As we move back to in person events, we need a team! Sadly, we’re in a new era of health and security concerns and our old, informal ways will not suffice. But the upside is that as we pull together with team efforts we can deepen our relationships with one another, making our community stronger through the joy of shared mitzvahs.
In addition to our dedicated Tefilah Leaders, teachers and coordinators, we need an Event Team for every service, cultural offering or large meeting:
Security Monitors to keep us safe,
Hospitality Volunteers to make our gatherings heimish (home-like) and welcoming,
Tech Volunteers to provide critical access to our events via Zoom and/or Livestream, so no one is left out.
Here’s the good news: Our Security Committee ROCKS! Thanks to the leadership of Hadasah Harris-Westcamper and Scott Sway, we now have a roster of nine Temple members who have been trained to serve as Security Monitors. If you’ve attended in-person events, you’ve seen them patrolling the grounds, equipped with emergency alarms, walkie-talkies, vests and other gadgets to deter attacks and provide immediate response to problems. Kol ha-kavod (Hebrew: all honor) to them! Pikuach nefesh, protecting life (Hebrew) is the holiest work! To join this dedicated team, contact the temple office for training.
Here’s more good news: Our Membership Committee has taken on the task of recruiting and training Temple members to serve as Hospitality Volunteers. Many thanks to Chairperson Ann Alter and her crew. Over my thirty-plus years of association with Temple Beth El, I’ve seen countless people in the kitchen setting up the kiddush, organizing the meals, handing out song sheets and siddurim, assisting folks who need some extra help, cleaning up and shmoozing with new-comers. Our goal is to formalize what comes naturally to our do-it-ourselves Congregation, and invite more people to fulfill the mitzvah of hachnasat orchim, welcoming guests (Hebrew). If you are someone who enjoys “making shabbos” and getting to know folks, please become a Hospitality Volunteer! We’ll be offering some training soon, but in the meantime, if you know your way around the shul, let us know we can put your name on our roster as onet of the Hospitality mavens (Yiddish for experts, “those who understand”).
And yes, more good news: The silver lining of the otherwise horrible pandemic is that we’ve made a leap into the world of online and hybrid events. This is a great blessing for those of us who cannot or prefer not to shlepp (Yiddish for “hauling ourselves”) to events. My tech-savvy sister Devva Kasnitz has graciously Zoom-hosted numerous events throughout the pandemic. To switch into livestream, we need more Tech Volunteers who are comfortable with setting up computers or cell phones for Zoom or livestream at our events. I actually enjoy doing it. With our rolling computer stand I feel like a TV camera operator! We are forming committee for this right now, so please contact the temple office to become part of the team.
I’m a very hands-on Rabbi and I delight in the physical activity of the holidays: cooking, baking, setting the table, arranging flowers, readying the room in anticipation of a joyous gathering. I’m aware that many people arrive for Shabbat services tuckered out from a long work week and I want the experience at the Temple to be relaxing and pleasing. But my self-critique of the last 25 years is that maybe I’ve done too much and haven’t invited folks to help enough. Have I avoided pork but hogged the mitzvah of making Shabbos? If so, I apologize, and now invite you all to have your turn!
As President Biden never tires of saying, we’re at an inflection point in American history. This is true for Jewish history as well, and also for Temple Beth El. I know our dedicated Tefilah Leaders will deeply appreciate knowing that they have an Event Team, members of an extended mishpocha (family, Yiddish), combining our energy to make meaningful moments of celebration, consolation, learning and spiritual discovery.
Todah Rabah ~ Abundant thanks, Rabbi Naomi