This past Shabbat I began reading, "Radical Reconciliation: Beyond Political Pietism and Christian Quietism," by Allan Aubrey Boesak and Curtiss Paul DeYoung in preparation for our visit to Second Baptist Church this coming Sunday. I quickly found myself riveted by their passion to dig deeply into the notion of reconciliation, which they define too often falls into the mode of political accommodation and does not address the critical questions of justice, equality and dignity that are so prominent in the biblical understanding of reconciliation. The writers form a unique team to address such an issue - one a black citizen of South Africa and the other, and who will be at Second Baptist on Sunday, is a white citizen of the United States who has served in pastoral roles at congregations in urban African-American communities and multiracial settings. Both are academicians and activists, and both are leading voices in the reconciliation movement. As we continue our work this year in building bridges, I hope that you will join Rabbi London (and me) this Sunday at Second Baptist at 10:30 a.m. to not only celebrate their Sabbath in such a moving way, but to have the opportunity to hear Curtiss Paul DeYoung and be inspired in ways that are truly radical! Now to find the time this week to finish the book!

This past week we also held our fifth and final event of this year's Annual Mitzvah Appeal, and to date we have raised $219,000. We continue to be so very appreciative of all those who have given so generously to support this year's campaign. We still have work ahead however as we strive to meet our goal of $250,000. While I recognize that we each are inundated from so many organizations who need financial support, the difference with this campaign is that membership and fees alone do not subsidize all the various facets that make Beth Emet so critical in the lives of our congregants. If you have not done so already, please contribute at whatever level feels comfortable to you, and add your name to the list of others who believe in the work that we do together as a community. You can find a few personal statements on our website as to why it is so important to support the Mitzvah Appeal.

Thank you. Thank you for being a part of Beth Emet. Thank you for your support, and thank you for making this Congregation truly a meaningful and vital community.