Rodef Sholom: A Reform Jewish Congregation in Marin County, California

Annual Membership Commitment
By now you have received your Annual Membership Commitment letter in the mail. We thank you for looking at the material and sending in your response right away. This is your congregational home, and your AMC helps to make it a warm and welcoming sanctuary for you and your fellow congregants, and a vibrant community with so much to offer to everyone.  Let’s keep it this way!  Let’s continue to make it an even better place for finding spiritual and community connections for all.   Your annual membership commitment is important, greatly appreciated, and vital.

Board Members:  Shalom (hello) and L’hitraot (until we meet again):
Every June the Board of Directors elects a new slate of officers for the coming year, says goodbye and thank you to board members whose terms of service are over, and welcomes new board members.   We also acknowledge board members who are beginning their 2nd three year term of service.  Every board member, no matter what the status of his or her “comings or goings”, is appreciated.

We are excited to welcome Jay Bellin as a new member of the Board of Directors beginning in July. Bruce Gribens will continue on after having finished his appointment to fill a vacancy.   We’re so lucky to have Jay and Bruce “on Board”!

At the end of this month we say goodbye and thank you to Jon Welner, who has served 2 terms as a Director.   We are so appreciative of the time and energy Jon has devoted to his work on the Board.

Their dedication to our congregation and commitment to the Board of Directors continues for Jon Kimball, Elizabeth Share and Loren Kertz, all of whom will begin their 2nd term of service this July.  Thank you for all that you do.

A Special Goodbye
June 30th marks the end of my term as President, and the end of my 2 terms of service as a member of the Board of Directors.   I would like to thank everyone for allowing me to serve our congregation in this special way.  It has been a privilege to be a part of a dynamic, caring, dedicated group of directors.  As of this writing the new slate of officers has not been announced, but I know the dedication and high energy of all of our directors will keep us in good hands, and we will continue to thrive and celebrate our innovative, vibrant and loving community.

B’shalom and L’hitraot,

Jan Luxenberg
President, Board of Directors

Comment (0)

Please join us in recapping both the highlights and the challenges of this past year, and in welcoming the new slate of officers and board members for the coming one. This meeting will take place in our Social Hall. Refreshments will be provided. RSVP to Pete at 479.3441 or pete@rodefsholom.org.

Comment (0)

Being a member of the board of directors involves a great commitment to our synagogue community.   In a “big picture” way, we are devoted to strategic work that helps us fulfill our vision of creating and sustaining a Jewish community for ourselves and for future generations.  Our goal is to ensure that our kehilla kedosha – our holy community – is always a sanctuary of Tefillah (prayer), Torah (learning) and Tikkun Olam (social justice).  Always, our focus is on what is best for our Rodef Sholom community.

On a more pragmatic and “day to day” level, we do our best to make Rodef Sholom a warm and caring synagogue home. This is the feeling that we hope congregants have when interacting with board members.  It is important for board members to focus on the bigger picture, that is true, but we also care very much about our fellow congregants and their lives.

One way in which we show that we care is by acknowledging congregant lifecycles. Our congregant families experience all kinds of ups and downs in their lives. At Rodef Sholom, we do our best to be supportive – to celebrate the simchas and blessings, and to be supportive during difficult times. When you call the synagogue office to let us know about one of these events, we want to let you know that we care. That is why you receive a call or a note from one of the members of the board of directors. We are a very large community – over 1,000 families – and we hope that if you do receive a note or a call you feel connected to a caring and supportive congregational family.

Comment (0)

On April 8, 2010, at 7 pm in the Social Hall, the Board of Directors will vote on the proposed 2010-2011 budget for Congregation Rodef Sholom. Included in that budget is an increase in the Annual Membership Commitment of $100 per family. As you may recall, there was no increase in the membership commitment for 2009-2010. If you have comments regarding this increase, we invite you to contact Michael Kamler at 479.3441 or michaelk@rodefsholom.org, or to attend the meeting, which like all of our board meetings, is open to the public.

Comment (0)

On Sunday, February 21st at 9:30 am we have the opportunity to participate in a discussion and learn about Estate and Charitable Gift Planning. This free event will include a special presentation on ethical considerations for final arrangements planning by Rabbi Friedman.  I invite you to join me! 

Here is why I am going to attend:

When our children were young, we always celebrated and observed the Jewish holidays, making sure they grew up with a strong Jewish identity. Now that they are young adults, I see the presence of this identity in the way they talk about life, and in the values they are living. I notice it when, home from college and with a packed social calendar, they make a point of being home on Friday nights so that we can say the Shabbat blessings together as a family. My husband and I are filled with pride and a sense of joy to know that, as parents, we have passed on Jewish traditions to our children.

Beyond celebrating holidays and traditions, we know there is another way to ensure that Judiasm remains an important and thriving part of our lives, the lives of our children, their children, and so on for generations to come. We have become members of the Rodef Sholom Legacy Circle by including Rodef Sholom in our estate plans. It’s not only a way to show our dedication to Rodef Sholom, but also our commitment to future generations of Jews who deserve to be a part of our vibrant and caring community.

What better way to show we care about a healthy future for Rodef Sholom than to create a legacy for all who will carry on our values and traditions!

B’shalom,

Jan

Comment (0)