Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue

from the pages of Kadima, the newsletter of Congregation Adas Emuno:

A Message from our President, Dr. Alan Spector

“How I spent my summer vacation” may be the title of an assigned essay as our children and grandchildren return to school.  I remember those days and thought I would share with you that Sheila and I spent a good part of our summer planning a wedding for our middle child, Kyley.   Kyley became bat mitzvah at Adas Emuno in 1998 and we now look forward to her upcoming nuptials to David Smith, MD.  By the time of their winter wedding, Sheila and I, along with David’s parents, hope to provide our children with the four requisites listed above, and then some.

Besides the planning of the wedding, I have also spent my summer working with our clergy and our board of trustees to ensure that our members will enjoy another year filled with excellent services and programs.  While some things will seem very familiar, we are excited about the new things we have to look forward to.

This year, our high holidays will begin on September 28.  Tickets will be mailed out soon. If you need to purchase additional tickets for extended family members and friends, please call the temple and press option #1 for details.  We have come together as a congregation to welcome the new year for 140 years. That surely qualifies us an old congregation (at least in terms of years in existence). And of course we look forward to worshipping together for another 140 years.

Our new Rabbi and our new student Cantor began leading services on August 26th, and these two fine gentlemen have “wowed” our congregation in just a short time.  Rabbi  Barry Schwartz and Student Cantor Luke Hawley  are still discovering what makes our congregation unique and special, and they have both expressed to me their pleasure in meeting us as individuals and collectively, as a congregation.   Our “official” welcoming service for Rabbi Schwartz will be on October 28.

Shortly, we will also be utilizing a new prayerbook for our weekly Shabbat services.  The board has moved forward and joined the majority of Reform congregations that have embraced Mishkan T’fillah.   We have been soliciting donations for the purchase of these books ($50 each) and have already reached halfway to our goal of 100 copies.  We will continue to offer you the opportunity to purchase one or more books, which may be dedicated in honor of a milestone in your family or in memory of a loved one.  We will inscribe your book(s) with a bookplate that acknowledges your dedication.   Forms are available at the entrance of our sanctuary, or you may email me and I will send one to you. Specto5@earthlink.net

We have recently been blessed to receive a borrowed Holocaust Scroll.  This scroll was previously housed and cherished by Congregation Beth Am in Teaneck.  Upon the closing of their doors, we have been asked to be the new caretakers of this precious and historical scroll. The Holocaust Torah is “borrowed” from the Westminster Synagogue in London, who oversee the Holocaust Memorial Scrolls Trust.

In late Spring, we installed a new ark in our sanctuary.   This beautiful ark was generously donated to us by our former neighbors in Leonia, Congregation Sons of Israel.  There will be a dedication of the Holocaust Scroll and the new Ark during services on Friday, September 16.  Members of both of these congregations will be joining us that evening, and I hope that you will be in attendance at this very special dedication service.

With so much happening in the coming months, I’m happy to inform you that some things will remain the same--namely, that we will continue to use our red Gates of Prayer books for the High Holidays. 

So there you have it!  Something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue!  The lines date back to Victorian England, to wish a bride and groom the best of everything.  But I will use it to wish all of you the best of everything for a Happy and Healthy New Year.   With your continued support, I look forward to a rewarding and great new year for our congregation.

 L’Shana Tova,

Alan