You are reading my last Shofar column as your President. I am signing off, but not going away. I am hooked. Why? Why is the Temple so important?
My answer is, as with everything Jewish, that it is about the people, the community and special meaning. It's not because it is easy, not because it is perfect. (It is, as you know, neither.) It is because it is ours.
Even how we refer to "the Temple." We know well and respect that there are other temples. But to us, 400 Deering Avenue is "The Temple." Just that says a lot.
I am proud that I have served as your President. For many, many years as I go to the Bimah during Kol Nidre and take my place with all the other past presidents, I will remember something about these past two years.
I'll probably remember the really, really good times. (There were many.)
I definitely will not choose to remember late night hours, returning six phone calls in one day about the same thing, struggling with the budget, arbitrating disagreements, dealing with an aging building, and fundraising challenges. (There were many.)
What I will remember, and what I will think about on my last day as President as I attend morning minyan, is that I have sometimes been proudly introduced to visitors as the President of our Temple. To me that has been one really big honor.
Thank you to our Board of Directors, Committees, Executive Committee, clergy and staff. All have supported me and helped me try to do good things.
Most of all, I leave you in Judy Wilson's good hands.
