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Home Stretch
June, 2001
I am in the home stretch of my B’nai Emet presidency. With increasing
frequency, I feel that jolt as I realize I am preparing my last board
meeting agenda, or ordering library books, signing checks, or performing
any one of countless other tasks for the last time as your president. And
here I am sitting at my computer, writing my President’s Message for the
last time.
I was recently searching for a document in the B’nai Emet piles of paper
that live and flourish on my dining room table, when I came across some
notes I had written to myself early in my presidency. In the notes, I had
identified the six most important goals I hoped to achieve during my
presidency. Reading over those goals, I shook my head at my naiveté, and
buried the notes in the recycling bag, thinking about the saying, “Life is
what happens while we’re making other plans.”
Two years ago, as Alan G. was preparing to retire as president and pass
that responsibility to me, I could never have imagined the course these
past two years would take, in the personal, professional, and synagogue
components of my life. I could never have foreseen the innumerable hours I
would be called upon to spend working on synagogue personnel changes,
relatively minor operation and management issues, and relationships
between B’nai Emet and outside organizations. Neither could I have
imagined the tremendous satisfaction I would derive from my B’nai Emet
work.
The overall goal of my work as president has been to emphasize and develop
B’nai Emet’s strengths. We should take pride in all our synagogue’s
strengths, but in my opinion our number one asset is our people—our
members and staff. My rewards came from knowing and learning from and
depending on all of you. In addition, some particular high points for me
included writing this column, planning Michael E.’s recognition program,
helping to launch and maintain the bnaiemet.org website, sharing problems
and developing solutions with our rabbi, officers, and committee chairs
and members, finding deeper meaning in our Jewish observances and
traditions, and recognizing all along the way my own personal learning and
development.
I never felt alone during the toughest challenges. I can’t count the times
I felt my worries lighten, listening to Anita’s calm telephone greeting,
“Shalom. B’nai Emet. How may I help you?” Or the occasions I turned to
Marty S. with problems that seemed insoluble until he helped me think them
through. Or the times Rabbi Abramson eased me past difficult periods with
humor and support and good logic. Or the advice and encouragement I
received from Michael E. at his kitchen table. Or the times my good
friends and family saved me with laughter and perspective. I will always
value the strength I have received over these past two years from our
incomparable B’nai Emet people.
I hope our next president Alan Ingber enjoys two years of sunny skies, but
if he ever needs my help, I will be there for him, as you have all been
there for me.
No, two years ago I could not have imagined the challenges, the effort,
the satisfaction, the support, the appreciation, and the strength that
were in my future. They weren’t reflected in the list of goals that is now
lying in the bottom of my recycling bag. Life definitely happened while I
was making other plans. But nevertheless, with the help of so many of you,
I hope I have achieved something for B’nai Emet Synagogue. I thank you all
for the honor you have given me by allowing me to serve as your president.
Bonnie Berezovsky
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