May 2026

Letter from the President

Dear Members and Friends of Temple Israel,

First, a personal note: A heartfelt thank you to all who have expressed support and offered healing prayers on my behalf as I recuperate from spinal surgery. Recovery will be a long process, I am told, and it is made easier by the support and empathy of our close community. Being on the receiving end has made me all the more conscious of the many ways that the members of our community reach out to support each other. Thank you.

Our search for a successor to Rabbi Friedman continues to be our highest priority. Unfortunately, Rabbi Alex Hamilton declined our offer. There is a silver lining: Rabbi Hamilton has accepted a position at Binghamton University, so he will be relocating to our area and will be a member of our community. We are continuing our recruiting for a full-time hire and at this writing we have a couple of new candidates in the interview pipeline. In parallel, we are investigating promising part-time solutions to cover our essential needs in the interim. We will keep you informed of our progress as we take the steps necessary to sustain ritual leadership of our synagogue.

May 1st is celebrated in many countries and cultures. This year, it coincides with the 14th day of the Hebrew month of Iyar, when we Jews celebrate Pesach Sheni, or Second Passover, which is a “second chance” for those who were unable to properly celebrate Passover last month to eat Matzah and fulfill the ritual requirements. Perhaps it’s a good time for each of us to take stock and think about our role in sustaining our synagogue. Maybe it is your turn to take a seat on the Board or serve as an Officer. We are currently in nominating season, seeking the next cadre of synagogue leaders. If you’d like to take this “second chance” to fulfill the mitzvah in this way, please contact a member of the Executive Committee to be considered for a leadership role. It might be more fun and satisfying than you expect, and you’ll have some ownership in determining the future course of the institution we hold dear.

Thanks to all of you for your continued support and participation, your Annual Dues, and your generous donations. Please consider how you can help make each and every one of our programs successful. There is a role for everyone!

Wishing you all a healthy and happy transition to Spring!

Art

Arthur B. Siegel
President – Temple Israel