President’s Message

George Gazarek

In a few short weeks we’ll be celebrating the High Holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, the Jewish new year and the Day of Atonement. Jackie Schoch, who has led our congregation through some of its fastest growth as our President, is now our Immediate Past President. I, and our new Board of Directors are still wet behind the ears and trying to find out where the restrooms are. As we grope around in the dark trying to get comfortable with this mantle of leadership, I urge you to not look to us to make things happen.

The congregation belongs to you. You are the true owners and care-takers of Congregation Sha’are Shalom. The future of our beloved temple rest in your hands. If you see something wrong, fix it. If you envision an area of improvement, let us hear from you. Our board is here to support you with resources and guidance to make your vision become reality. We can continue on the road of success if and only if each of you develops a true ownership mentality.

Thanks to the astute financial management of Lee Weinberger, our Balance Sheet is the strongest its ever been. But our most valuable asset is not to be found on the Balance Sheet. The greatest strength of our congregation lies in its people. Other than the Rabbi, we have no paid staff. Everything that happens at CSS happens because of its people. Our religious services, onegs, dinners, religious school and so many special events all happen because of people volunteering to do the work.

As we approach the beginning of 5775, I challenge each of you to take your ownership role seriously. Pick just one thing out that you will commit to doing to make Sha’are Shalom a better spiritual home for all of us. We’ve got over 50 member households now. Can you imagine what this place would look like a year from now if fifty things get improved that wouldn’t have if it weren’t for you.

I wish for each of you, a year of health, happiness and a closer connection to your spiritual home here at Congregation Sha’are Shalom. May you and your family find peace and love here in our family. And may we all grow in our role as Jews, as we see fit to understand it.

L’Shanah Tovah

George