MONTHLY MESSAGES

What a difference a year makes.  That might be one of the biggest understatements muttered in a long time.  Let’s do a brief inventory:

PANDEMIC

A year ago the words COVID and coronavirus were nowhere on anyone’s radar.  I suspect it would have been inconceivable to most people how our world would be turned upside down.  With the possible exception of the polio epidemic, it’s very likely that a strong majority of our congregation has never experienced anything like this.

We all yearn for a return to in-person gatherings…Shabbat services, life cycle events, social events and continued learning opportunities, not to mention the camaraderie and friendship shared with our Temple family.  This may be particularly poignant with the high holy days just around the corner.

I assure you that your Temple Board is committed to returning to in-person services as soon as we feel it is safe for everyone and without exposing congregants and staff to unnecessary risk.  Until then, we will continue streaming events online.  Please don’t hesitate to contact the Temple office if you need assistance navigating the internet to find our services.

WEATHER

Would you like some derecho on your burrito?  Seriously??  This is likely another first for most of us.  Feedback so far is that even though most of us were affected by either power outage or downed tree branches, fortunately it sounds like very few had property damage.  There was also very little damage at the Temple and the Jewish cemeteries.  It’s probably not a stretch to say that it was a birthday to remember.

CIVIL UNREST

As Jews we have historically been empathetic and supportive of other groups seeking equality.  The protests and marches, primarily connected to the Black Lives Matter movement, are at a level not seen since the 1960s.  Regrettably, many of those gatherings have turned violent and destructive.  Who can ever remember a curfew in the greater Des Moines area?  I think we all hope for fair and humane treatment for everyone, and sooner rather than later.

BUSINESS/ECONOMIC CHANGES

Many of our places of business have been impacted directly or as a byproduct of COVID.  Some businesses are on reduced hours…some have gone to working remotely from home…some businesses have closed, either temporarily or permanently.  This also dovetails into our leisure time activities.  Hopefully we’ll see a return soon to going to a dinner & movie or perhaps your favorite team’s football game.

POLITICS

Oh yeah, there are these little things called national elections coming up in a few months.  Whichever side of the political ledger you may rest on, there is a lot of passion on both sides.  And is it just me, or do the campaign ads on TV seem to be getting more mean-spirited?  It looks like there will be hotly contested races at many levels of government.

SO NOW FOR THE GOOD NEWS…

With all this, how can there possibly be any good news?  Well there is!  When it comes to facing times of unrest, trials and tribulations, this is not the first rodeo for Jews as a whole and specifically some in our congregation.  Both Passover and Chanukkah are holidays born out of conflict or unrest, not to mention the atrocities of the Shoah.  We are Jews.  We’ve become too familiar with the worst that circumstances can throw at us.  Yet we always find a way to survive, ultimately even thriving.  The worst brings out our best.

Here’s wishing each of you a peaceful close to 5780, and a sweet 5781 full of health, happiness and prosperity!

B’Shalom,
Bill Grund

2020 has continued to prove to be a year that most of us will never forget. Never in my wildest imagination would I have thought the word “derecho” would become a regular part of my vocabulary. Thankfully that storm caused minimal damage to the Temple and the section of Woodland cemetery we manage. Losing a little bit of food in our freezers and refrigerators is nothing compared to some of the devastation this storm caused throughout our state.

Of course, this storm served as a great reminder that we will endure no matter what we face, and we will endure these challenges together. For example, I made an offhand comment at our August board meeting that we only had small branches down at Woodland cemetery that needed to be raked and if anyone wanted to get some good outside exercise they could help rake those up. The next thing I knew piles of little branches and sticks started showing up around the cemetery. Again we will face these challenges together and by helping one another.

Not only do I want to thank those who helped us out during the derecho, but I want to thank all of our members who are helping and supporting the Temple. There are a number of congregations and not-for-profits that are struggling during the pandemic. Thankfully the Temple is not in that situation.

As you know, every year we ask members to reevaluate their annual Dues and ask that members increase their Dues by 3%. Almost all of our members have been able to do this and many have raised their annual gift to the Temple by more than 3%. In these still uncertain times that is a huge gift and again I can’t thank those members enough.

Lastly, as we move forward I wanted to let you know that we will continue to have limited staff at the Temple during the week. Typically, Erin and I will be alternating who will be in the office, while the other works from home. So there will almost always be someone at the Temple during normal business hours. We will continue to stream services and we are currently in the process of updating our lighting and video equipment in the sanctuary.  In this way we hope to  stay connected to all of you so that we can endure the challenges we face.

Thanks and Be Well,

David Muenchrath