Day 13 – Going Home Together

13 Elul 5775
by Elaine Schwartz

It is good to be home!!

I had the honor of being Temple president from 2009-2011. It was the beginning of the recession and times were precarious. I witnessed the behind the scenes… how our staff and lay leaders pulled together …And with discretion and dignity helped so many of our congregants find jobs and feel supported and embraced by their congregational family.

We stayed together and persevered.

Then the economy picked up a little. We began working on the Master Plan again and morphed into a full-fledged Living Legacy Campaign. Then the fire happened. And now our greater community welcomed us with open arms as we worked diligently to preserve and sustain our congregation.

We stayed together and persevered.

With the generosity, hard work, and strength of our congregants and staff pre-fire and post-fire, we have been able to rebuild. We will again worship together, learn with each other, serve our community together, and enjoy each other’s company in our own home.

We will stay together and persevere for generations to come.

Hazak Hazak V’nitkhazek! Be strong!  Be strong! And may we be strengthened!

May the blessings of light be upon you, light without and light within. And in all your comings and goings, may you ever have a kindly greeting from those you meet along the way. May the future hold your happiness and your health. May your arms forever hold your dear family and friends.

And may your heart hold Temple Beth Sholom and its congregants near and dear to you.

L’Shanah Tovah u’Metukah, a Sweet New Year!

 

2 Responses to Day 13 – Going Home Together

  1. Jeff Merkow August 28, 2015 at 10:33 am #

    Thank you Elaine for all you have done to help make this return a reality. You have been a vital leader throughout. You have left a living legacy that is a blessing to this and future generations at TBS. And, thank you Mike for your support and encouragement. TBS is so blessed to have the Schwartz family as part of our congregation.
    Shana Tova.

  2. Rhea Dorn August 31, 2015 at 10:31 am #

    Elaine, we are lucky to have you as a leader in Temple Beth Shalom. I wish you and your family a good year.