Three things on my agenda for this article – thanks, thanks, and more thanks! The first one goes to all the members of the Congregation and Board who put their faith and trust in the Pulpit Committee to bring forward our candidates. I told you for weeks that we had three really good candidates; but during each Shabbaton, a number of congregants approached me and said things like – “…This Rabbi is outstanding! How can they get any better? You have a tough decision to make!” (Of course, it was not I making the decisions; it was all of us, together.)

So thank you for being part of the team and the decision-making process. Rabbi Michelle Fisher has accepted our offer and is under contract; she will start work July 12, 2007; since Hazzan Dinkin will be on vacation from July 1, we are working with him to put together a team of congregants for Parshas Pinchas, July 6 & 7. At this point, a press release has been issued regarding our shidduch, Seri Gomberg, publicity chair, has contacted several papers and other media to get coverage of this special event, and I expect there may be direct interviews with Rabbi Fisher.

Our Rabbi Transition Team now has about 30 members; we have an extensive list of tasks and invitations and people to meet once the Rabbi is here. If you’d like to be on this team but haven’t given me your name yet, there is still plenty of time to do so. We will need at least 15 homes to host a Parlor Meeting (like we did in 2005) for a quiet “meet and greet” with Rabbi Fisher. We will need escorts to set up meetings between the Rabbi and community leaders.

Sue Lefelstein and the Religious Committee are beginning their detailed planning for High Holy Days (Rosh Hashanah starts September 12). That team will play an important role in making Rabbi Fisher’s first yom tov with us a special one. Please contact Sue if you are able to assist in any way, great or small.

Thank you number two goes to the entire community. Sometimes we take for granted the things we experience every day or every week. But it has been this fascinating journey – and the intense and intimate scrutiny between the congregation and each of our candidates – that has made me remember what a warm and vibrant community we are. Hazzan Dinkin, Jud Flato, and Gerri Levitas worked hard on each Musical Erev Shabbat, with the result that the sanctuary was full of spirit and singing to welcome the Sabbath Bride. And the feeling at Mincha services, Havdalah, and our Q&A session each Saturday afternoon/evening was truly contagious – some congregants told me, “…This is fantastic! Can we do this every Shabbat?” All of our candidates told me as they departed that they were impressed by the warmth and passion of our congregation.

My third thank-you is also a team effort – I want to pass along to you the thanks of Gayl Belfor, and add my own, too, to the dozens of congregants who assisted in food preparation, hospitality, and transportation during the three Shabbaton visits of our Rabbi candidates in March. Gayl would like to thank Zina Stokol, for helping set up for all six onegs, and to Suzanne Haims for the kumquats, luscious chocolate & lemon cakes; Ellyn Levin for those terrific peanut butter bites; Lois Piade for her wonderful mini-muffins; Hadassah Reiner for her yummy loaf cake; Julie Stokol for her scrumptious brownies; Rachel Stokol for her terrific Mandelbrot; and Zina Stokol (again) who baked too many delectable desserts to count! Without all of you, these Shabbatons would not have been as delicious as they were! You are all wonderful stars!

I also want to thank Lynn & Starr Levine and Alan & Anita Roth for hosting our candidates in their homes, Gina Rosnow and Susan Jaffe for preparing and delivering the welcome baskets, and Saul & Rayna Arnold, Scott & Gwen Korney, and Gary Sherne & Sandy Frucht for hosting the Board at the dinner-reception in their homes.

Any member of the Committee will be happy to discuss our process – including confidentiality issues, which we consider very important. As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to call upon any of the members. We love to hear from you.
Before I sign off, I have a couple of personal comments. In April, the Religious Committee was hit with two deaths, occurring within a week of each other – first was the passing of RC Co-Chair Stan Goldman’s dear father, Leon, and the second the passing of Armand Karp, my friend and predecessor as Religious Committee Chair, B’nai Shalom’s Gabbai Emeritus, and mentor and exemplar to so many people in so many different ways. May their memories be a blessing.

At the General Membership meeting April 15, Dorothy Blint was elected to succeed me as Religious VP beginning July 1. I would be humbled and honored if you would show her the same respect and loyalty you have shown me during my term.

B’shalom

Michael Bloom
Chair

Committee Members: Rayna Arnold, President; Marc Dinkin, Hazzan; Sandy Frucht, Education VP; Bill Gourdin, at-large; Scott Korney, at-large; Lynn Levine, Finance VP; Mary Anne Winig, at-large.