Shalom Congregants,
I spent time exploring the CBI Centennial Exhibit in preparation for my remarks to you on Rosh Hashanah. In doing so I discovered an essential characteristic that has enabled CBI not just to survive, but to thrive for 100 years. CBI has displayed a steadfast commitment to a set of Jewish values that have guided our programs and priorities. The Centennial Exhibit shows a world continuously changing juxtaposed against the consistent values espoused by the CBI community.
Our values today have not emerged out of thin air, rather, generations of CBIers have committed to:
- Jewish learning for all ages, including:
- Giving our youngest members, our preschoolers, the best possible foundation through investment in our Preschool
- Providing a quality Jewish education for our children through our commitment to the Blanche Bayar Religious School
- Continuing to offer fun, engaging and educational youth activities
- Enriching our adult population through the programs of our Lifelong Learning Committee
- Contributing to the wider community in meaningful ways, including:
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- Partnering with other Jewish organizations to strengthen ties and unify the Jewish community
- Amplifying our voice in the community on critical issues like antisemitism
- Engaging with and supporting the broader community through social action projects
- Supporting Israel through trips, guest speakers, advocacy, celebrations, and memorials.
- Providing holiday and Shabbat services and programming infused with music for a synagogue experience second to none and tailored to every age and stage of life: adults, families with young children, BBRS families, Yaldeinu families, and teens, and sometimes all of those simultaneously like on the High Holidays.
- Strengthening ties within the synagogue:
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- Offering countess opportunities to develop friendships and strengthen community through Sisterhood and Men’s Club programs: sports teams, game nights, book reviews, Knit & Nosh, breakfasts, dinner parties, and so much more
- Being open, inclusive, and welcoming toward Jewish families of all kinds
- Importantly in these difficult times, providing a warm, welcoming and safe Jewish home for our members.
The Centennial Exhibit shows that generation after generation of CBIers believed in this community, recommitted to the values that made CBI unique and special, and ensured its vitality and its continuity. Thank you to all of you, the current generation of CBIers, for everything you do to help us maintain this unbroken chain.
Wishing you and yours a happy, healthy and safe New Year!
Gmar Chatima Tova,
Henry Bloom, President
Congregation B’nai Israel
