July 2008 Article
We are both excited and honored to be serving as your co-presidents for the next two years. Many of you know at least one of us. We would like to introduce ourselves in person, but as that may not be practical over the summer months we will take that opportunity here in the Rainbow Reporter.
I, Lauren, joined Bnai Keshet when I moved to Montclair twenty-six years ago with my husband Peter and our six-month-old daughter. Most recently I chaired the new Israel committee. For the past seven years, I have taught Introduction to Judaism at Bnai Keshet, which has reinvigorated my commitment to the synagogue. Teaching has led to many new friendships and above all has given me the opportunity to mentor people on the journey we all take to integrate Judaism into our lives. I enjoy participating in service leading, chanting torah and singing in the choir. Our two children, Rebecca 26 and Nathan 23, are products of Bnai Keshet.
I, Jill, joined Bnai Keshet in 2003. I have two sons in the Religious School, Philip who will be in Kitah Hey and Andrew who will be in Kitah Bet. For two years I served as co-chair of Tikkun Olam. During that time we furthered our commitment to the Interfaith Hospitality Network for the Homeless of Essex County by having BK act as a host congregation rather than a support congregation. For the next two years I served as the Membership In-Reach chair. I have been married to Tom for thirteen years next month. Tom serves as our BK Choir Director. Lauren and I because friends four years ago when I took her Introduction to Judaism class.
Our congregation is in the process of hiring an assistant rabbi. You may have met Rabbi Darby Jared Leigh at the Shabbaton held in May. We look forward to getting to know him. Our new Sefer Torah in use; we are thrilled to add it to our collection. Our Ritual committee is busily planning the High Holidays schedule, including the logistics the moving of sidurim, tallitot, kipot and the portable Ark to Central Presbyterian for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. We are gearing up for a congregational trip to Israel in February 2009.
Tikkun Olam or Repair of the World is a committee that doesn’t slow in summer. Greening the Synagogues is in full bloom in the biblical and butterfly garden (on the North side of the Red Gables Building). We are hosting homeless families through the Interfaith Hospitality Network in mid July.
Bnai Keshet is our Jewish home, our community. Within the community each member ideally has the opportunity to find meaning, to be valued and to contribute to the working of the synagogue. For the coming year, we will be studying the core Jewish value of Derech Eretz, translated as “character” or “manners,” – that is, behaving toward others with consideration and compassion in the divine image.
We look forward to getting to know all of you and working together to make this fulfilling year at Bnai Keshet.
Lauren and Jill
I, Lauren, joined Bnai Keshet when I moved to Montclair twenty-six years ago with my husband Peter and our six-month-old daughter. Most recently I chaired the new Israel committee. For the past seven years, I have taught Introduction to Judaism at Bnai Keshet, which has reinvigorated my commitment to the synagogue. Teaching has led to many new friendships and above all has given me the opportunity to mentor people on the journey we all take to integrate Judaism into our lives. I enjoy participating in service leading, chanting torah and singing in the choir. Our two children, Rebecca 26 and Nathan 23, are products of Bnai Keshet.
I, Jill, joined Bnai Keshet in 2003. I have two sons in the Religious School, Philip who will be in Kitah Hey and Andrew who will be in Kitah Bet. For two years I served as co-chair of Tikkun Olam. During that time we furthered our commitment to the Interfaith Hospitality Network for the Homeless of Essex County by having BK act as a host congregation rather than a support congregation. For the next two years I served as the Membership In-Reach chair. I have been married to Tom for thirteen years next month. Tom serves as our BK Choir Director. Lauren and I because friends four years ago when I took her Introduction to Judaism class.
Our congregation is in the process of hiring an assistant rabbi. You may have met Rabbi Darby Jared Leigh at the Shabbaton held in May. We look forward to getting to know him. Our new Sefer Torah in use; we are thrilled to add it to our collection. Our Ritual committee is busily planning the High Holidays schedule, including the logistics the moving of sidurim, tallitot, kipot and the portable Ark to Central Presbyterian for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. We are gearing up for a congregational trip to Israel in February 2009.
Tikkun Olam or Repair of the World is a committee that doesn’t slow in summer. Greening the Synagogues is in full bloom in the biblical and butterfly garden (on the North side of the Red Gables Building). We are hosting homeless families through the Interfaith Hospitality Network in mid July.
Bnai Keshet is our Jewish home, our community. Within the community each member ideally has the opportunity to find meaning, to be valued and to contribute to the working of the synagogue. For the coming year, we will be studying the core Jewish value of Derech Eretz, translated as “character” or “manners,” – that is, behaving toward others with consideration and compassion in the divine image.
We look forward to getting to know all of you and working together to make this fulfilling year at Bnai Keshet.
Lauren and Jill
