It’s hard to believe summer is winding down and fall and the High Holidays are just around the corner.

Welcome back to all of our kids who enjoyed summer camp or Israel this summer. We are excited to have you back and know we will see you being involved in Shabbat School and USY. I know the Rabbi enjoyed a nice visit at Camp Ramah; she tried to set up a visit with Herzl which didn’t happen, but will next summer. B’nai Emet can be proud of the number of kids we send each summer to the various camps and Israel programs and the scholarship money that is awarded to help our kids experience Judaism in another setting.

Our restoration of the building is coming along and will be done well in time for the High Holidays. We will continue to accept donations and are setting that money aside for the long-term repairs we need to do. Thanks to the many congregants who have helped donate to the project. Your commitment to B’nai Emet means a lot.

This time of year is always complex, as our congregants get their statements for the new year and call in with many questions. We try to make sure to call everyone back in a timely fashion and explain their charges.

Some of our congregants are currently unemployed, have recently put a loved one into a nursing home or have experienced high medical bills. They have no idea how they will make ends meet and their first thought is to resign from the synagogue. It is our responsibility to assure our congregants that the synagogue will be there for them during their time of need.

Those of us who can afford to do more should be doing what we can to help those less fortunate. Our synagogue dues structure is based on everyone paying their fair share. That means that your dues should be set at a comfortable level, with at least 2% of your income is going towards your synagogue dues. If you are having a great year and can afford to do more, but don’t want to commit for every year, just do an extra donation and mark it this year only. Let’s all work together to help balance our budget and keep B’nai Emet strong.

By now, all of you have probably read or heard the exciting news about our synagogue being chosen as one of the locations for filming the next Coen Brothers’ movie. Meetings were held throughout the summer to discuss the various issues; special thanks to Sean Murphy for helping us get chosen. We can all be proud of our synagogue and especially the Fingerhut Sanctuary—its beauty is what really sold them on our shul!

Our committees and dedicated volunteers have done lots of planning for the upcoming year. If you would like to keep the dates for our Shabbat dinners on your calendar, you will find them on the new synagogue calendar coming out in the fall. Thank you to Lilly Berman, Evie Ingber, Anita Siegel, David Grone, Steve Serber, and Estee Warsett for all of their work on the calendar. This is a major fundraiser. When you receive your calendar, please look through it, call our advertisers first and let them know you saw their ad in the calendar. We also ask for a donation from our congregants to help offset the cost. Your contribution will be much appreciated.

Our annual BBQ will be held on Sunday, September 7th. A delicious meal is in store for all of you! Our thanks to Sheryl Rutzick and LeeAnn Ancier for once again chairing this event. Also thank you to all who are helping in the cooking, set up, and clean up of the event. What a wonderful way to end the summer and start off the new school year!

Finally, we say goodbye to our college students as they head back to school. Make sure the office has their school address as we try to keep in touch with our college kids and send them a gift package or two during the year. Best of luck to all of you, and thanks for all you have done for B’nai Emet during your growing-up years. We look forward to hearing wonderful things about you as you continue your journey. Remember, there is no place like home.

To all of our congregants, we wish you a healthy and a happy New Year. We look forward to seeing you in shul for the holidays, as well as on Shabbat and maybe for an occasional minyan. Did you know we have daily minyan Monday through Friday at 7:30 a.m.? On Saturday and Sunday we start at 9:00 a.m., and we always have evening services at 6:00 p.m. Please come and help us make a minyan so that others can say Kaddish. May the New Year bring good health, peace and happiness to all of our B’nai Emet family.

B’Shalom,

Sari Lederman & Paul Tuchman

B’nai Emet Co-Presidents