Rabbi, Hazzan, dear members and guests, on behalf of the lay leadership of Society Hill Synagogue, I wish you Shanah Tovah and G’mar Tov. It is an honor and a pleasure to address you today.
For those of you who don’t know me, allow me to formally introduce myself. I am a grandchild of immigrants from the Pale of Settlement, with deep roots in Philadelphia’s Jewish community. My parents were both raised in South Philly, just minutes from here, and my early years and education were all spent in the city. After a brief 40 year stop in South Jersey to work and raise our three children, Debbie and I happily moved back to Old City four years ago. Thirteen-plus years ago, we decided that we needed a synagogue change, and after attending one Shabbat service here, we were hooked! One of the great decisions of a lifetime! (Thank you, Avi.)
Very soon after, I was asked to join the Board (after doing a few Torah readings), and several years ago, I was asked to be President, a position I never, ever envisioned. I always considered myself a better follower than a leader. In reality, the distance from home and the demands of a medical practice were two major barriers; I said “I can only do it after retirement,” and maybe after moving. Well, I retired last year, and the distance is now four blocks instead of 10 miles. And truth be told, I agreed to do this because, like my predecessors, I love this synagogue. So here I am, literally at your service.
I am absolutely delighted to tell you that Society Hill Synagogue is in excellent shape. If I were using medical terminology, I would assess our synagogue as a young, healthy, robust patient… with growing pains.
We have experienced unprecedented growth in the last few years. We are now at over 445 households — let that sink in for a moment — with a growing Hebrew School, now at a record 120 students, and a busy, buzzing Playschool with a waitlist. I recall Board meetings several years ago with a lot of handwringing about our membership of 260 families! Often quoted recent research from the Pew Foundation shows that only a minority of Jewish adults in the US maintain synagogue membership, and we see other synagogues in our metropolitan area shrinking, merging with others, or even closing. So we are bucking a trend.
So, what is the explanation? What is the secret sauce? Several ingredients.
Let’s take it from the top. Rabbi Nathan Kamesar started with us as a student at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, and we were wise enough to have him assume full rabbinic duties upon Rabbi Avi Winokur’s retirement. His pastoral and administrative skills are both extraordinary. I do not exaggerate when I say we are incredibly fortunate to have Rabbi Kamesar leading us for at least the next 10 years. I could go on and on, but there are so many others to recognize. But the fact that he is also an Eagles and Sixers fan is a huge bonus. Hazzan Jessi Roemer is marking her 10th year with us and continues to fill this room with beautiful music in so many ways; her leadership in coordinating our increasing number of B’nei Mitzvah students is outstanding.
We are thrilled to have Sahar Oz as our Executive Director, and his many talents include attracting and retaining new synagogue members. Karen Hafter is a bright, talented Director of Youth and Family Education, and Megan Nachod continues to hit all the right notes directing our Playschool. Let’s not forget our dedicated office staff who keep us functioning — Leanne Bendetti, Rhonda Bello, and Alexis Rosen — as well as our custodial staff who work tirelessly to make sure we get the most from our facilities.
Another feature (or sauce ingredient) that makes Society Hill Synagogue such a “happening” place is our Shabbat. A few years ago, Rabbi Kamesar introduced the concept of Hebrew School on Saturday morning. My initial reaction was “What? Isn’t it supposed to be Sunday School?” Wow, was I off-base. It has been an unqualified success; the Torah discussion involves the older students, and their contributions are always insightful and often surprising. Our younger students come up to the bimah for Kiddush and Motzi, and the weekly Kiddush lunch is always a bustling joyous event! Yes, lunch. Sorry, it’s Yom Kippur, but I have to mention food today.
The budget line item for food has ballooned due to our commitment to providing a meal every Friday evening during the academic year, and every Saturday year-round. So, some of the secret sauce is the actual sauce; well the food, anyway (we are Jewish, isn’t it always about the food?), and our weekly communal meals are a chance to strengthen our relationships with fellow congregants, and to form new ones as well. Let’s not forget: the addition of instrumental music to all Friday night TGIShabbat services is yet another part of why we are thriving. (Thank you again, Hazzan.)
We have worked on a mission statement recently (available on our website and in our High Holiday handouts), and it includes a commitment to education and social action. Our popular adult education program not only includes courses taught by the Rabbi and Hazzan, but also excellent lay educators from our congregation. Our committee structure is quite extensive; it seems that if you have an interest, we probably have a committee for it.
Social Action, which includes our work in local public schools and our fight against food insecurity, Inclusion (which works to ensure that everyone feels welcome, including interfaith families, people of color, LGBTQIA+ people, and people with disabilities), Israel Connections, Religion, Coolanu with its intergenerational social and cultural events, Triple Chai for ages 54+, the Young Families Group, the Young Friends for singles and couples in their 20s and 30s, Rosh Hodesh women’s gatherings, the Men’s Club, our Book Club, Mah Jongg, and more. All with devoted leaders and members who show up, stand up, and step up.
I thank each and every one of you from my heart. I am particularly grateful to our Hesed Committee, which does so much for congregants in need of help during times of illness, injury, or other hardship. I ask you to take advantage of these programs: come to services, join a committee, go to a lecture or concert. It’s all about being with your extended Society Hill Synagogue family. Our community is successful because we learn, pray, sing, eat, and sometimes disagree, but we are doing these things together as one extended family that truly cares for each and every member. As we continue to grow, we also recognize the need to maintain the warmth, friendliness, and inclusion that define the Society Hill Synagogue community.
And of course, this organization would not function well without our Executive Committee, which includes our Vice Presidents, Secretary, Treasurer, Solicitor, and our immediate past President, Lisa Eizen, and without our Board of Directors. I am deeply grateful to all of you for your energy, support, talent, and wisdom.
As I earlier referenced, with growth come growing pains. Led by Rabbi Kamesar, we have embarked on a strategic plan to provide pain relief (yes, there is a committee for that, too). We conducted surveys and focus groups last year, and it was quite clear that there was a need to make this bimah more accessible and the Sanctuary more flexible. Yes, I have experienced the balcony seats. I feel your pain as well. Our expanding Hebrew School needs more space. We have completed a preliminary feasibility study regarding the Sanctuary and the bimah, as well as expanding our southern annex to provide for additional classroom and administrative space. We are also exploring other expansion options. Stay tuned for more details over the coming months.
This feasibility study process is being shepherded by Carter Reich and a committee that includes architects — two of whom are past synagogue presidents — and I’d be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge the massive amount of work that Carter has already put into this project. So thank you, Carter!
That brings us to the last part of my remarks. Simply stated, our dues structure, which we attempt to keep at a reasonable level, does not cover all of our expenses. Despite the fact that we have a very fiscally responsible Executive Director, Treasurer, and Finance Committee, the synagogue’s continued success is dependent on all of you, in large part through our High Holiday Appeal at the start of the membership year, and our year-end Hanukkah Appeal. As we move forward with plans to renovate, improve, and expand to meet the growing needs of our community, we will need firm financial commitments to fund this crucial project.
To those who have donated, I can’t thank you enough. As Gertrude Stein said, “Silent gratitude isn’t much use to anyone.” The community values and appreciates your current and future generosity. You are all so critical to all the successes I’ve described — you are really the essence of the sauce!
It is a difficult time to be Jewish in today’s world. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict rages on, and acts of antisemitism are on the rise worldwide. With that, our synagogue is a safe space for meeting, praying, and discussion (and yes, again, also disagreement), a place where our children and grandchildren learn about our rich traditions, and where we practice our beloved rituals together. This is where we celebrate births, birthdays, anniversaries, B’nei Mitzvah, and Eagles’ winning two-minute drills. It is also where we support those who are ill and in mourning.
So I ask that you continue to show up, stand up, and step up, not just with your time, but also your financial support. If our popular communal meals appeal to you, sponsor an Oneg or Kiddush, or donate to the Oneg and Kiddush Fund. Add a zero to what you initially planned, throw in an extra multiple of 18. No gift is too large.
I sincerely apologize for being long-winded, or forgetting to mention names, or other details. It’s my first one of these, so please go easy on me. Thank you for your attention, for being here today, for making this community wonderful and welcoming. With that, an easy fast and G’mar Tov to you all.
