High Holy Days Speech from the President of Congregation Beth El--Shana Tovah Congregation Beth El, I love this Congregation, and I am honored to serve as your President. We have a lot of great things going for us. At the heart of our synagogue is a warm and welcoming culture. We are a community that opens our doors to all, regardless of background, level of observance, family structure, sexual orientation, or skin color. Whether you come from a more traditional background or consider yourself more progressive, we respect and celebrate all expressions of Jewish life. This inclusivity is what makes us strong, creating a space where every individual can feel they belong, and every family can feel at home. THIS is who we are!

We are blessed with a vibrant religious school that is a cornerstone of our congregation. Our school nurtures the next generation with a strong foundation in Jewish learning, culture, and tradition, instilling values that they will carry for the rest of their lives. Our dedicated teachers create an engaging, joyful learning environment where children not only grow in knowledge, but also in their love of Judaism. Every time I visit our Sunday school, I see kids having fun and laughing. It is such a joy to see. Hats off to Michelle Renfrow, our Religious School Director, Danielle Krantz, our VP for Education and all our teachers.

I must also mention our incredible Cantor Waghalter, whose beautiful voice fills our sanctuary with inspiration and warmth. She is not only gifted with a beautiful voice, but also a patient teacher and a deeply caring person who is always there to guide, uplift, and connect with each member of our community. Her devotion to our congregation, from leading us in prayer to mentoring our children, is just one of the many reasons Congregation Beth El continues to thrive as a spiritual home. Jewish life, when lived fully, is rich with meaning, tradition, and community. Whether we are gathering for prayer, celebrating holidays, Tot Shabbats, discussing Torah, or simply playing poker, trivial pursuit or Mah Jong, Jewish community life brings us together in ways that few other experiences can. It creates bonds of friendship, understanding, and shared purpose. Here at Beth El, we are committed to amplifying Jewish life in Fort Bend County. We have created a space where all Jews feel safe and welcome, a place where we can learn together, pray together, and have fun together.

I want to tell you about a few of our superstar volunteers. Carol Cooper and her husband Mike keep this facility functioning and have taken care of countless maintenance requests in a cost-effective manner. Leticia Himmelstein is a can-do volunteer with a keen eye for detail. She organized the terrific Oneg we enjoyed last night and the nosh we will be enjoying after services today. A big thanks to Allison Hernandez for adding her artistic touch to our beautiful Oneg Frada Boxer is the vice president for administration. She supervises our staff and manages our social media initiatives. She has made great strides in getting the CBE name and the great things that we do publicize to the community. 

Ed Carlin and Barbara Zack lead the robust Current Events discussion group. Barbara also leads our Kulanu initiative to fight antisemitism. Judy Ostrow and Marilyn Carlin are always available to say encouraging words and bake wonderful treats. Steve Raskin and Jan Poscovsky coordinate the Romeo and Juliet luncheons, which are enjoyed by all. What is said at these luncheons stays at these luncheons. My deepest thanks go to all the wonderful volunteers we have at CBE. All that being said. . . This is a pivotal moment in the life of our synagogue and the broader Jewish community. 

The cold hard truth is that over the years, our membership has declined significantly. This is not just a local issue but part of a larger, national trend that has affected not only synagogues but also other houses of worship across the country. According to a Pew Research study, participation in religious institutions is down in nearly every faith tradition in America, from mainline Protestantism to Catholicism and, of course, Judaism. At Beth El, we are also facing the reality that our congregation is aging, and unless we get our young people involved now, the path ahead will be much more difficult. Now, you may say, what is a young person?  

If AARP is not actively soliciting your membership, you are young. I would now like to address our young folks; we cannot adequately respond to the needs of your generations without your input. We need your help. We need your energy, and your participation to recruit other young Jewish families to join us. Jewish life thrives when it is vibrant, diverse, and multi-generational, and we must make it clear that Congregation Beth El is a place where young families are welcome, where children are nurtured, and where the joys of Jewish life are felt deeply and fully. People like me or my colleagues on the Board, or the staff, who are not Generations X, Y or Z, should not be making all the decisions about our programs, our religious services, our social events and even our finances……we need younger ideas and solutions to move forward. 

We know you are busy with building careers, raising kids, family activities, caring for your parents, and creating a wonderful home. We respect that. Right now, we are looking for ideas. Please be willing to share your thoughts about attracting and engaging your contemporaries…. and then we will figure out how to implement and fund your suggestions. I promise that you will not be pushed to lead initiatives that you suggest.  Please note that we are also seeking ideas from the seasoned mature members of the community as well.

I say that a heavy heart that it is a difficult time to be Jewish in America. Antisemitism has accelerated to a point we have not seen in our country during our lifetimes and is on the rise. Some of us are afraid of wearing our Jewish stars in public or hanging mezuzahs on our doorposts. Some of our children feel apprehensive about going to school. Our college students worry about walking across their campuses or identifying themselves as Jews. 

Since the October 7 Hamas massacres, there has been a 388% increase in reported incidents compared to the same time in 2022. The criticism of Israel has shifted in many cases from legitimate political debate to outright hatred of Jews. This affects all of us—parents, students, and grandparents alike. CBE has joined with Synagogues around the Country in a group called Kulanu, which is dedicated to providing education, tools and support to Synagogues about antisemitism. We have offered several of their programs in addition to ones sponsored by the Jewish Federation. We have also increased security tremendously at CBE, some of which you can see and some of which you will not notice.

I want to stress something important: our future is not pre-determined. I believe that together, we have the power to chart our own course, to strengthen our position as the center of Jewish Life in Fort Bend County Our synagogue has been a beacon of Jewish life in Fort Bend County for decades, and now more than ever, we must work together in a multi-generational way, to secure its vibrancy for the next generation. 

In that spirit, I am excited to announce the formation of a new initiative, called AMPLIFY.  We recently applied for a grant from the Jewish Federation to AMPLIFY Jewish life in Fort Bend County. They loved our initial submission, and we are now working, with their guidance, on the final steps for our detailed grant proposal. We will be working with any and all Jewish organizations in Fort Bend to strengthen our Jewish Community. So far, the Stillwater Chavarah in Richmond and the Mazal Chapter of Hadassah will be working with us. If you know of other Jewish groups, big or small in Fort Bend, please let me know so I can invite them to join us. 

We will be focused on increasing our outreach to find Jewish people of all ages in our community, engaging young families, and creating innovative programs that appeal to Jews of all ages. We are committed to making Congregation Beth El not only a place of prayer but a place of growth, learning, and joy. I am inviting each and every one of you that is interested in sustaining and growing our Jewish community to join us in this effort.

During these High Holidays, I am reminded of the diverse ways we each connect to our congregation. Some of us participate in weekly services and events, while others may join us only on these High Holidays. Even for those who may not attend regularly, this synagogue represents continuity, tradition, and the assurance that a Jewish home is always here for you and your family.

Please help ensure that our congregation can continue to serve this community. Your financial contribution enables us to keep our doors open. While we do not have gold finishes or stained-glass windows, it costs a lot to keep this building running in good shape, to meet payroll, and to pay for security.

Frankly, high holiday pledges from both members and guests are an integral part of our budget. Membership dues are not sufficient to sustain our Congregation. Last time I checked, we have no billionaires in our Jewish Community. It takes all of us giving what we can to make it work. 

We are living in challenging times, but I believe in the resilience of the Jewish people, and I believe in our Beth El Community. We have faced adversity before, and we have always emerged stronger because of our commitment to each other and to our faith. Let us not waver in that commitment now. Let us build a future that honors our past and secures a vibrant Jewish life for generations to come. Thank you.