I would like to introduce myself to the congregants of Beth Mordecai. I was very surprised when I got an email from Rabbi Saks requesting that as a leader of Beth Mordecai to please write a letter for the website talking about my connection to Beth Mordecai because I never thought of myself as a leader, but rather an active member.

Click here to link to Caring Committee Mission Statement

I joined the Temple about 5 years ago with my good friend Rhoda Friedman. Though Rhoda had been a member of this congregation when she was growing up, it was our mutual friend Joan who suggested we might like this Temple because it was a very friendly close knit congregation led by Rabbi Melinda Zalma. We both gradually became more involved in the Temple, not just attending High Holiday services, but attending on Friday nights and going to discussion groups at Panera`s. We also became very enthusiastic and started a decorating committee so that the temple would look more festive on the holidays. Another friend, Harriet, joined us and during the holidays other members would also help out. We all found the Temple to be a truly warm and friendly place where we could not only pray, but feel we had found a second home with some wonderful new friends.

Sadly, my friend Rhoda passed away last December, but with her memory as a guiding spirit and with the encouragement and support of Rabbi Saks I took on an even more active role. Because I found such warmth among the congregants I wanted to be able to reach out to others as a friend not only sharing times praying, celebrating holidays and enjoying discussion groups both at Temple and in each other`s homes, but in times of need. So with the Rabbi`s assistance I started a Caring Committee. It gave us the opportunity to visit people who were hospitalized or homebound, who might need a ride to services or to make sure they had a minyan if they were sitting shiva. It has been a very wonderful experience getting to know the other members of the Temple and being able to reach out as a true friend. The other members of the Committee also do a great job and its wonderful sharing our experiences.

Click here to link to Caring Committee Mission Statement

Now that you know my connection to the temple as the rabbi requested I will tell you a little of my personal journey and my Jewish heritage. I grew up in upper Manhattan in the Inwood section and belonged to the Inwood Hebrew Congregation which was very similar to Beth Mordecai,  As so many of us did, I attended the High Holiday services, went to temple for special celebrations and attended the Hebrew School, but it was not until I became active in United Synagogue Youth – USY – that being Jewish became more than just praying and celebrating holidays. It became a way way to connect with other Jewish students to pray, dance, sing, socialize and make friends based on a strong Jewish bond. The times we spent together was special, not necessarily because of our religious connection but because the times we had together was a lot of fun.

My experience on USY on Wheels traveling cross country on a bus was one of the greatest summers of my life. While praying at the Rocky mountains was not quite Mount Sinai or while crossing the Painted Desert was not quite like crossing the Negev with Moses, they were still very inspirational experiences. Eating in Chinese restaurants in the Midwest and ordering tuna (because we had to keep kosher) was certainly a unique experience. One of the funniest incidents was in Los Angeles where our Jewish hosts said since we were kosher they would serve us fish, lobster and shrimp. I was so inspired by this trip that later in life I sent my daughter on the same journey.

Since that trip, and especially after my children were born and attended Hebrew school, I have tried to keep up with my Jewish heritage primarily through family celebrations and attending several congregations along the way. However I have never found a friendlier or warmer congregation than Beth Mordecai which truly embraces what we stand for, a true Jewish home for the soul. In closing I would like to say that Rabbi Saks brings to our congregation the same ruach, spirit and joy I experienced at USY and I don`t believe there are many Rabbis who inspire their congregation and make Judaism an exciting – dare I say fun! – and religious experience that inspires us. Beth Mordecai is truly a special place for all of us.

Click here to link to Caring Committee Mission Statement

Category : Caring Committee