May 2025

Letter from the President

Dear Members and Friends of Temple Israel,

Spring, it seems, is finally here! Our beautiful grounds are blooming, and in the coming days the budding trees will leaf out in their annual evolution evoking the creation narrative in our Torah. Our park-like setting is alive with joggers, walkers, strollers and others taking in the sunshine. I hope you are among them, and enjoy the environment on your way in for services, classes, or programs at Temple Israel. When you next enter our building, please take note of the beautiful new photos in the lobby. These scenes of Temple Israel were artfully captured by Nancy Bassman, who has graciously shared them with us.

Hopefully, you enjoyed a zissen Pesach – a sweet Passover – and are looking forward to other Spring observances at our Synagogue. Our community engaged in meaningful observances and dialogue around Yom Hazikaron and Yom Ha’Atzmaut, and 120 Jewish BU students occupied our social hall for a moving and spirited program under the auspices of the Orthodox Student Organization. On May 16th, we will celebrate Lag B’Omer with a cookout Shabbat dinner at erev Shabbat services. We need volunteers to help with this program, so if you’d like to help, please contact the office, Rabbi Friedman, or myself.

An important project is underway and scheduled for May: The long-awaited replacement of the floor in our Social Hall is to be completed this month. The new floor will be much more rugged and improve the safety and appearance of our Social Hall, so that we can continue to host services, programs and simchas for many years to come. Please be mindful of construction activity and obey any restricted areas. Contributions to defray the cost of this project are most welcome, as this major project is outside the scope of our ordinary annual budget. Please consider a special donation toward this upgrade.

But a building, however beautiful, is just a building. It only becomes a synagogue when we fill it with prayer, learning, and song! I hope that you will join us for the meaningful programs and services under the leadership of Rabbi Friedman and the hard work of our numerous volunteers. Please bear in mind that we have suffered several losses in recent months, and your support to ensure that we have a minyan for mourners to recite Kaddish is much appreciated. On any given day,  it may be YOU who makes the minyan possible.

Finally, on a happy note, we offer best wishes to our Rabbi Friedman and his fiancee Rabbi Talia Laster on their upcoming wedding – Mazel Tov! We are all invited to come celebrate with them at Shabbat services on May 31st, after which they will be hosting a special kiddush. Best wishes to all for a healthy, happy Spring!
Art

Arthur B. Siegel
President – Temple Israel