Here in the middle of August, deep in the Berkshires, I notice that some of the trees are beginning to blush, the first sign that summer is coming to an end. It is a simple thing, this noticing. Yet too often I fail to make time to observe these little things. If your life is anything like mine, most days are filled with the routines that are governed by the clock, for example, if it is 7:30 a.m. I am headed to work and at 6:00 p.m. the dog is ready for his walk. But now, in the month of Elul, I am thinking about noticing, or as the poet Mary Olivier says, paying attention. One of my favorite poems of Mary Olivier contains this line “I don’t know what prayer is, but I know how to pay attention.”

What does it mean to pay attention? As a child, when my mother chided me to pay attention, who knew she was really inviting me to pray. But in fact, paying attention can be a form of prayer. Think about the opportunities to really pay attention during the course of your day. Are you really present for those conversations with family, co-workers, and/or friends? I admit that too often while talking I am also multitasking, answering emails, making notes, texting, or just thinking about the myriad of things I should be doing. The demands and conveniences of 21st century life somehow make distraction much easier. Then there is the natural world. How often do we really stop and notice, the songbird, the smell of fresh cut grass, the intense green of summer amidst the rainbow of flowers, the sweetness of the red and orange tomatoes that grace our kitchen counters. Yes, it seems there are many opportunities for prayer, if only we stopped and paid attention.

So, what better time to begin to pay attention than the month of Elul, when Jews the world over start the process of spiritual renewal, teshuvah (repentance or returning) reflecting, praying, seeking forgiveness. Additionally teshuvah implies a response, or perhaps, as Rabbi Shefa Gold notes, a kind of deep listening that allows one to be open to the Presence that calls to us. For me teshuvah requires that I pay attention to that call, and to the world around me. That is what I plan to engage in during Elul. My wish for each of you during this month is that you too are open to the Divine Presence in your life.

Marcia Szymanski

Posted: August 28th, 2010 under Letters.
Comments: none

So, we are at the end of our 99th year and on the cusp of our 100th year as a community.

And 100 years later, Congregation Agudas Achim is a strong, vibrant voice for Judaism in the Attleboro area, South Eastern Massachusetts and Northern Rhode Island. I can only imagine that those first families that first gathered as a community are somewhere smiling at us. We are linked by the many families who worshipped, studied, played, ate, dreamed, etc from those early years until today, June 6, 2010. We are living their collective dreams and proof of their vision and success.

So, what have been our successes and challenges, this year. Well if you have been paying attention you know that this year has been a year of transitions:

• Our long time school principal/director took a new and much deserved position at another Temple.
• Our choir got a new director after our former director left.
• A new synagogue President, me, was installed last year.
• This was the last year of our Legacy Heritage Grant, which has underwritten many of our programs for the last four years.
• The Board has developed a new governance structure, to be voted on later.

With all of these changes, we still have much to be proud of: (in no particular order)

• First, the newest good news, we are part of a BJE grant to provide 6 hours per week of Special Education services to our students, via SPED Coordinator.
• Our choir has grown in size, with many more male voices.
• Our synagogue band spun off a new band B3D, that held a great dance party recently
• We held our first ever interfaith Seder.
• We have a reinvigorated membership committee
• This year we had a new and improved Purim Carnival
• Thanks to one of our B’nai Mitzvah students, we held our first successful blood drive
• Adult Ed Committee continued its The Green Reel Series which has been very well attended and helped engage the larger community on environmental issues
• Shabbat Across America continues to grow in popularity
• Friday B’yachd at home and First Friday meals likewise have grown in attendance
• Mishnah classes and Torah study continues to attract adults interested in study
• Kadima and TEL classes for post-B’nai Mitzvah classes engaged our post-B’nai Mitzvah students.
• Social Action Committee held yet another successful Mitzvah morning.
• Golden Lunches with Nicole and Rabbi Elyse continued to engage our elder community.
• Rabbi Elyse received the Merrill L. Hassenfield Leadership in Community Service Award from JFRI for the Kesher program, which is now being replicated in other synagogues in the RI area

As you can see, there are many things happening at the Shul and this is just a few of the things going on.
And like all communities, we also have our challenges.

• Our school enrollment is down, necessitating the consolidation of classes.
• Due to the economic downturn, we do not expect to be able to take a distribution from our endowment again this year.
• Our operating costs continue to increase
• We won’t have LHG to support our work.
• Our membership continues to hover around 110 - 120 families, despite our innovative and award winning programs that are being replicated in synagogues across the country.

So, overall I believe we have ended a very successful year.

One of the hallmarks of this Congregation, through the decades has been meeting the needs of the membership. Throughout the history of Agudas Achim, this community has adapted to changing needs of our members and the larger world in which we live. As you can imagine, the many programs and events we host cannot happen without the incredible support of the staff, mostly teachers, Helen, Nicole, Melissa (our cantor) and naturally, Rabbi Elyse, plus the many, many members who volunteer to “champion” an event, and last, but not least, money.

As we turn toward new year I hope all of you will take the time to look at and complete your membership renewal packages. This year as you consider your level of dues to the community, I want to challenge each of you to consider a different approach.
These days there is a lot of discussion around local and sustainable. Mostly those discussions have to do with food and/or consuming. But what about considering the concept of local and sustainable in terms of your charitable giving? This year maybe it is time to take a look at where your charitable dollars are spent. How much of those dollars stay in your local community?
While there are many great causes to which we all give, consider that membership dues to the synagogue is local investment and helps sustain the presence of the Jewish community in the Attleboros, SE MA, and Northern RI. Like those first families, we have a duty to keep a strong Jewish presence alive. The reality is that we are Agudas Achim. The life and energy of the community is only as good as our collective investment. And I truly believe that membership at Agudas Achim is a bargain and that you get back much more than you give.

I tell you about this from my own perspective. I have supported many charities for a long time. And while they are things I believe in greatly, I also wonder at times exactly what my contribution “buys.” That’s why I decided last year to increase my giving to the synagogue and decrease some of the larger agencies I supported? Why you may wonder? Well, for one thing, I know that my dollars to Agudas Achim directly pay for the Jewish study, the Jewish programs, maintaining this building that so many sacrificed to build, to help fellow congregants in need, maintaining a Rabbi here 10 months of the year, and so forth. I know that my dollars directly support the work of this community. And frankly investing in this community is one of the best investments I have made, because my investment will help provide the continuity for the next generation.

So, in closing I ask each of you to consider your overall giving levels and consider what you can give to our local community to sustain our work, either through membership dues, the Centennial Campaign, which you will hear more about shortly, or our annula Planting the Seeds Campaign. If you are not able to give, consider the many volunteer opportunities to champion an event, become a Shabbat host, help keep the Synagogue lawn nice looking, etc.

As I said before, we are Agudas Achim!

Finally, I want to take a minute to recognize the hard work and incredible energy of Rabbi Elyse. I think it is fair to say that she is the driving force behind all of these efforts and on behalf of the community I want to offer our thanks.

I also want to thank the person who is often the invisible worker behind the scenes, Helen Urban. Helen is an amazing and integral part of our community and if you have an opportunity, please thank her.

And I want to personally thank the Board for their patience with me as I tried to figure out the Presidency. I don’t think you can find a more committed group of people.

Marcia Szymanski

Posted: August 1st, 2010 under Letters.
Comments: none

On a recent Saturday a small group of eleven congregants showed up for Shabbat services and chose to pray the morning blessings outside on our beautiful prayer space. It was one of those gorgeous days, a bright blue sky, not too hot. Every now and again a cool breeze blew through our circle, flipping open some of the extra prayer books on the table. It felt as if the earth itself was singing and praying along with us. The experience left me thinking about how much I’ve come to love summer.

Back in 1986 when I first moved to New England, I was amazed at how things simply stopped when Memorial Day arrived. It was as if someone hit a giant pause button and folks headed out to Cape Cod and/or Northern New England. Growing up in a place where warm weather can be a year round happening, I found it odd at first. Yet now, 24 years later, I have come to understand the need to enjoy the relatively short summer season here on the 42nd latitude. Now, I too am one of the folks that often head out of town, on some weekends at least.

Summer is a wonderful reason to kick back and enjoy the outdoors, cookouts, biking, baseball, kayaking, not to mention all the wonderful fresh fruits and salad greens and a rainbow of flowers. (OK there is grass to mow, but what a wonderful smell after the mowing.)

Still this is not to imply that the synagogue will be on pause. Our annual meeting is happening on Sunday, June 6th, along with Kitah Zayin’s graduation and our Zimryah (song fest). There are still a couple of Bat Mitzvah’s to celebrate. While our Shabbat B’Yachad is over for the year, we still will have weekly services. Please consider joining us when you can and supporting our lay leaders. Better yet, consider leading a service for the congregation.

As the year winds down, I want to take this time to wish all of you a safe and relaxing summer. May the warmth of the season refresh and renew you and your families. I look forward to seeing you all over the summer and again in the fall as we begin to celebrate our 100th year! Rest up, it going to be lots of fun!

Marcia Szymanski

Posted: June 3rd, 2010 under Letters.
Comments: none