Dear Friends,

      As I compose this letter to you, I am sitting in my seat aboard an El Al flight to Israel on Sunday, July 23^rd.  Just about three hours ago, at 4:00 PM, an important rally in support of Israel was to have occurred in Los Angeles and I hope that many of you were able to participate.  Of course, my thoughts are very much with our brothers and sisters in Israel these days, as I imagine that many of yours are as well.

      The situation in Israel notwithstanding and recognizing that Israel’s security will remain an important concern to us requiring our active and engaged support, I will focus this column upon matters closer to home.  In particular, I’d like to reflect upon this past year, our first year together.  Upon my return from Israel, I will share reflections with all of you, first at Services and then much more comprehensively at the year’s first gathering of the Lunch Bunch (Thursday, Sept. 21^st).

      Let me begin then by extending to the entire Ner Tamid family, personally and on behalf of Arianna and Jacob, our profound gratitude for the warm and loving welcome to our new community that you extended to us this past year.  In most instances, “first years” are those of transition.  The special and embracing nature of our community allowed all of us together to hit the road running and to begin to build our community’s future.  The many steps forward that we took together in this first year that we shared should not be lost upon any of us, as they are, in so many ways, the building blocks of our future.

      One important consideration of this past year is, perhaps, most essential.  As a community, we reaffirmed the character of our supportive community in every aspect of synagogue-life.  We also began to explore the important difference that we can make in the world as a community of cause.  Ours has long been a community in which we have made a great difference for one another and for those immediately around us.  Our conscious and dedicated commitment to the welfare of the Jewish People and to nurturing the Jewish future is one which we will grow and deepen every year; it will also grow and deepen us meaningfully in the years to come.

      To CNT’s President Sam Osofsky and to our entire board, I thank you for your support, friendship, and partnership.  To Cantor Radwine, Ami Berlin, Navah Becker, and Shelly Shapiro, I extend my gratitude for your commitment to our synagogue and for your considerable assistance in our first year together.  To Pat Richman, Bea Shapiro, Jackie Profeta, Beverly Adler, and Tara Khetani, thank you for your efforts and support all year long.  To Bryan Hawley, as always, thank you for your hard work and dedication.  Each of you and all of you contributed greatly to the wonderful achievements of this past year and I look forward to all that we will do together in the coming year.

      This year, we welcome to CNT’s staff Eric Shatzkin as our new Executive Director.  Eric brings to us important experience and skills and he will be a great asset to our community.  Our professional staff is eager to work with him and I would encourage anyone who finds herself around the synagogue to drop by Eric’s office and welcome him to his new home.

      I hope that this summer proves to be every bit as enjoyable and relaxing as it should be for all of you.  Of course, we will continue to pray for Israel’s peace and security and to do all within our power to make a difference on her behalf.

       I look forward to seeing you in August.

 B’Shalom – With Blessings of Peace and Wholeness,

Rabbi Isaac Jeret