FROM THE
Marc Maxwell Board President
BOARD PRESIDENT & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
These last months have been challenging for all of us with the social distancing COVID-19 necessitated and our communal desire to be together. We have, as individuals and as a community, risen to this challenge in amazing ways. We turned our community virtual in three days, transforming our vibrant programs, teaching, and observances to online opportunities. We set up a system of technical support, added resource links to our website, and set in motion a set of personal phone calls to our congregants, made by clergy, staff, and members to members. Our Religious School, TILLI, FJECC Preschool, the Tent, the Village, committee meetings and daily minyan have all continued online. We have all experienced this pandemic individually, in our own homes, and with our own experiences, while we have held each other up and reminded ourselves how much we need and rely on each other in our daily, communal, and religious lives.
We intended to come together to celebrate Cantor Einhorn at our annual gala, Stepping Out. While we could not hold that event in person, we still hold up our love and appreciation to Cantor Einhorn for all he has given us over his 37 years of leading us in song and prayer. Cantor Einhorn has contributed to each of our lives, serenading and celebrating our families at our most joyous moments, while supporting and consoling us at our most difficult times. Our consciousness of environmental issues and the formation of our Green Team are in large part due to his efforts. Cantor Einhorn was an early adopter of technology by recording his lovely voice and cantillation on MP3s, when many of us didn’t know what that was. He has prepared over a thousand b’nei mitzvah students, performed hundreds of weddings, and a similar number of funerals. Shabbat Sing, Qabbalat Shabbat, festivals, holidays, Youth Choir, Adult Choir, hospital and home visits, Social Policy demonstrations, international learning trips; there is no end to how Cantor Einhorn has led us, joined us, been an integral leader of our community. Cantor Einhorn has quite literally been music to our ears, the soundtrack of our religious and communal life together. We wish him and Jodi Sufrin, his wife and fellow cantor, much joy, health and new experiences in the next chapter of their lives, retirement from the active Cantorate. We can show our love and appreciation for Cantor Einhorn by lifting up his legacy. Two immediate ways are by supporting the Friends Annual Fund which allows us to enrich our community and programming, and contributing to the Roy B. Einhorn Music Fund, established to fund in perpetuity our robust and innovative music programs. We can honor his legacy through our contributions to these two financial efforts, as well as how we enthusiastically embrace our new Cantor, Alicia Stillman, when she joins us early this summer. We will miss Cantor Einhorn and we will honor him by keeping the joy and music he gave us flowing into our future at Temple Israel.
Over the last few months, our community has responded to the challenge of our times and transformed into a strong and connected virtual community. For nearly 170 years, Temple Israel has continued to evolve, relying on our members and leaders to rethink how we live Judaism together. This current sustained crisis has been the catalyst for us to pivot to our next iteration of programming and communal opportunities through technology. Overall, this shift has been remarkably smooth, and that would not have been possible without the strong leadership of our layleaders and staff who continue to propel us forward. When you need spiritual nourishment, just a place to breathe, or a friend to talk to, come be a part of our many worship, educational, and social justice opportunities. Please check our website regularly as we are continuing to post new gatherings often (www.tisrael.org/TogetherWithTI). If you have any questions or want to learn more please contact me at ddeutsch@tisrael.org. If you are enjoying our offerings, we ask that you share your positive experience with others. Help spread the word and share our impact story with others. Dan Deutsch Executive Director
Finally, I encourage you to join us on the evening of Thursday, June 11 for our Annual Gathering. More details will be shared soon on whether this program will be held in person or online, but either way, this is a terrific opportunity to celebrate our past year, vote on our new leadership, and support one another. I look forward to seeing you all in person when it is safe to do so, and online until then.
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Living Judaism together through discovery, dynamic spirituality, and righteous impact.
