From the Rabbi . . .

The warm days of summer are upon us, with some schedules slowing down, kids playing outside, grills cooking, flowers blooming, fruit growing, long days stretching into starry nights. At BYBS, our summer services take place in the Garfien Wing (the multi-purpose room at the north end of the building) or sometimes outdoors in the Dietch Family Prayer Circle. Summer services are somewhat less formal and very inclusive.  We hope that they will include YOU!

This is the time of year when many are on the move, and new people come into our community. We would like to welcome them into our temple family. Also, folks who already live here but haven’t yet taken the opportunity to join a congregation may start to consider affiliation. If they know that they will be welcomed, they are more likely to affiliate. Each member of BYBS is part of the “membership committee” and can do the mitzvah of welcoming guests and drawing new people into the congregation. We can’t do it without you. Please give us names of people we should contact about membership. Better yet, invite them to come with you to Shabbat services. Watch your email for more specific outreach efforts prior to the High Holy Days. Please help our temple grow and remain strong and vibrant.

On the subject of communication within the congregation, two items for you to consider: First of all, we are sending more information by email, which is faster and more environmentally sensible. But we are concerned about those of our members who do not use computers. As we have mentioned in the past, if you do not get email, please make sure you have an “email buddy” – someone from the congregation who can notify you when there is an email to the congregation, and either read it to you over the phone or print it out for you to read. Secondly, perhaps you are not aware that hospitals no longer notify congregations when their members are admitted. If you do not tell us that you or a family member or friend are in the hospital, we will not know. We cannot visit patients we don’t know about! Please, please call the temple office to inform us when a member is hospitalized, and we will do our best to make a personal visit.

Have a wonderful summer!

Rabbi Ellen W. Dreyfus