From Henry Bloom:
Shalom Congregants,
As my term as your president winds down, I have mixed emotions, pride in what we accomplished together during the past two years, keen awareness of the work that still needs to be done to secure and grow our congregation, and optimism that CBI is on a solid path toward a bright future.
At our Annual Meeting last week, I spoke about the strengths of our community, first and foremost, the people: our outstanding clergy and staff, our highly engaged lay leaders and strongly committed members, and our dedicated and growing cohort of young families.
During the past year, we have seen the level of participation and engagement of our members increase significantly. Notably, our Erev Shabbat Live programs regularly attract more than 200 people for dinner, including 40-50 children. Participation in programs for our youngest children, Bim Bam Shabbat and K’tanim has also grown significantly during the past year. The level of volunteerism in support of programming, operations, and strategy is stronger than ever, and speaks volumes about the commitment you all have to our congregation.
During the past year both our Preschool and BBRS Religious School grew in size despite going through transitions in leadership. We are strongly committed to both schools and look forward to further growth in the years ahead.
Music continues to be a hallmark of our congregation. This is true at every Shabbat and holiday service where we have the good fortune to benefit from the extraordinary musicality of Cantor Wallach and Rabbi Isenberg. Our Spring Concert Fundraiser featuring the Israel Klezmer Orchestra was a huge success, exceeding expectations. Music is infused in nearly everything we do at CBI.
There are many other indicators of the vitality of our community. From the annual events and ongoing programing of Sisterhood and Men’s Club to Adult Learning, to Israel Engagement, Social Action, our Caring Committee and more, there is something for everyone. And if there is something you don’t see or want more of, and you’re ready to roll up your sleeves to help make it happen, come talk to us.
During the past year, CBI continued to be a center of support for Israel, hosting numerous speakers and programs, actively participating in the Celebrate Israel Parade and other Israel focused community events, and providing opportunities to express solidarity and share experiences.
We continue to expand our partnerships with other Jewish organizations to strengthen ties, to help unify and expand the value we bring to the Jewish Community, and to create new financial opportunities for CBI.
Back in March we renewed our mutual commitment with Rabbi Isenberg by signing a new contract that will continue our relationship for the next six years. This solidifies our outstanding clergy team of Rabbi Isenberg and Cantor Wallach and positions us for growth moving forward.
During my two years as president, we have had two primary goals for stabilizing our finances: 1) revitalize the preschool as a pipeline for new members and a revenue generator, and 2) maximize the Centennial Campaign to pay off our mortgage and replenish our endowment. I am pleased to say that we have made excellent progress in addressing both of these priorities. The preschool is growing, our new Preschool Director Aliza Maslansky is in place, and commitments to the Centennial Campaign total $1.25 million and counting.
I want to take this opportunity to express my thanks and gratitude to many people:
- Rabbi Isenberg and Cantor Wallach for their partnership in building our community and for everything they do, to nurture us and make CBI a Jewish home in which we feel welcome and proud.
- Our dedicated Executive Director Rebecca Gallanter and our hard-working staff for everything they do for our community.
- Members of the Executive Committee and the Board of Trustees for their steadfast commitment to CBI, and their support during the past two years.
- Ruth Kirshner, our incoming President for being a true partner to me in leading the congregation. Ruth is absolutely ready to be your next President, and I have the utmost confidence that CBI is going to soar under her leadership.
- Our committee chairs and volunteers who put in the time and effort to make CBI the special place that it is.
- My wife Helaine for giving me the space to do this and always being my biggest supporter.
And finally, thank you to all of you, the members of Congregation B’nai Israel, for trusting me with this important responsibility and supporting me during the past two years. It has been an unforgettable experience, and I am grateful to you all.
With gratitude,
Henry Bloom
President, Congregation B’nai Israel
From Ruth Kirshner:
Dear Congregants,
It is my honor to be the next president of Congregation B’nai Israel. It is a position that I never sought nor expected, but I am excited about the prospects that lie ahead for my beloved synagogue. While I have some feelings of trepidation, I am comforted by fact that I will have the support of a talented team – clergy, staff and volunteers – who loves this community as much as I do.
At the annual meeting, I outlined my two main goals for my presidency: 1) to continue to develop engaging programs that foster connection and warm feelings; and 2) to continue to work to assure the financial sustainability of this congregation. These goals are interconnected and everything that we do will be with an eye to achieving them.
We will continue to work to pay off our mortgage. Commitments to the campaign are now over $1.2 million dollars and we already have cut our monthly mortgage expenses in half. With everyone’s help, we will retire the mortgage!
We will continue the good work in the preschool, now named Better World Preschool. With Aliza Maslansky as our new director, expanded programming and revamped curriculum, we are poised for success. The religious school, likewise, remains an important part of our core mission, and we are expanding our offerings and improving curriculum.
We will redouble our efforts to recruit and retain members by offering a wide variety of programs, including increased programs for all our youth; revived programming for our senior members; and initiatives designed to help multifaith families and members of the LGBTQ community feel even more at home.
I am committed to increasing CBI’s exposure in the Jewish and local communities, and we will look for new revenue streams, including facilities rentals. One area of great potential is in grants. I am forming a committee dedicated to identifying, applying for, and administering grants. Please let me know if you would like to volunteer for or chair this committee.
I plan to form a strategic planning committee, devoted to contingency planning. While I am confident that the above steps will ease our financial stress, it is important to consider all alternatives to ensure not only our viability, but that we flourish. We also need volunteers for this committee.
A few thank yous: 1) to the entire membership for your many contributions to the community and for giving me the opportunity to serve you; 2) to our clergy and the entire CBI staff. They are the lifeblood of this congregation; 3) to the outgoing and the incoming board of trustees and executive committee for its guidance and hard work; and 4) to my family, and in particular my husband, Bruce, for their patience and sound advice.
One final thank you, to Henry Bloom, for all his hard work over the years. He has made a significant difference. It has been a pleasure to work with and learn from him.
Wishing everyone a wonderful summer!
Ruth Kirshner
Incoming President, Congregation B’nai Israel