From the Rabbi - April 2005

Dear Friends,

Each year we gather around our Seder tables to tell our ancient story of redemption.  Pesach is a time of celebrating community and continuity. We take comfort in the familiar faces gathered around our table.  We also feel the pain of loss as we come to grips with the fact that those who were with us just a short time ago are forever gone from our lives. We remember them in the songs that they used to sing, the jokes that they used to tell and the dishes that they lovingly prepared. Each passing year brings with it gradual acceptance combined with an appreciation of the many gifts they brought to our lives.

It's hard to believe that it has been two years since we said goodbye to Geoffrey Kalmus.  Time passes and life goes on, but the losses we experience - as individuals and as a community - help shape the way that we view the world. Geoffrey's life and legacy have left an indelible mark not only on me personally and so many others, but on our congregation as a whole - as well as a myriad of other institutions and organizations in our community.

Geoffrey was a mentor to me and to many others. He was a brilliant man whose ability to size up situations and formulate plans of action was breathtaking. His vision was invaluable to our congregation's fiscal and organizational health. His friendship was absolute and unyielding.

While Geoffrey's commitment to community was the arena in which most people came in contact with him, for those who knew him well, it was the way that he lived his life that was truly inspirational.  Geoffrey Kalmus knew that the secret of life was threefold:

• Surround yourself with people whom you love and who love you;
• Never stop learning and growing - make every second count;
• Make a difference in life. Leave the world a little bit better after you have gone.

One part of Geoffrey's legacy is the beautiful lounge that he and Julia bequeathed to our congregation. We will be dedicating the Kalmus Lounge on Friday night, April 22nd, following Erev Shabbat services.  I hope that our sanctuary will be overflowing in tribute to this wonderful gift. In the few short months that the lounge has been in place, it has become a focal point of our congregation - just as Geoffrey knew that it would be. We are forever indebted to the Kalmus family for their generosity and dedication.

May you all have a wonderful Pesach filled with inspiration, renewal and joy. 

B'shalom,
Rabbi Joseph R. Black

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