From the President - January 2006

Dear Friends,

Along with Rabbi Black and members of our Board of Trustees and Sisterhood Board, I attended the URJ Biennial Conference in Houston last November. It was my first national meeting, and since I have not yet visited Israel, it was the first time that I lived among thousands of Jews. Quite the experience to be the majority.

As for the conference, the workshops were interesting, keynote speakers were provocative and inspiring, and it was fertile ground to exchange information/ideas/challenges with others in similar situations and also with the leadership of our movement. But, what spoke loudest to me were Shabbat services.

 Now, I know that for some, praying isn't possible in a large crowd (more than 5,000) seated on folding chairs with televised close ups of the bimah. However, these things didn't get in my way because the praying part of being Jewish is the part closest to my heart. For me, sitting in a row with close friends and our Rabbi, hearing voices familiar and new, repeating words ancient in melodies contemporary, I was in my element. To share sacred space in worship nurtures my soul, that's who I am, and that nurturing keeps me connected and invested in our community and the Jewish world at large.

Enough about me. Now I ask you, what nurtures your soul? How do you connect with your Judaism, and, equally important, how can we help you establish a better connection? We do want to know. Our commitment to nurturing your Jewishness is a priority that won't move from the top of our list. We look forward to hearing from you.

Shawn Perry-Turner

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