Thank Yous & the Return of the Rabbi

Thank you.

As August arrives (how sad that the summer is now half over and the back-to-school sales have already started) we welcome Rabbi Pollack back to the Bimah.

However, I want to begin this column with a big thank you to the many people who ensured that our services ran smoothly throughout her Sabbatical:

• The guest Rabbis (Rena Arshinoff, Larry Englander and Bill Tepper) who led us in holiday services such as Passover’s Second Seder (Tepper) Shavuot (Englander) as well as the induction of our executive (Arshinoff) along with sharing in and leading Shabbat services over these past several months.
• Our many lay leaders who led Shabbat services during this time – Mark Botnick, Joel Brown, David Grossman, Nicole Hansen, Zach Harper, John Lewsen, Dennis Perlin, Eleanor Stoch, Marni Stoch, Leo Van Thyn and Emma Weizenbluth. Sometimes solo, sometimes in partnership with each other. Each service was unique and beautiful.
• Our amazing musicians – Albert Amar, Nicole Hansen, Eleanor Stock, Emma Weizenbluth and The Twisted Camels. As well, a special thank you to the Rabbi and Joel Brown for the creation of ‘Cantor in a Box’ which was a lovely addition to the services on several occasions.
• Our members who joined some of our service leaders to share thoughtful d’vars – Brad Bass, Rick Duchalski, Zach Consitt, Leonard Rosmarin and Shayna Brown on the occasion of her Bat Mitzvah.
• And to the many individuals who chanted Torah.

I also want to add an extra thank you to Leo Van Thyn and the many people who act as Shammas, Gabbai, Greeters and Announcers year-round. We truly appreciate your contribution to our services.

As for our Tech Volunteers, including Joel Brown, Emma Weizenbluth and Ethan Van Thyn, a huge thank you for your continued support of our services, ensuring that those members who don’t join us in person can still participate in all of the services.

I would like to close this section with a final, gigantic thank you to Arliene Botnick who took on many additional tasks, in addition to ensuring that Bet Sefer and the other study programs continued, while the Rabbi was on Sabbatical. We are truly blessed by her knowledge as well as her commitment to and love of Solel. On behalf of Solel, thank you so much for all you do every day in support of our many activities.

As well, to Carol, who keeps our office humming along. You also took on additional responsibilities while the Rabbi was away. Thank you for all you do to ensure everything works smoothly on the operational side of Solel.

Solel truly is a family and the fact that we could ensure that all our services and programming continued in the Rabbi’s absence shows how well we work together and how many people contribute to ensuring our congregation is an active and vibrant house of worship. There was time for prayer and study and celebrations. It is truly a blessing to be a member of such an amazing congregation.

Welcome Back

It is now my pleasure to welcome the Rabbi back to Solel. We look forward to hearing about and benefitting from all that she has experienced over these past several months while she was on Sabbatical.

The work that she did to help organize programming and services in her absence contributed to ensuring that everything went smoothly while she was away.

We now look forward to once again benefiting from her knowledge, insight, and music as we return to both Erev Shabbat and Shabbat morning services and prepare for the High Holidays which are right around the corner.

I hope that you will be able to join us, in person if you’re able, on August 7 & 8, when we will celebrate the return of our Rabbi.

Ruth Ostrower

Filed under: President's Message

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