board at the beginning of the year was, think of what you want to do, build your team, and get it done. And this Board met that challenge. Everything good that has come from leadership this year has been the result of good ideas, sound planning, and hard work by the members of this Board. Every committee has more volunteer participation and more energy than when the year began. We are already planning for next year in Education, Worship, Membership and a host of other committees. To the members of the Board, I say Thank You and Yasher Koach. Second to the Congregation. For your faith and trust. For your dedication. For your smiles in the hallway. For your time and your family’s time. For your children who come here to learn Jewish culture and values. You make this a community. You support our programming and activities. You make it possible for Reform Jewish worship, learning, and community to exist here in Loudoun County. You give your time, you give your funds, you give your energy and your spirit. And we appreciate it. The tradition, when we finish reading a book in the Torah, is to shout together, “Hazak! Hazak! V’nit Hazek!” It means “Be Strong! Be Strong! And May We Be Strengthened!” Tonight, as we close the book on one congregational year and prepare for the next, let us say together: “Hazak! Hazak! V’Nit Hazek!”
House of Assembly If Beth Chaverim Reform Congregation were only a place to come to services and drop our kids for religious school, we would not be complete as a synagogue. We would not be a community. This past year, we have undertaken many community events and programs. Our members have enjoyed a multitude of social programs presented by our Social Committee, Brotherhood, and Sisterhood. We have an active Youth Group whose members have enjoyed getting together with their peers in a Jewish setting, in keeping with the Union for Reform Judaism’s priority to “engaging our youth.” Regular dinners and social events give our members a place to relax together and get to know each other better. Regarding the broader community, we have undertaken joint programming with our friends from the ADAMS Center, such as the “twinning” program we held earlier this year focusing on the story of Abraham and his two sons. And our Tikvah Committee is very active with Loudoun Bridges, pursuing interfaith understanding and harmony. Thoughts for the Future Beth Chaverim Reform Congregation will thrive if it fulfills its mission as a House of Prayer, a House of Study, and a House of Assembly (Community). I am often asked how can we do this
High Holiday Planning Committee! Come join the fun! Yes, it is that time again to begin planning for high holidays. Most of our committee members from last year have agreed to continue on this year, but we would love to have you join us! If you are interested, contact cindy hack at chack18@gmail.com. 3