If yesterday's annual meeting could be thought of as a "state of the union" gathering, then I would say that it was successful. There was honest, thoughtful debate about the articles of incorporation and by-laws of Tifereth Israel. None of this would have been possible without the volunteer efforts of Joyce Davidson, Steve Seglin, Dan Friedman, and Robert Evnen. Nor would it have been possible without the articulate knowledge of Judge Ben Novicoff. One thing brought up during the discussion was whether or not we needed to add specific language to ensure that Tifereth Israel would remain aligned with the Conservative movement into the future.
There was also discussion about our membership, our financial status, and the status of our aging building. One thing that was apparent was that our numbers have decreased over the years (now at 89 units) while our financial status has remained intact (due to the hard work and oversight by our executive board and Howard Feldman in particular). The building is being maintained in a healthy manner with hopes that the heating and cooling systems will not give out! (Our trustees, Marlon Weiss and Seth Harris are not only handy and on top of what needs to be done, they are also future minded.)
These conversations need to continue in the days and months ahead. Amazingly we have managed to have a strong core group that attends services on a weekly basis, stepping up to the plate when asked to read Torah, chant a Haftorah, help put out kiddush, prepare lunches, and daven. Our percentage of those attending compared to our total numbers is probably above the national average. What changes the picture for us is that 10% of a 500 unit congregation brings a critical mass of 50 to a service while 30% of a 90 (almost) unit congregation brings a critical mass of 27 to a service. There are weeks when we do better than 30% which makes me proud of the commitment of our congregation to the spiritual life of this congregation. The key will be how we maintain that momentum or even increase it so that if our membership declines over time due to our state of aging (myself included!) there will be the necessary critical mass needed to carry on the functions of our religious life.
We are going to try a few new formats for next year...starting in Sept. We will be having some of our Friday evening services coordinated with dairy/potluck dinners hosted at a family home. I believe the idea of spending leisurely time together on Shabbat/coupled with a family friendly service will be appealing to many.
In addition, we will restart our lunch and learn sessions on Shabbat,(once every other month), focusing on "Mind, Body, and Spirit." I am meeting with a few individuals to try to restart our tikkun olam/ social action focus for the shul and we will also be featuring some guest speakers on Sunday afternoons.
Your input and participation is always appreciated. It is critical that we continue to support our shul not only financially but also physically!
B'shalom,
Nancy Coren
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