This is my last President’s Message for the Voice and the perfect moment to thank all of you for the confidence, support and trust and you have given me over the past two years.
And what an eventful two years it has been. The beginning of my term coincided with the arrival of Rabbi Kramer, who wasted no time making herself indispensable to our Shomrei Torah community, and ends with the arrival of Cantor David Frommer, who officially starts July 1. In between, we found Mark Travis, our new executive director whose impact is registering across every aspect of synagogue life.
The past two years also brought the “wall words,” or visual T’filah, with a state-of-the-art projection system in the sanctuary. We introduced the monthly Rabbis’ Tisch, which has grown into our best-attended regularly scheduled service. And we’ve expanded our outreach to attract new faces into our community, from Babies & Bagels to our first-ever public Passover seder this spring. We wrote and implemented a comprehensive Strategic Plan, and are reaping the healthy growth in membership that it helped foster. And there is the Jewish Food Fest, perhaps the most pubic (and, in terms of sheer numbers, successful) event ever produced at Shomrei Torah.
Of course, all of these achievements have little to do with me personally, and everything to do with the incredible commitment and talent of our clergy, staff, board, and volunteers. How easy all of you make it to lead such a strong and dynamic community.
If my term can be labeled a success, much of the credit goes to those who modeled the job of president before me. Dianne Smith was president when I joined Shomrei Torah a dozen or so years ago, succeeded by Melissa Kort, Jeremy Olsan, and Marcy Pluznick-Marrin—all of whom exemplified the wisdom, judgment, work ethic, patience, and collaborative spirit that I have tried to emulate.
Though I am proud of all that our community has accomplished during my term, I can’t help but acknowledge those larger challenges that remain unmet. There is a mortgage on our building that will come due in a few years’ time, a large empty space where our second building should be rising, and a persistent projected deficit in our budget where I’d rather see a zero balance. But thanks to your generosity and the hard work of our staff, my presidency ends with Shomrei Torah in even stronger financial shape than when it began.
To paraphrase Shakespeare, nothing in my presidency became me like the leaving it, and in that we are all fortunate to pass the baton to Rachael Cutcher. She has been a tireless servant of this congregation for many years, and will bring exactly the knowledgeable, energetic and committed leadership our synagogue needs and deserves. Please join me in wishing her the best in her new role.
While I can’t say that I’m sorry my time as president is ending, neither can I say I’m entirely glad. It has been an honor to serve this congregation, occasionally frustrating, always humbling, and an extraordinary privilege for which I will always be grateful.
B’shalom,
Bruce