A Letter from Rabbi Alan Lettofsky

Dear Friends,

I have said it many times, but it bears repeating: We have a very unusual congregation! And so much of the special nature of our congregation can be traced back to its Founders.

We are a group of very devoted people – devoted to our children, to our community, to our Temple, and to the Jewish people.

We have a very proud – even glorious – history. The first female Reform rabbi in America, Sally Priesand, grew up in our congregation. The entire movement to free Soviet Jewry originated with our dedicated members, who worked tirelessly for years, and against great odds and lots of “nay-sayers,” ultimately making history and improving millions of lives.

Our school functions entirely with a volunteer staff, including our our Director of Religious Education, our Director of Congregational Programming, teachers and office staff. Several of our members “mentor” our Bar and Bat Mitzvah candidates, and help them prepare their Divrei Torah. Our wonderful library is open to the public, and it too is entirely staffed by a crew of volunteers.

We continue to have services every Friday night and Saturday morning, as well as for all holidays, and when the part-time rabbi is not scheduled to lead the service, several volunteers are ready to lead.

But perhaps what we can boast most about is our congregation’s openness and acceptance of difference and the wonderful tradition of respect for young and old that characterizes all of our interactions. We welcome all who share our commitment to assure a vibrant Jewish life for ourselves, our children, and for the broader community in which we live.

Sincerely,
Rabbi Alan Lettofsky