Excerpt from Andrew Brod's, Congregation President, Annual Meeting Remarks

Temple Emanuel’s leadership-development program, called Atid, is nearing an end for this year. “Atid” is the Hebrew word for “future,” but it also implies preparation and readiness. Atid participants spent months learning about the Temple’s history, values, governance, finances, and more. The program is now in its final phase, in which participants are devising their own ideas and proposals for the Temple. They’ll share them with the Board of Trustees at its June meeting.

What’s striking about these proposals is that they all focus on improving the Temple’s engagement with different segments of our community. The Atid participants seem to know instinctively that the Temple’s fundamental goal is to be a place where congregants can come closer to G-d and to each other. Our rabbis and staff strive to create a sense of community, belonging, and connection. Everything else that’s good about Temple Emanuel flows from that.

But while belonging and connection are what it’s all about, they come at a cost. A famous passage from the Talmud says:  Im ein kemach, ein Torah. The literal translation is “if there is no flour, there is no Torah,” but flour is generally interpreted more broadly as food or material sustenance. When applied to a person, it says that it’s difficult to focus on Torah if you’re starving. When applied to a synagogue, it says that if we don’t keep the lights on and pay the salaries, the spiritual fulfillment we want in Temple life will be elusive, if not impossible.

As it happens, it’s that time of year when annual pledge cards are sent out to Temple congregants. The Temple congregation has been extremely generous over the years, and I can’t thank you enough for your support. But it’s time to do it again. Thank you in advance for looking over the pledge form and giving what you can, and I hope you’ll keep in mind that the Temple’s expenses increase every year just as yours do.

These days, material sustenance has an uncomfortable and unsettling dimension, involving the physical safety and security of our facility. The world is a different place for Jews than it was just a decade ago, and we received a sad reminder of that with the recent shooting in D.C. In the last few years, the Temple has applied for and received grants to install boulders, bollards, window coatings, additional cameras, and additional lighting. But grants don’t pay for everything. For example, we have security personnel at all Temple events these days, and the feedback we’ve received indicates that you appreciate that. Unfortunately, it’s expensive.

Therefore, this year’s terumah pledge card also asks you to make a separate $250 contribution to help us continue to provide a safe shul for your family.  Please consider doing so.

Through your generous financial support, you’ll help keep the lights on and pay the salaries, but you’ll also help us maintain the Temple as a place of community and belonging… and safety.

B’shalom,

Andrew Brod

Temple President