November 2008

Dear Friends,

At Ner Tamid, we take great pride in our efforts to nurture our children and teens toward their meaningful participation in the unfolding of the Jewish future. Indeed, as all synagogues should, we view our children and teens as our most vital resource, for they represent our own hope for the vibrancy of generations of Jews that will carry a unique Jewish message and purpose into the future. As such, we devote the greatest portion of our more immediate resources, whether financial, temporal, or otherwise, to educational and other related programming for our youth. Indeed, we are privileged to be able to do so.

However, children cannot be enculturated toward an engaged and fulfilling adult Jewish life unless adults whom they observe and encounter within their Jewish community are likewise engaged. Fortunately, we enjoy together as adults in our community a wide and deep array of spiritual, intellectual, and social opportunities for participation. And, most healthily, the reason that our adults take advantage of these opportunities is not simply “for the sake of the children,” but, rather for their own intrinsic value, most personally. This is perhaps the best example that we can set for our children and teens as they grow and develop amongst us.

With a keen awareness of our need always to seek to broaden and deepen our programmatic offerings for adults, our leadership has identified over the last several years a growing need to develop further our offerings for our senior membership. Yes, our Lunch-Bunch program is truly second to none. Stan and Marilyn Kritzer, and their Lunch Bunch committee, have done an outstanding job, volunteering to chair and manage an enormously successful program, on the third Thursday of each month, with a superb cadre of speakers and presenters on a great range of subjects and topics of interest – followed by an expectedly delectable lunch prepared by Chef Peter Carpenter and his catering staff. And, it is true that the classes and speakers sponsored by our Adult Center for Jewish Learning and Cultural Arts, and the great range of programming sponsored by our Men’s Club and Sisterhood, enjoy a significant following among our seniors, alongside other adults in our community. Still, we have long recognized the need to expand, in particular, our daytime offerings to seniors. Recently, our synagogue was blessed with an opportunity to do just that.

In engaging Pearl Gold as our new Senior Programming Coordinator, our synagogue has added a valuable member to our staff who will work in partnership with our seniors and with others among our staff to bring to our synagogue more daytime-programming, of an even wider range of appeal, each month. Pearl’s history with our congregation is legendary. Pearl and her late-husband, Richey, hosted the very first gathering of our congregation’s founders, in their living-room, in 1961! She and her family have been members and leaders in our community ever since. Pearl’s role on our staff will include her availability as our synagogue-receptionist, situated at our front-desk, during religious-school hours, making it easier for parents to conduct their synagogue-related business after work hours, or on Sunday mornings, and helping children and adults to find their way to their destinations in our building during our busiest hours. However, her contribution as our Senior Programming Coordinator will allow our community to continue to broaden our offerings, carefully, thoughtfully, and meaningfully, to our senior membership.

Yes, our children matter – more than anything or anyone, at Ner Tamid. And, this is the way it should be. But, those who laid the foundation for our ability to meet the needs of our children and teens today by founding and building our community are indeed appreciated by all of us, not only in word, but, very much in our planning and programming. Jewish and more general enrichment for senior citizens will continue to develop and thrive in our community and, with the addition of Pearl to our staff, we can be sure that our offerings will continue to be developed with the same appreciation for their quality and success as our existing offerings enjoy.

B’Shalom – With Blessings of Peace and Wholeness,

Rabbi Isaac Jeret
Spiritual Leader