Shalom Congregants,
When I think about the qualities that make CBI special and are important to the success of any synagogue, being a truly welcoming community rises to the top.
When I moved with my family to Israel in 1996, our top priority was to find the right synagogue community for us. Although we moved primarily for a professional opportunity and were not making Aliyah, we knew we needed to find a synagogue that would help us feel comfortable in a new environment and facilitate our integration into Israeli society, the way Israeli “Absorption Centers” do for new immigrants. Fortunately, we found a wonderful Masorti/Conservative congregation in the city of Kfar Saba, K’hilat Hod V’Hadar. This was truly a welcoming community, and it made a big difference for us, especially in the early days when we were trying to get settled in our new home. New friends and acquaintances recommended doctors and preschools; they helped us understand customs and daily interactions that were new to us. In Israel, the Hebrew word kleetah is used to describe the process by which new Olim (i.e., those making Aliyah) are absorbed and integrated into Israeli society. Although technically we were not new Olim, the success of our Kleetah was made possible by our Hod V’Hadar community.
When Helaine and I returned to New Jersey in 2001 with three small children in tow, our experience in Israel had taught us the value of finding the right synagogue community for a smooth transition. Fortunately, we found our way to CBI through friends we had made at the Golda Och Academy and through our prior relationship with Cantor Wallach. CBI made our Kleetah easy. We were welcomed into the community in many different ways. Sadly, my mother passed away just after we joined CBI. Although we were new in the community, our home was filled with CBIers during the shiva, bringing meals and support. My father and I were fully embraced at the morning minyan. Another key entry point to my involvement at CBI was through Men’s Club. Men’s Club members invited me to attend the annual paid-up breakfast and several other events. Soon I was volunteering to help organize Men’s Club Shabbat. A few years later I found myself on the Board. Eventually, I became President of Men’s Club. When I look back, it all started with a friendly welcome and an invitation. Another aspect of our Kleetah at CBI was our participation in the K’tanim program (formerly Tot Shabbat). Meeting other young families at CBI on Shabbat morning helped us create connections that fully embedded us in the community and helped us make lifelong friendships. Once again, it all started with a friendly welcome and an invitation to participate.
Never underestimate the importance of reaching out to others, especially those who are new in our community: introducing yourself to someone at kiddush, inviting someone to join your table at a CBI Shabbat dinner, asking someone to accompany you to a service or program. These small moments of welcome are what mark our congregation as the truly welcoming community that CBI has been for my family and your families for 100 years and counting. May we go from strength to strength.
Shabbat Shalom!
Henry Bloom, President
Congregation B’nai Israel
