The following speech was given on Rosh Hashanah:
Shanah Tovah! A very warm welcome to all of you. Whether you have been a member for decades, or just a few days, or somewhere in between, whether you are here as a guest, or a prospective member, today we are all part of the Shomrei family and Shomrei welcomes you with open arms.
We have accomplished a lot this year by creating what we call Open Door Judaism. With the adoption of the sustaining share membership model we have taken a bold stand on who we are and what we aspire to be. This model recognizes that each of us has a different capacity to give. Therefore, we do not “require” a specified membership fee, but instead rely on each of our members to determine the amount to which he or she can commit to ensure the continuing vitality of our community. Some pay more, some pay less, but in the end the goal of sustaining our community, a community which sustains us in so many ways, is shared by all. And, the response has been very promising indeed with many members contributing more than they have in years past.
What does this mean in practice?
- Young families with the same financial challenges that many young families encounter, can now belong to our community without adding to their financial stress
- People who prior to the new dues model gave what they could, but who could not afford the stated membership dues, now feel like an equal member of the community.
- People on a fixed income or who are experiencing temporary financial hardship, no longer have to ask about a special rate, they can simply join.
- The generosity of those who are able to pay more and are willing to do so, has a direct impact on the lives of other people and we are profoundly grateful to them for making synagogue life possible for others.
- One day those who are benefiting from this model now and grow into our community, will be able to make synagogue membership possible for others.
- Thus, we have done away with the country club model of synagogue membership and have now adopted a model that is more in keeping with a vibrant, open and welcoming spiritual community.
Last year as I introduced the concept of our new membership model, I quoted Abraham Joshua Heschel, who said: “Religion begins with a consciousness that something is asked of us.”
One answer to that question – what is being asked of us? – lies in that, although we have rolled out the financial component of the new model, there is another equally important component that we have yet to fully address. Volunteerism. For those of you who don’t know, it takes an astonishing 5,000 volunteer hours to run Shomrei each year.
What does that mean? When you look around this room, you will see many of our volunteers. They are our ushers and gabbaim, our officers and trustees. They give support to our office, they produce our newsletters and online publications, our programming, our budget, they make possible our feeding the homeless once a week through the MESH program, housing the homeless in partnership with the Interfaith Hospitality Network for two weeks each year, and taking care of our own members during illness and difficult times through our Mensch Squad.
This community, which is over a century old, has sustained Jewish families for decades and decades.
It is critical that we expand our volunteer base to continue this work. Our current group of volunteers – a more devoted and committed group than you could ever hope to find – needs you to join them in the work of this congregation.
Let me give you a few examples of the kind of work they do…
Our board of trustees has devoted hours and hours to ensure that Shomrei is moving forward in a way the does honor to our aspirations, while confronting the financial challenges we face along the way.
Our board of education, larger than in years past, has done much to enhance our preschool and Jewish Learning Center.
This year, Hinei Mah Tov, our inter-generational family service will seek to engage more and more families to lead and participate in services.
Our Ritual chair and the entire Ritual Committee continually ensures that we have daveners for every service and that our High Holiday services include as many of our members as possible.
All of this couldn’t happen without our volunteers.
I too am a volunteer and speaking for myself, nothing can be more gratifying than being of service to a community I love so much. I think it fair to say, that most of our volunteers feel the same way.
Rabbi Jonathan Saks the former chief Rabbi of the United Kingdom said “Jews know this in their bones. Our community could not exist for a day without its volunteers.”
So, as we begin to engage with the volunteer component of our new membership model, please consider how you would like to participate. If you haven’t yet had an opportunity to volunteer, consider doing so ¬ even if it is only once a year, once a month, or if you have the time once a week. I think you will find it far more rewarding than you could ever imagine.
There is a wonderful story told by Rabbi David Wolpe that speaks to the larger needs of the world, but there is something for us here at Shomrei to learn from it.
He tells of a man who once stood before God, his heart breaking from the pain and injustice in the world. “Dear God,” he cried out, “look at all the suffering, the anguish and distress in your world. Why don’t you send help?” God responded, “I did send help. I sent you.”
There is a world that needs us, and there is a Shomrei world that needs us as well. Open Door Judaism, doesn’t mean walk right in, sit right down. It means walk right in and bring your creativity and passion, and help us create a spiritual community that not only makes a difference to its members, but to the community, and the world at large. That is the invitation of Open Door Judaism for new members and old.
To all of you who have been part of this journey this past year, and to our Rabbi for all he brings to this journey, I thank you for everything you do to make Shomrei the very special community that it is. Without you there would be no Shomrei. It is this community that makes it possible for us to come together to celebrate and to mourn, to be there for one another in good times and bad, to provide our children with a warm and loving preschool and a Jewish Education Center that invites our students to take joy and pride in a meaningful Judaism.
You are Shomrei Emunah. Yasher Koach!
I wish you a sweet, healthy, and happy New Year.
L’Shanah Tovah Tikatevu
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Nick – thank YOU for your many, many hours of volunteering and for being a role model for the Shomrei community.