The first Pillar, and the most mentioned by members, is Community.
These connections take many forms, from our well-attended virtual pre-negs to our Underground Band events.
It covers the work of our Caring Crews calling congregants in need of a friendly voice weekly since the pandemic began; our Havurot, which have developed ways of staying close while socially distant and are seeing increased enrollment this year; Josephine’s new Curbside Kiddush; and most important, the many individual connections among members.
Our new executive director, Tess Goldblatt brings a fresh perspective to these activities. To connect further in these ways, please reach out to Tess, the Clergy, Hannah Imburg, Norma Fiedler, or Chris Greenberg. Thank you to each of them for their leadership.
The second Pillar encompasses Worship & Spirituality.
Thank you to our dynamic clergy for making the transition to virtual services look so effortless back in March. We have higher service attendance now than before COVID, and Rabbi and Cantor continue to improve the format. It's amazing to see you both in action together!
Thank you to our Ritual Committee and all those who assisted in the herculean effort to first envision and then execute this virtual High Holy Day season.
Looking forward, a group of lay leaders is developing a late Friday evening service. This was the most mentioned recommendation from our parlor meetings, and we’re excited to see it in the coming months. To help organize, please reach out to Deb Wolff.
The third Pillar is Education.
Under the steady leadership of Ramona Brand and the School Committee chaired by Kristin Gorin, our religious school is the finest in the Richmond area. We have over 80 kids enrolled and 100% of our staff is in at least their second consecutive year. The CAR-nival kick-off event was fantastic and I’m particularly excited about the Jewish Connections project!
For adults, we continue to offer a range of opportunities: Essentials of Judaism, lay led Torah study, Rabbi Creditor’s weekly Talmud class, Rabbi Knopf’s weekly midrash class, a special course next month taught by Rabbi Knopf’s father-in-law Rabbi Neal Rose, and the list goes on. SHALOM Israel RVA also returns this year supported by a continuing grant from the Federation. To get involved, please contact the Clergy, Marc Rutman, or Gary Goldberg.
Last, but certainly not least, is our Tikkun Olam, or social action, Pillar.
This work is divided into two areas. One is solving large, systemic issues affecting the Richmond area such as our work with RISC (Richmonders Involved to Strengthen our Communities), whose participants have tripled in the past year, and our work with the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy.
Other Tikkun Olam work is through direct service projects, such as the shoe ministry, food drives and the Save the James programs. To join these efforts, please reach out to Marc Rutman, Kristin Gorin, or Rabbi Knopf.
Now imagine a roof – a roof that extends far beyond the edges of the 4 pillars. This represents Inclusion.
We strive to be inclusive with both an upper case “I” – meaning dimensions such as race, creed, gender, sexual orientation, and special learning; and just as important, we strive to be inclusive with a lower case “i" – meaning hamisch, welcoming multi-generational families and newcomers alike, those who are intermarried and those raised Jewish from birth, those with means and those who have been hit hard by life’s circumstances.
We cherish and find this diversity necessary to increase the cohesiveness of our Kehillah. As a result we recognize that different members will connect with the Temple in different ways, via different pillars. If adult education doesn’t call to you, then engage with us in a program that does – or help us create something you are passionate about! Our goal is that you will absolutely love at least one aspect of the shul, and over time, two, and eventually more.
As I mentioned at the start, there are two ways to answer this Appeal. First, by increasing your involvement in our vibrant community and second, via your generous financial support. I hope you will do both.
As we approach our 90th anniversary, the financial state of our shul is good, but it must be strengthened.
For the longer term, those who have participated in the Life & Legacy program, led by Frances Goldman, and invested carefully by our Endowment Committee led by Marc Greenberg, have done an extraordinary service to ensure our sustainability for future generations. Thank you to the more than 70 participating families. You live the words: L’dor va dor.
Today, however, we struggle to break-even. We need to shore up our bridge to the next 90 years.
As a reminder, dues, the endowment, and rental revenue provide approximately 75% of our budget, leaving us to fundraise nearly $250,000 each year to break even. The sale of some of our property on Parham has helped, but macro-economic trends and now the pandemic provide us with headwinds.
Unanticipated expenses always arise. This year they include:
- upgrading to Fios and obtaining multiple Zoom accounts to make virtual services possible
- providing compassionate lease reductions to tenants facing COVID-19 related challenges
- roof and HVAC repairs at Parham
- increases to our insurance coverage
- hiring a production team for the High Holy Days. Among others.
Our facilities also require a bridge to the next 90 years. We continue steadily on the path we embarked on nearly 10 years ago to upgrade the Grove campus accessibility and functionality. Our renovation committee, led by Benita Felmus, is preparing an update for our newly rescheduled 2020 annual meeting. Please mark your calendars for November 15th at noon. This is a meeting you won’t want to miss!
In place of folding the tab on your pledge card, please use the button below, and give as generously as you can. Or call in your pledge to the office tomorrow at 804-355-3564. We have set a fundraising target of $50,000 and I’m proud to announce that we are already over 50% of the way there! Every donation counts, no matter the amount!
I am grateful to our Board, which has pledged unanimous support for this year’s Appeal, and I encourage you to join us in building our bridge to the next 90 years. Thank you for enhancing our Kehillah Kedosha through your active involvement in the coming year, and through your generous gift funding current operations.
May we each be inscribed for a Happy and Sweet and, most of all, a Healthy 5781!
Shana Tovah Tikateivu V’tichateimu,
Michael J. Doniger
Temple President
