From The President

Greetings to our CBS family,

I hope you all had a wonderful Pesach. I always enjoy being creative with matzah but this year I was so busy I was happy when the 8th day of Pesach rolled around and my "matzah madness" was over!

Spring is in the air and with it comes rebirth and changes. Our trees finally have leaves on them again, and the roses in the front of the shul are beautifully in bloom (just in time for Cafe Shalom). We have a new Board of Directors, and a new Rabbi who will start in a few months.

This is a good time for all of us to look around and think about how we can contribute to the changes and "rebirth" that will happen to CBS within the next few months. This is your opportunity to voice your opinions about what we all can do to "reinvent" our congregation. I don't mean to talk about affiliation, I'm talking about identifying the needs of our membership and implementing changes to become more current in the way we do things at CBS.

The common thread that binds all of us is our shared desire for learning and living Judaism. It is important as we contemplate the changes that will likely occur over the next few months that the Board of Directors hears your voice as we struggle to meet your needs. The problem is, we can't lead unless we know what you want and this Board wants to hear from you.

Too many times I hear that the Board did this or the Board did that. Contrary to what many of you think, decisions that are made at CBS are made after a tremendous amount of discussion, research, and more discussion on any specific issue. Usually, most decisions are delegated to a committee which deals with the issue at its committee meeting, and then makes a recommendation to the Board of Directors who votes on the recommendation.

The real problem is that many committee members are also on the Board, and many Board members serve on several committees: thus, the appearance that the Board is calling all the shots. This is an easily resolvable problem--YOU need to be on a committee.

We need fresh new ideas, fresh new committees, and fresh new people to serve. Be my guest and take the place of a Board member on any one of our many committees. The Board member will take you to lunch for being rescued! So when are YOU going to volunteer?

We need to have more representation on our committees and our Board by younger families. You don't need any experience. It's on-the-job training and we will gladly train you. When I joined CBS 12 years ago, I never dreamed I would be on the Board of Directors, let alone President. I only got here by becoming involved in one little committee and a desire to make a little difference in our Jewish community. I learned from those who had served many years on the Board and am grateful for those role models.

Let's face it, soon all of us "more mature" members will be the "even more mature" members, and I tell you, you won't want us to be leading CBS--some of you probably think we shouldn't be leading it now. The point is, someone has to--and our Board of Directors is doing a great job of running our shul. But we need YOU to one day take our place so that CBS is still around for your grandchildren's grandchildren.

When I first started as president I told you that every month I would try to give you an opportunity to volunteer for a cause in our community. This month I am encouraging, urging, pleading with you to please get involved with CBS, to call me and ask me what committee needs help. Board meetings are open to the general membership. If you are thinking you might want to be on the Board one day, come to a meeting on the last Tuesday of the month at 6:30 so you can see what we do. You just may want to get on the Board next year.

It is time that we all take a look at who we are and help decide where we want to be. CBS is ready for a "rebirth" and it needs YOUR new fresh voices to help move it in the right direction.

My phone is always on and you can always call me up until 11 p.m. I look forward to hearing from YOU.

Shalom--and Happy Spring!

Notes from the Religious School

As the religious school year comes to a close, I want to share with you an experience from class this past week. It is relevant as it relates to your kids, our CBS kids, and how we move through the summer and back into religious school next year.

We merged two classes, ages 9-13, and had a discussion about what the kids favorite things about spring break were. We had 8 kids in the class and received 12 responses. The answers ranged from:

• Went on a cruise
• Had my birthday
• Went paintballing
• And more

Then, we asked the kids to share what Jewish moments they had over break...anything that related to their cultural heritage in Judaism. We actually ran out of room in the whiteboard column for responses! These replies ranged from:

• Had chocolate matzah
• Spent Passover with family in New York
• Had my friends over for Passover
• Recited the four questions at Passover for the first time
• Met someone with a Chai necklace on the cruise
• And more (like matzah brie, matzah lasagna, ...)

How interesting and exciting this class was! I was really surprised...I did not expect to have such an overwhelming and enthusiastic response to our heritage question. The kids actually became very animated, whereas with the "favorite things from spring break" question had pretty kid-like (bored) responses.

For me, this was a great way to wrap up the religious school year. We've come a long way, we had lofty goals and accomplished a thimbleful of them. Yet, in the end, we actually grew as a Jewish Community. We have helped nurture enthusiastic and energetic young Jewish citizens.

So, as we set out on our summer journeys, think about the upcoming holidays in our faith (Israeli Independence Day, Lag b'Omer, Shavuot, Tish B'av, etc.) and mention them to your kids. Bring the kids to the Family Services once a month. Get together with Jewish friends. Read a bible story or two. Give the kids a book about the Holocaust or Jewish Heroes for summer reading (we have some great books for kids of all ages up to 100 in the Drabkin Library). And, at the end of summer, please be sure to enroll your kids once again for next year.

We all make a difference...and our CBS kids show us more about their understanding of our heritage than any of us may think. Together we can continue to grow their Jewish identity and understanding.

All the best for a great summer!

Mazel Tov!

To Nancy & Mark Haskett who just found out that their daughter Sarah was chosen as the Manteca Unified School District teacher of the year. She will be accepting the award at their June board meeting.

Needless to say, they are very proud of her!

Remember, half of every subscription to J- will go to Congregation Beth Shalom.  See your Bulletin for details.