Summer is a time when our schedules change, and it is also a time when we think and plan for the immediate year ahead. Temple Beth Israel’s calendar for 2009-2010 is currently being planned. It will be filled with programs, services, celebrations, school activities, and all kinds of opportunities for us to be together. As you begin to plan your year’s activities, please know that your participation in the congregation is vital. The Temple, Sisterhood, Brotherhood, and FYGBI, need not only your financial commitment, but also some of your time.
One of the things I have learned over the past six years living in this area is that the connections we make with people in our TBI family really can make a significant difference in our lives. Every time I attend a special birthday party or pay a shiva call, I am immensely aware of the importance of friends. Friends who are there in joy and sorrow; friends who add a richness to life, which otherwise might be lost. The connections we make as children and as adults can often develop into lifelong relationships that diminish isolation and loneliness.
We live in a world that races around us. Remember to take time for your friends. Reach out and welcome those who may not be as connected as you are. Help our TBI family grow, and remember that your reaching out does have meaning and does make a difference.
