Members & Friends ~

With summer upon us and the weather heating up, so too did our activities heat up in June. We had our Annual Congregational Meeting. Later we had TWO beautiful B'nai Mitzvot celebrations on back-to-back weekends.  But sadly, in between those two wonderful events

our beloved 97 year old Ceil Hermann passed away.  These diverse events seem to capture the essence of who we are and why we exist as a congregation.

At our Annual Congregational Meeting we elected four new Board members. The new Board takes over starting this month. Also, at the Annual meeting, Rabbi Hershenson provided an overview of our new organizational structure, explaining the various areas where we need help in staffing and participation. Many members in attendance added their names to these

areas of need. But, we still have opportunities for others to get involved. In the coming weeks, the new Board will be reaching out to members to help fill various roles.  Please be open and willing to help out.

As a relatively small congregation, we do not have a Bar or Bat Mitzvah that often. So, to have two in one month, on back-to-back weekends, is a really extraordinary occurrence. For Sid Rafilson's Bar Mitzvah, we enjoyed the beautiful outdoor ceremony at Tetherow. For

Rebecca Uri's Bat Mitzvah, we enjoyed the beautiful sanctuary at the First Presbyterian Church. While at some point it may be nice to have our own beautiful facility, for now, it is nice that we have so many venues to enjoy all our different celebrations. Being able to celebrate these momentous occasions with the Rafilson and Uri families is what made them so special. Bar and Bat Mitzvahs are meant to be shared with the community.

Of course, it would be ideal if we only had joyous occasions to share. But, reality dictates that there will be times of sorrow as well. Such was the case, when Ceil Hermann passed away only a few days after celebrating her 97th Birthday. We will greatly miss her positive,

can-do spirit and gracious compassion. It is interesting to note that one of the prayers recited during the B'nai Mitzvah services contained a list of things a Jew should do. In that list, which included "honoring parents, acts of kindness, welcoming guests, celebrating with bride and groom, ..." was also the obligation of "accompanying one who has passed." As a community we were able to demonstrate that responsibility through Tahara (ritual washing of the body), Sh'mirah (sitting with the body), a funeral service, burial, and celebration of life. All these acts of love and caring by the congregation were very much appreciated by Ceil and her family.

It is hard to imagine what it would have been like NOT to come together as a Jewish community for these occasions of joy and sorrow. Yet, without people willing to step

forward in leadership roles, we do not have a Temple Beth Tikvah. Without people willing to handle the work involved in creating the wonderful events we enjoy, we do not have a Temple Beth Tikvah. So, as we reflect on a remarkable set of events in June, and look forward to many more events this coming year, we need to recognize the importance of belonging to Temple Beth Tikvah and how it defines our Jewish community.

The spirit that brings all these diverse events together is Rabbi Johanna Hershenson. At the Annual Congregational Meeting, she was the teacher, instructing the congregation about the new organizational structure and the importance of each person's contribution to it. At the

Bar and Bat Mitzvah, she was the spiritual leader, leading the services and making the ceremonies so meaningful for the participants as well as the families and guests. And in Ceil's passing, she was the compassionate Rabbi, consoling the bereaved, honoring Ceil in the Tahara ritual, helping family and friends come to terms with her death, but in a way that valued and celebrated her life.  We are most fortunate to have such a remarkable Rabbi

leading Temple Beth Tikvah.

While it is tempting to take for granted that somehow there will be beautiful High Holy Days services each year, a wonderful Community Passover Seder, Erev Shabbat services each month, Religious Education for our children, many Jewish holiday celebrations, opportunities

to "Heal the World" (Tikkun Olam), lots and lots of fun social gatherings, and someone there for us in sickness and death; . . . the reality is that these things don't happen by themselves, they take a lot of work. They don't happen unless there is a committed community behind them. We are blessed that in fact we are part of such a community. None of us could do this alone, but together we can (and do) make a Jewish community come alive!  Thank You to our members for all your ways of contributing.