MONTHLY MESSAGES

As you know creating a safe and secure location has been a priority at the Temple B’nai Jeshurun. Our security system has not yet been completely updated, but as you have hopefully noticed our doors have been replaced and you can enter through those doors if you have an access card.

Because of this we will now be issuing a card to any and all congregants that request one. These cards will allow you to enter the facility through the Grand Avenue entrance, the north entrance off the parking lot, and the main entrance to the lower level. You will only have access to the building on Friday nights and Saturday mornings. Your first card will be free, but if you lose your card it is imperative that you report that to Temple staff and you will be charged a replacement fee.

We will continue to unlock doors 15 minutes prior to the start of an event and lock them 15 minutes after the start of that event. Greeters will continue to monitor entrances and we will have off-duty police officers present for events with more than 50 people present.

If you have any questions about our security polices or would like to get an access card please contact me at director@templebnaijeshurun.com or call the Temple office.

We would like to begin offering the Temple as a delivery site for our congregants who are concerned about their packages. I think we have all heard stories of packages being stolen right off porches, but you may not have heard the stories about businesses, churches, and synagogues offering to be delivery site for their customers, congregants, and neighbors.

As you know the Temple is open Monday-Friday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and our staff is often here outside of those hours. So there is almost always someone here to receive a package and safely store it. When someone isn’t here to receive a package it isn’t simply left on a porch, rather the delivery companies know to come back the next day. If you had a package delivered to the Temple you could stop by during normal business hours or before you came for services or for a meeting to pick up your package. For example you could place an order on Wednesday and with two-day shipping come to the Temple for Erev Shabbat to pick up your package.

Right now we are just trying to gage interest. If you would be interested in using the Temple as a delivery site, contact me at director@templebnaijeshurun.com. At this time there would be no charge for this service, but would ask that you make a free will offering to help maintain the Temple if you are able. It’s just a simple way our staff thought we could be of greater service to you.

Shalom,

David Muenchrath

Can you see that?  It’s Spring just around the corner.  Shhh…don’t tempt fate or else we’ll scare it away.

KITCHEN

I am so pleased (and relieved) to share that our new kitchen appliances have arrived and are installed.  It can’t be overemphasized how important it was to get this completed.

The kitchen is such an integral piece of so many parts of our Temple life: Family Shabbats, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs and Passover just to name a few.  And I’ll let you in on a little secret…if the stars align and we can find people willing to help I am hoping we can breathe life back into the Food Fair.

A special thanks to Norman Mandelbaum, Irving Stone and two anonymous donors who helped close the budget gap and make this project a reality.

SECURITY

Does this seem like the topic that just won’t go away.  Regrettably in today’s society I’m afraid that’s the case – and it’s only going to continue to be more prevalent.

As a congregation we are going to have some tough decisions to make.  There is a delicate balance to walk.  Providing a safe and secure environment at the Temple is of paramount importance.  Yet we want to be open and welcoming.  How to do both is the trick.

In the past we have discussed the likelihood of going to fobs or pass cards for limited access during off hours.  As an example, the doors to the Mannheimer wing would be open 5:30 – 6:00 on Friday evening.  For admittance before or after that time congregants would need the fob.  The fobs will also allow entrance through door off the circular drive and the parking lot door that leads up by the kitchen.

Originally the fobs were going to be optional however I sense that they will eventually be required.  I am interested in your feedback about this.  Fobs are available in person at the Temple office.

AUSCHWITZ LIBERATION COMMEMORATION

On Sunday January 26^th the Temple hosted a Federation event to commemorate the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp.  We were blessed to have David Wolnerman present to share his experiences and respond to questions.

David and his late wife Jenny (OBM) both spent time in Auschwitz, as well as other camps.  The memories that David shared illustrated man at his worst…and at his best.  It demonstrated the strength of the human spirit.  Rabbi Kaufman followed the panel discussion with a very interesting presentation and dialogue on the current state of anti-Semitism.

As a side note I found it somewhat amusing that the Federation had 12 RSVP’s for the event, so they ordered food for 40 people just to be safe.  140 people actually showed up.  The program was supposed to start at 1 p.m. and out of respect to Mr. Wolnerman we started at 1:05.  One individual arrived at 1:15 and then looked at me incredulously that we had already started.  I guess that’s my bad that we started on time.  Lol

PURIM

This year Purim begins the evening of Monday March 9^th.  Of course Purim is a celebration of Queen Esther and her cousin Mordechai collaborating to persuade King Ahasueras not to listen to his wicked advisor Haman, who wanted to kill all the Jews in the kingdom.

For me it evokes other memories.  I like thinking back to a time when we would all gather during religious school and listen to Rabbi Goldberg read the Megillah, grabbing hand fulls of hamentaschen on our way to and from the chapel.  At that time the religious school was where our administrative offices are now, and for Purim there was always a terrific Purim carnival.  There were lots of games, prizes, and a cake walk.  It seems like it was the highlight of the year.

Here’s wishing us all an early Spring and a joyous Purim!

B’Shalom,
Bill Grund