Temple Israel, Vestal NY

June 2026

Letter from the President

Dear Members and Friends of Temple Israel,

You recently received notice of our Annual Meeting, and I hope to see you all on June 16th at 7:00PM. If you can’t make it to the synagogue, please join via zoom. In any case, please complete and submit the three proxies you received attached to the Notice. Your proxy helps ensure a quorum, and that your vote will be counted.

You will have noted on the slate that the position of president is indicated as “acting”. I have to-date served as Temple Israel President for eight years, six years longer than the intended term. I have been honored to do so, but it is not healthy for the organization, and it is beyond time for a change. To date, we have not secured a successor, so if confirmed by your vote, I have agreed to act in this capacity while the search continues. I earnestly hope that some of you will step forward to accept leadership positions in the spirit of the Naso Torah portion we read last Shabbat – Rise up and be counted! We need you!

Our Rabbi Search Committee has been working diligently for months to find a successor, but the perfect match has so far eluded us. We will continue to recruit for a full-time candidate, but this pursuit will most likely secure a new Rabbi in Spring 2027.

Meanwhile, we are delighted that Rabbi Friedman has offered to support us on a part-time basis after his relocation to Ithaca. If approved at the Annual Meeting, he will provide many of our essential services throughout the 2026-2027 year, including: High Holidays 5787 – Rosh Hashanah & Yom Kippur Services; One Shabbat per month – Friday evening and Saturday morning; Two office days per week; One remote support day per week; Emergency Coverage – Funerals, severe illness, brit milah; Training and officiating at Bar/Bat Mitzvahs; Adult Education – Weekly and periodic classes; Pastoral outreach – visits to the sick and those in need; Counseling of congregants and proselytes. The Officers and Trustees unanimously approved this proposal.

In addition, we are working to secure the services of a Rabbinic Student intern from Hebrew College to lead one Shabbat weekend per month. For the remaining two Shabbat services we will rely on our lay daveners and periodic special guests.

Please make your plans to join us for upcoming events: Saturday, June 20th, we will honor Rabbi Micah and Rav Talia with a special kiddush to wish them well on the move to Ithaca; and on Sunday, July 26th, we will celebrate the 10th Anniversary of our new building, and the 140th Anniversary of Temple Israel, with a program and barbecue luncheon!

To continue to deliver the services, education, and programs that fulfill our mission, we need more than ever, your personal and financial support.

Best wishes for the Summer – see you soon in shul !
Art

Arthur B. Siegel
President – Temple Israel