DAY 501: A Request on Behalf of My Shul That’s About More Than Just Raising Money

November 13, 2013
By bethmordecai
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DAY 501: A Request on Behalf of My Shul That’s About More Than Just Raising Money

DAY 501: A Request on Behalf of My Shul That’s About More Than Just Raising Money                                          

For today’s entry, I want to share with you a letter I crafted to family and friends to ask for their support in buying a duck for a rubber duck race (see below). While it was important to describe the event, I felt it was also important to share with them why this event is so meaningful to me. I don’t expect that everyone will agree with my motivations, but by hearing my personal story I hope that people will understand that this event is about more than just raising money. 

If you can, take a moment and think about what this event means to you. Why is it so important to you personally? What is it about the congregation that makes you want this event to succeed? After thinking about your motivations, perhaps you can share them with your family, friends, and colleagues so that when you ask them to buy a duck you’ll be able to show them how their support is more than just raising money. 

Kol Tuv,

Rabbi Ari Saks

P.S.  If you decide to write a similar letter, please share it with me so that we can share them as a community.

On Wed, Nov 13, 2013 at 8:31 AM, Rabbi Ari Saks <ari.saks@gmail.com> wrote:

Dear Family and Friends,

I normally don’t send mass emails and I apologize for adding to your inbox in this way. However, I think this is the best way to collectively ask for your help on an important and critical fundraiser for my synagogue, Congregation Beth Mordecai in Perth Amboy New Jersey. 

On Sunday December 8th, we are teaming up with the Raritan Bay Area YMCA to pull off a Rubber Duck Race Fundraiser as part of the city’s Holiday Parade. Thousands of little rubber ducks will float down a makeshift river in the streets of Perth Amboy to the delight of kids and adults of all ages. The first seven lucky ducks to cross the finish line will win prizes ranging from TVs, to iPads, and gift cards. All it costs is $10 to enter a duck into the race.

 Wanna buy a duck for $10? Go to www.perthamboyduckrace.com

While the primary purpose of the event is to raise money for the synagogue and for the YMCA, I think that the meaning behind the event goes much deeper than that. Beth Mordecai is the sole remaining Jewish community in Perth Amboy, a town with a stronghistory of diversity, and by being that sole remaining Jewish community we have a unique opportunity to build off of that legacy of diversity and be an or lagoyim by sharing the wisdom of our tradition in the public square and by learning from the wisdom of our neighbors. This event showcases our congregation as a vital institution committed to remaining in Perth Amboy, working with communal partners (like the YMCA) in Perth Amboy, and making Perth Amboy thrive.

So if you can, please take a moment and support my congregation in this endeavor. All it takes is one little duck…

Wanna buy a duck for $10? Go to www.perthamboyduckrace.com

Thank you for taking the time to read my email and for supporting my congregation.

All the best,

ari

Category : Rabbi's Journal Rubber Duck Race
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