PRESIDENT'S CORNER
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President’s Address to the
Congregation
Erev Rosh Hashanah 5765
By Andy Carpel
Family and friends of Beth Sholom. I am Andy Carpel and I am president of your shul. It is a great honor to be able to speak to you today.
One of the primal needs of man, after food and shelter, is a need to belong. We Jews are the envy of many other cultures, because we belong to each other. You’ve heard the slogans, “Are you a member of the tribe?” “Was that a Yiddish word you used?” “You’re Jewish? From Frederick? Do you know Rabbi Kosman?” But it points out one of the best things about being Jewish here in the US—we all belong to each other. No matter how awkward, no matter how hip. It doesn’t matter if a Jew advises presidents or fixes cars. It doesn’t matter if she sings soprano at the Met, or is the weary mother of ungrateful teenagers. It doesn’t matter if he owns apartment buildings or spent time in jail. We all belong. And for good or for bad, we take each other in, and we look out for each other.
Granted, we may complain about it. One of our less than wonderful traits is “ kvetching.” We may posture and say this one does not deserve a second chance. But no matter how much we kvetch, we always seem to be there for each other. It could be because of the discrimination and hardships our grandparents and great-grandparents endured in the old country. Our empathy for each other is no doubt due to the laws of the Torah that govern our lives. It’s also fostered by the assortment of endearing and also exasperating personalities of our uncles, aunts, cousins, and Jewish friends that made indelible marks on who we are. We have a spoken form of communication that takes place around our conversations. A vernacular of short words we use to let each other know we nderstand. Words like ‘nu?’ ‘schemata,’ ‘fa klempt,’ and ‘oy vey.’
There is also an unspoken feeling we get from being around each other. Of course we all share the same religion, but it is more. It’s as though we all have the same parents. I think we have all shared in the same struggles to gain acceptance in spite of ancient prejudices. We have all shared the same joys, celebrating our small victories in overcoming obstacles. We recognize other Jews even before we meet them.
So what’s all this leading up to?
The Rosh Hashanah holiday is the traditional time for the President to ask for donations to help the shul. I am certain that most every member here today pays their dues, and donates what they can afford. And for that Beth Sholom thanks you.
But the shul still has a need. This year we are asking for volunteers. We have two groups that desperately need your time and ability. They are Bingo and Sisterhood. One keeps the roof over our house; the other makes our house a ‘home.’ Sisterhood has many members on its roster, but only a small cadre of caring individuals is able to donate their time. I am told that Sisterhood is in danger of folding next year, if they cannot get more help.
If, as I believe, Beth Sholom is a family, then Sisterhood is the mother, and our mother is ailing. My elderly mother likes to taunt my brothers and me with guilt She says, “Why is it, that one mother can take care of three children, but three children can’t take care of one mother?” I am asking the mothers, sisters, and daughters sitting here today. Please help us take care of our mother...Sisterhood. If you are not a member, JOIN. If you are a member, please help with at least two functions per year. I am told there are 100 members. If all 100 members helped twice a year, then we would be able to cover… well I don’t know. You do the math. Our Beth Sholom Sisterhood gives every ‘simcha’ a ‘haimisha’ feeling that simply can’t be bought from a caterer, no matter how kosher. They make our shul unique. Please try and make time to help Sisterhood.
There is another need--bingo helpers. Bingo is our largest form of financial support. Through our efforts at bingo we were able to enjoy High Holidays in this beautiful sanctuary. Remember standing on the slanted floors at the School for the Deaf and the Weinberg Center? I vividly recall limping back home after spending Rosh Hashanah on my tippy toes praying at a 45-degree angle. Please take a look at OUR floor.
Our school and sanctuary have enabled us to serve so many more families and youngsters. This building, that you’re sitting in today, is a miracle! Through Bingo, G-d made this building possible. I don’t mean to downplay dues and donations. They are important. But to build and maintain an edifice of this quality, we needed an extra push. Bingo pushed us into this new building, which pushed us into this new era.
A new era, you say? Yes! Just look around you! More people than ever are attending Our High Holiday programs; we now have a serious, professionally taught religious school. In addition to our legendary Rabbi Kosman, we have engaged Rabbi Wiesenberg to guide congregants and students in their Jewish lives.
Since occupying this building, we were able to support Shoresh, an orthodox Jewish day camp that’s become a runaway success. While we don’t run the camp, even the Camp Director Rabbi David Finkelstein will admit he couldn’t have done it without us, and we couldn’t have done it, and so many other things, without this building. And we couldn’t have built this building without G-d’s help and, you guessed it --- Bingo!
Please wander over to this shul most any Sunday or Monday between 5 and 8pm and lend a hand. You will be appreciated and you just may enjoy yourself.
In preparing a closing to this talk, I ran across a study listing the Top Ten most often quoted excuses for NOT volunteering. Just as David Letterman does on CBS Late Night, I’ll list them backwards:
10) Tenth most often given excuse is - I’m too busy. (Well, my wife, Shurron says, “If you want something done, get a busy woman to do it!”)
9) Ninth excuse: I’m too lazy. (Think of how much more satisfying time wasting will be with a little volunteer work under your belt. You’ll relax guilt free.)
8) Number eight excuse: I’m trying to get an education. ( Education? Want to learn management? Become a bingo captain. In six weeks you’ll be able to command the Starship Enterprise!)
7) I can’t leave work, I have a wife and kids. (Then donate your wife.)
6) I can’t leave home, I have a kid to take care of. (Then donate your husband.)
5) I’m too young to work Bingo or Sisterhood. I’m just a kid. (Then donate your parents.)
4) Excuse number four – I’m too shy. (We need shy people. They make great companions for people who can’t stop talking.)
3) I’m too important to work for Sisterhood or Bingo. (Clinical studies have shown that people who THINK they are too important, usually are NOT.)
2) I cannot possibly volunteer. Would you take a donation? (YES, INDEED WE WILL!)
AND the number one reason why most people do not volunteer for Bingo and Sisterhood:
1) I’ve never been asked. Well, tonight I’m asking you, Beth Sholom is asking you, PLEASE BE A VOLUNTEER!.
Thank you and L’Shanah Tovah.