WJC President’s Rosh Hashanah Message

Shalom WJC!

I grew up at the Whitestone Hebrew Center, a shul very much like this one. My parents, who were active members and leaders, made their friends there and ultimately, I met many of mine as well.

One of my favorite events was the annual Tu Bishvat Men’s Club picnic, which was always co-chaired by my father.

The entire congregation would come out to plant trees, eat some barbecue and have relay races: Three legged races, potato sack races, and my favorite – the wheelbarrow race, where one person held the legs of another, while the second person ran along the ground using their hands.

Now, I am not a big man – and I was an even tinier child. But I have to tell you, that In 6 years of Tu Bishvat picnics, Kenny Citak and I were undefeated in the wheel-barrow race.

In fact, in some years, we finished the race and raced back to the start line before anyone else even finished.

I am in the middle of my third and final year as your president. When I started, we were just emerging from the Covid pandemic. It was a strange time. In my first state of the synagogue presentation I spoke about Noah’s challenge of getting the animals off the ark onto dry land. The wheelbarrow race of my Presidency would be to get us back to a new normal, to recover what we may have lost and begin to build again for the future.

During that first year at Rosh Hashana we discussed the value of conservative Judaism. That we, as a movement believe in pluralism and the benefits of reinterpreting our ancient teachings of halacha and applying them to modern life.

We discussed that there is wisdom in being comfortable with this tension and finding meaning in the balance.

We also discussed how much I love WJC and that I am a better human being, business owner, husband and father because I am surrounded by this community.

And I expressed that you – as a congregation – had a lot to teach me over the next three years.

Last year we learned from the Greek philosopher Heraclitus that a person could not step into the same river twice, because not only do we change each time we visit, but the river is ever changing as well.

Likewise we cannot step into the same high holidays twice – we grow and evolve, and the world changes around us.
Making each Rosh Hashana a truly unique experience.

And boy has this past year been unique!

This year has been challenging for us as a Jewish community.
We are faced with a seemingly unknottable and expanding war in the middle east. Israel is threaten by terrorists who have taken hostages, 
and surrounded by enemies, while countless innocent lives are being lost.

And we learned that the actions taken six thousand miles away have a direct reflection on how we are treated here at home. In the US, we are confronted with increased antisemitism and anti-pluralistic rhetoric. The FBI recently revealed that not only is hate crime rising, but that 68% of all of religiously motivate hate crimes last year targeted Jewish people, while we account for only 2% of the population.

Our children have experienced wrenching protest on campus which has caused distress and sometimes division inside our families. I would argue that that is exactly the outcome Hamas and its supporters designed.

And we are coming up on a tense national election where fear, disinformation and dehumanization of the opponent is a common tactic.

All of this is pulling us apart. Not only as a society but also as a people.

And yet we are again at Rosh Hashana.

That river we stepped into last year has changed remarkably since the last high holidays!

Ancient Chinese philosopher, Lao Tzu explained “One cannot reflect in streaming water.” And here we are on these high holidays trying to be reflective, trying to be introspective, to examine our own deeds, while the world around us is in turbulence.

It is good that we are in a safe, calm space. Some even call this a sanctuary.

One thing has not changed, and I will argue that it has been a force to pull us together – is our community here at WJC. Despite these turbulent times, we have remained strong. We are growing and thriving. We have welcomed 32 new member families since last Rosh Hashana. If you are one of those families, welcome! Thank you for joining us.

You might say that WJC has been a place of stability and calm in an ocean of changing tides.

You can see that I am not the least bit shy about extending last year’s water metaphor to help motivate our discussion today.

To do that, I want to quote from a poem called “To Be Of Use” by Marge Piercy.

Her poem contrasts mundane, unfulfilling tasks with the deep satisfaction derived from doing work that has real impact. Marge Piercy emphasizes the importance of being engaged in work that benefits others and brings a sense of purpose. Her poetry speaks of resilience and the value of community.

“To Be of Use” ends with the following paragraph:

“The work of the world is common as mud.
Botched, it smears the hands, crumbles to dust.
But the thing worth doing well done
has a shape that satisfies, clean and evident.

Greek amphoras for wine or oil,
Hopi vases that held corn, are put in museums
but you know they were made to be used.
The pitcher cries for water to carry
and a person for work that is real.”

Let’s look at that last line.

“The pitcher cries for water to carry
and a person for work that is real.”

In this line Marge uses personification to put us into the mind of the pitcher, which is an empty vessel, useless. Literally praying to be filled with water. It is us, the people who need to fill it. She describes people as empty vessels themselves, unless they have useful and productive things to do.
It suggests that true fulfillment comes from contributing to and being part of a community, that those contributions can help insulate us from the chaos around us. It emphasizes the interconnectedness of individuals, where each person’s contribution matters greatly.

WJC is exactly that kind of community.
We have all sorts of people here today.
Some are regular shul attendees.
Some bring their children to torah for tots.
Some of us are class parents.
Some are learning with our clergy.
Some are saving the world through social action and Tikun Olam.
Some may be our leaders: committee chairs, trustees, officers.
Some of us may only come on these high holidays.
Some may be motivated by support for Israel or Israeli culture.
Some may be teens participating in our new program, or children in our religious school.
Some may be social members, joining for JOY club Sisterhood or Brotherhood events.
Some may be substantial financial donors.
Some are concerned with climate change and saving the planet.
Some of us may be regular minyan attendees finding daily reflection and helping to pay respects to those we have lost.

We are all part of this community. All doing serious work to create a place where we can connect, grow, be at peace, reflect and vow to improve.
When we get involved in a community, we strengthen our own souls and help to create good in the world. But we are doing something even more powerful – we are sending a message to our children and grandchildren that intentional living and giving back to the community matters.

They notice everything – and will be influenced by what we do and what we don’t do. When we volunteer, we are training the next generation that there is something greater than ourselves.

Indeed, I would not be standing here as your President if my parents had not run those Tu Bishvat picnics and modelled this behavior for me.

So, as we begin our new year – and find a place here for quiet introspection, I have three questions for us to ask ourselves:
Am I going out of my way to welcome new people in the community, and reaching out to more tenured members who I may not know? 

Even though we are a robust community, there are always people at the margins. That introduction, or small touch of concern coming from another member is what encourages people to connect more deeply and reinforces the fabric of our community.
Can I find fulfillment and meaning in a chaotic world by learning or participating in a program that I have not tried before?
WJC has hundreds events each year from book clubs and bridge, to adult education and Social Action. 
We have traditional services as well as musical ones, renewal and even yoga. Coming up in November: we will host Israeli heroes through Project 24, 
have our annual mitzvah day, a Comedy night and observe Kristalnacht.
Make a commitment to try something new this year.
Can I contribute more financially to the health of this community?
WJC’s Elul Appeal supports nearly 20% of our annual budget. 
Starting this year, when you make a donation, you can identify an area of importance to you. 
It’s a chance to match your donation to a passion and send a message to synagogue leadership about what matters most to you. 

We are hoping that every single member participates in this voluntary giving, at least a little bit, to help our center thrive.
Before we depart, I need to extend some gratitude:

Thank you Rabbi Arnowitz, Rabbi Dalton, Cantor Goldberg, Rabbi Tobenstein, Seth Schafler Matt Baum, David Goldstein, Jose Fonseca and his maintenance team, Beth Weiss and the office, Aleza Kulp and Anne Pardes for all you have done to make these high holidays meaningful.

Many thanks also to the tireless work of our volunteers Harold Trieber, Susan Miller, Sarene Shanus, Tracey Levy, Sandi Rosenbaum. I also want to thank Amy and Fred Bennett who are spearheading some new efforts this year. How cool that we will have kids programs for Kol Nidre and Neilah and that so many are joining us for the first time for breakfast after Yom Kippur.
Yashar Co’ach to all of you!

I need to thank you our WJC community for all you have taught me these past two years, and what I am still to learn as I fill out my term.

I’d like to extend many thanks to my family and friends for your support and encouragement. Lastly, special thanks to Sherry, the incredible first lady of WJC – for all she has done for our community and for me.

<a final thought>

There’s a half-full pitcher of water on the table at a WJC meeting.

The pessimists in the room says – hey the pitcher is half-empty!
The hope-filled optimist says no, the pitcher is half-full!

WJC’s house committee declares that the pitcher is just twice as big as it needs to be.

Cantor Goldberg explains that the pitcher is actually completely full – it simply contains water and air.

Rabbi Arnowitz jumps in to describe that the two parts of the pitcher represents the extra neshama, the extra soul we get from hashem on Shabbat.

The officer for development – attempts to find a way to monetize the empty space in the glass.

The Social Actions committee wants to distribute the remaining water to the needy.

The security committee says the glass needs to be twice as tall and three times as thick, to ensure its integrity.

Elijah flys in takes a sip and leaves.

Then, finally, my hero, Jose Fonseca walks in with an even bigger jug, fills up the pitcher and pours a glass for everyone in the room!

L’Shana tova tikatavu. Wishing you and everyone in your family a full glass and a year of health, safety, and joy.

Shalom WJC!

Larry