Today is October 29, 2026 /
Today is October 29, 2026 /
Shabbat Candlelighting This Week: 5:35pm | Shabbat Ends: 6:34m
As we enter this new Jewish year, I am pleased to share with you where we stand as a congregation: what we have accomplished, where we are making progress, and where we have important work ahead of us.
There is much to be proud of, and there is much still to do. Our leadership has been busy, our staff has been working hard, and our congregation continues to grow and evolve. I believe WJC is in a good place.
But I want to frame tonight’s remarks around something larger than a list of accomplishments. Our goal is not simply to keep WJC running. It is to build a stronger, more connected, and more resilient synagogue community.
That means strengthening the systems that support us, investing in the people who make WJC what it is, and creating an environment in which our members feel that they belong, that their contributions matter, and that we can navigate challenges together.
Let me share some examples of how we are working toward that goal.
We kicked off the fall with a Welcome Back BBQ that drew an incredible turnout of over 325 congregants. It was a wonderful opportunity to reconnect after the summer and to welcome our new Executive Director, Chip Shrager, and his family to our community.
From there, we moved into the High Holidays.
You will hear a more detailed report on the holidays later this evening, but from my vantage point, they were meaningful and successful. In the Sanctuary, Rabbi Arnowitz and Cantor Goldberg led beautiful services, supported by the many congregants who generously gave their time and talents. Thank you to everyone who helped orchestrate as well as those who participated.
Rabbi Jen Tobenstein and Seth Schaffler led our Study Service. Seth will be retiring from his role as Chazzan after decades of dedicated service. He has contributed so much of his time, talent, ruach, and leadership to WJC, and we were pleased to honor him shortly afterward, on Simchat Torah.
We also recognized the lay committee that works with our Education Director, Aleza Kulp: Gabe Wasserman, Zach Sigel, Rebecca Baron, Jillian Levy, Rebecca Asarnow, and Jonathan Berg. Their commitment to helping make our Religious School the best it can be is deeply appreciated.
For our family service, we welcomed back Rabbi Dalton, along with Matt Baum. I know many of you were delighted to see Rabbi Dalton again, and you will have additional opportunities to interact with her as the year progresses. Larry Thaler will share more about that, later this evening.
And once again, WJC sponsored a Break Fast that brought together more than 150 people.
The Break Fast has become another wonderful opportunity for our community to gather and connect. I am excited to share that we are in final conversations with the Bennett family regarding a very generous donation to help offset the cost of this event for many years to come.
Amy and Fred are involved in almost every aspect of synagogue life. They demonstrate their commitment not only through their generosity, but through their time, energy, and spirit. We are fortunate to have them as part of our community, and we are grateful for their continued support.
These gatherings remind us that a synagogue is more than a building or an institution. It is a place where we celebrate, learn, support one another, and create connections that carry us through the important moments of our lives.
That sense of community is something we must continually nurture.
One of the clearest expressions of confidence in WJC is the support we receive from our members.
As of last week, our annual Elul Appeal had received more than $665,000 in pledges, representing approximately 185 individual and family gifts. This is our largest fundraiser outside of membership dues, and it is essential to maintaining a balanced budget.
We are in good shape, although we remain slightly short of our budgeted goal. At a minimum, we need to reach that goal.
But the financial target is only part of the story. We are also striving for 100% participation, at whatever level each household is able to contribute.
Why does participation matter so much? Because a pledge to the Elul Appeal is more than a financial contribution. It is an expression of confidence in WJC’s direction and a statement of solidarity with our community. It says that we believe in what we are building together and want to help sustain it.
So far, we have achieved 100% participation among our officers and approximately 85% among our Trustees and I suspect that we will reach 100% with them too.
I thank everyone who has already made a pledge. If you have not yet participated, there is still time. Every gift matters, and every expression of support helps strengthen the foundation on which our community depends.
Our membership is also solid. We currently have 478 member families, up from 470 at this time last year, and we have welcomed 29 new families, up from 17 new families last year.
We are pleased to see that growth. But our responsibility does not end when a family joins. We must make sure that new and longtime members alike find meaningful ways to participate, develop relationships, and feel that WJC is truly their home.
Growth is important. Building a community in which people feel connected and invested is even more important.
We all know that the Jewish people are living through challenging times. Those challenges do not stop at the doors of our synagogue. They affect our conversations, our relationships, and the ways in which we understand the world around us.
We cannot simply hope that difficult conversations will take care of themselves. We have a responsibility to create the conditions in which we can listen to one another, engage respectfully, and preserve the relationships that bind us together.
That is why we have established the Shema Collaborative, a committee dedicated to exploring how we can navigate these challenging times together as a community.
You will be hearing much more about this initiative shortly. For now, I want to highlight Sunday, December 13th, from 1-3:30pm, when we will welcome Sefi Kraut of the Pardes Institute to lead a discussion and training session.
I strongly encourage every Officer, every Trustee, every Honorary Trustee, and, indeed, every member who cares about the quality of our community, as well as the quality of our interactions with one another, to make every effort to attend. Please bring a friend or family member as well. What we will be working on applies not only to WJC relationships. Please come to enhance communication at home, with family, with friends and colleagues . Let’s grow as we learn to hear different perspectives and a diversity of beliefs.
Another important part of building a strong congregation is ensuring that we have the leadership and professional support necessary to serve our members well.
As I mentioned in my Rosh Hashanah address, we have begun the process of searching for a new Assistant Rabbi.
I want to thank Amy Mayer and Howard Mizrachi for continuing as co-chairs of the search committee. Jordi Brennan has also agreed to continue serving, and we are pleased to welcome Stuart Goldman, Karen Abravenel, and Susan Miller to the team..
This is a talented and dedicated group who reflect the breadth of our congregation. I appreciate their willingness to devote their time and energy to such an important responsibility over the coming months.
Please look for an introductory letter and survey from the committee this week. Your responses will be important in helping the committee understand the needs and priorities of our community.
We also have two important contracts coming up for renewal this year: those of Cantor Goldberg and Aleza Kulp.
Following our established process, the lead committees for both areas—the SLC and the Religious School Committee—have met to discuss their recommendations and next steps with the officers. I am pleased to report that we are beginning conversations with both Cantor Goldberg and Aleza about extending their contracts in accordance with those recommendations.
These decisions matter because the quality of our synagogue experience depends so heavily on the people who lead our worship, educate our children, and help our families connect with Jewish life.
Our Early Childhood Center has had a good start to the year. Enrollment is slightly above what we had budgeted for. We also supported our congregant’s needs by offering a new Early Drop Off program and we have 6 children participating so far.
Our relationship with the Rye Y daycare program, which operates on our grounds, is also progressing nicely. The program currently serves 27 children, and six of our families use it as an extension of our own ECC.
This collaboration allows us to reach beyond our immediate membership and build relationships with the broader community, while also generating additional revenue for WJC.
Our Religious School has 111 children enrolled, just shy of the budgeted amount of 115. There are new curriculum implementations that are occurring.
These are encouraging developments. Our schools are not simply programs that we operate; they are among the most important ways we transmit Jewish identity, build relationships, and introduce the next generation to the richness of Jewish life.
We must continue to ask ourselves how we can make these experiences more meaningful for children and families, and how we can keep them connected to WJC as they grow older.
Jess Berger, who leads our Teen Program, is doing important work in this area. She has made WJC the hub for the second year, of the Larchmont-Mamaroneck BBYO chapter and currently has 46 members. Our Gesher program has 18 participants and Rooted with Rabbi Arnowitz, a new initiative, has 15 participants.
Keeping our young people connected is not always easy. Their lives are full, their interests are varied, and their schedules are demanding. But if we can create experiences that are relevant, welcoming, and meaningful, we can help ensure that WJC remains an important part of their lives well beyond their school years.
A strong community also needs a strong physical foundation.
This year, we are undertaking a significant and costly project: replacing the heating and air conditioning system over the gym. We are also addressing water mitigation along the exterior wall near Aleza and Ann’s offices, with additional projects in development.
I want to offer special thanks to Michael Stein, who has led these efforts as chair of our House Committee. And of course, we cannot mention the physical plant without expressing our continued gratitude for Jose Luis and his team.
Much of this work is not particularly visible or glamorous. When a building functions properly, we tend to take it for granted. But maintaining our facilities requires careful planning, sound financial decisions, and a great deal of behind-the-scenes effort.
These investments are part of our responsibility to preserve WJC for the people who use it today and for the generations who will follow us.
We are also continuing to invest in technology that makes our synagogue more accessible and inclusive.
Some of you may have benefited from the new inductive loop system that assists members and guests who are hard of hearing. This improvement was funded last year through proceeds from investments made in our Endowment Campaign.
Launched shortly before COVID, that campaign has grown to more than $2 million.
This year, I would like to explore whether we can use the income generated by the endowment to improve our streaming capabilities. It has become increasingly clear that reliable, high-quality streaming is an important part of being a vibrant congregation today. It allows people to participate when they cannot be physically present and helps extend the reach of our services and programming. If this is of interest to you, please reach out to me.
We must continue to evaluate how our facilities, technology, and resources can better serve our members. These are not investments in infrastructure for its own sake. They are investments in accessibility, participation, and connection.
Behind the scenes, we are continually looking for ways to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of our office and to develop the administrative systems that support the entire organization.
Chip has been especially focused on this work and is proving invaluable.
Another system that we are overhauling and making strong progress on is in our bookkeeping. Thank you Tracey Levy for overseeing this herculean task!
Strong systems will help us use our resources responsibly, make better-informed decisions, support our staff, and provide a more consistent experience for our members.
Our goal is to build an organization that does not simply respond to the immediate demands of the day, but is equipped to anticipate challenges, plan thoughtfully, and operate effectively over the long term.
This is not work that is completed overnight. It requires patience, discipline, and a willingness to continually assess what is working and what needs to improve.
But it is essential to our future.
Security continues to be a major priority for WJC leadership.
Our Security Committee regularly reviews our policies and procedures to identify opportunities to improve the safety of everyone who spends time within these walls.
As we do this, we must continue to strike the right balance: taking security seriously, and doing so in a cost-effective way, while preserving the warm, welcoming environment that defines our Center.
I want to express my gratitude once again to Mark Berger, who has tirelessly led this committee for years. Mark has helped establish a CSS chapter here at WJC, creating additional opportunities for members to become involved in protecting our community.
Anyone interested in learning more or participating should speak with Mark.
Security is not solely the responsibility of a committee or a handful of volunteers. It is a shared responsibility. The more attentive, informed, and engaged each of us becomes, the better prepared we will be to protect one another.
Before I conclude, I want to thank our staff for their extraordinary efforts, especially during the demanding weeks surrounding the High Holidays.
The work that makes our synagogue function is often complicated and frequently goes unnoticed. Our staff members work hard to support our clergy, our schools, our programs, and our members, often while managing competing demands and tight timelines.
The next time you see a member of our staff, please take a moment to thank them. A simple expression of appreciation can mean a great deal.
And I want to extend that gratitude to our many volunteers, committee members, officers, Trustees, and congregants who give their time and energy to WJC. No single person can do everything that needs to be done. Our strength comes from people stepping forward, sharing responsibility, and working together.
That is the essence of a lay-driven synagogue, and it is one of the things that makes WJC special.
I have now been serving as President for almost a year and a half. I have learned a great deal, although I know there is still much more to learn.
It has been exhausting at times and invigorating at others, challenging but deeply rewarding. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve this congregation and for the trust you have placed in me.
When I reflect on where we are, I see a synagogue with a great deal going for it. Our membership is growing. Our schools are making progress. Our staff and volunteers are working hard. We are investing in our facilities, strengthening our administrative systems, and having important conversations about how we can remain a community that welcomes people with different perspectives and experiences.
We will not get everything right. We will encounter setbacks, make mistakes, and face challenges that we cannot anticipate. That is inevitable in any organization, especially one made up of so many people who care deeply about what it represents.
I believe our responsibility is to leave WJC stronger than we found it—not only financially and operationally, but also in the quality of our relationships, the depth of our engagement, and our ability to bring people together.
I am optimistic about our future. We have a strong foundation, talented people, and a community that continues to demonstrate its commitment to WJC. We have work to do, but we are moving in the right direction.
And I want you to know that my door is always open.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your President. Thank you for everything you do for WJC. And thank you for helping us build a synagogue that we can be proud of today and that future generations will be proud to call their home.
Westchester Jewish Center welcomes your contribution to any of our listed funds.