Delivered to Keddem Congregation, Erev Rosh Hashanah, 1 Tishrei 5771, September 8, 2010.
L'shana tova! Welcome to Keddem Congregation's High Holy Day services for 5771. If you have been here before, it is good to see you again. If you are new to our community, welcome. I hope you all have a meaningful experience and that you will be back.
I stand before you as the newest President of Keddem, having taken office on July 1. As recently as a year ago, I did not want this job and I had many reasons. One of them was that the idea of writing this drash terrified me.
So, what changed? Why did I agree to take this on?
First, this is an exciting time to be a member of Keddem Congregation. Our Immediate Past President, Esther Heller, had the vision to initiate a long range planning process with the charter to develop a long range plan that would address Keddem's growth and sustainability. The committee was chaired by Lynn Alexander Levine who put in much time and effort. Thank you to Lynn and everyone who participated in this process, including those of you who responded to surveys and attended salon meetings.
Out of the plan the Congregation adopted new vision, mission, and values to guide us.
Our vision is that "Keddem Congregation is a community-led, Reconstructionist Jewish congregation dedicated to discovering, developing and celebrating godliness in ourselves and each other. We practice an evolving Judaism that infuses tradition with new meaning, and is responsive to contemporary life."
As we work our way through the holidays over the next 10 days, I hope you will notice parts of this vision in our machzor, drashot, and interactions.
You can read about the values and the mission in the tri-fold brochure on the table at the back of the room.
Let me point out a few changes to the values. First, we added the value of being Innovative. "It is through innovation that we carve a path of Judaism, rooted in tradition and peoplehood, yet relevant for the present. We welcome and encourage new, creative ideas." Next, we added the value of Compassion. "Just as we seek to recognize the godliness in every other human being, so we at Keddem Congregation respond to each other with the kindness, compassion, respect, patience, and humility that this recognition deserves." Finally, we changed the value of Questioning to Inquiring. "An attitude of inquiry frames learning at Keddem Congregation. We benefit from each other's knowledge and experiences, value diverse opinions, and differing perspectives."
Of course, what came out of the Long Range Planning process was a plan, so we work together toward attaining this vision and living the values.
There are other sections in the Plan with suggestions for growth, the role of the Rabbi, and programming, among other things. The Board of Directors is looking at these suggestions to see what can be implemented near and long term. However, it cannot just be the board putting plans into action.
Another of our values is that we are Participatory. We encourage all members who are able, to participate to make Keddem happen.
So, it is an exciting time at Keddem, change is in the air. Why else did I agree to be President?
Our Yom Kippur morning Torah reading is from Nitzavim, Deuteronomy 29:9-30:20. We read this to "remind us that God's words do not belong to some other people in another time. Rather, they are here, with us, always. We, too, stood, at Sinai."
The first line, Chapter 29, verse 9 reads "You stand this day all of you before Adonay your God." Our ancestors were at Sinai, we, too, were at Sinai. We have a Board made up of nine enthusiastic, awesome individuals. We may start to put a plan in place for growth and programming, as I mentioned before. But, really, it is not just us, the members of the Board. We all stand together, as one Keddem. The helpful answer is "what can we do to help make Keddem happen?" not "we've tried that and it didn't work," or "our committee doesn't do that." In "Hayley-world," most of our members are volunteering within their means and skills to bring oneg, set up for an event, chair an event, or lead a service, among other things. In the real world, we have a fair number of volunteers and I thank each and every one of you for your service, but Keddem needs more. We need everyone who is able, to volunteer, from the smallest task to the largest task, whatever you can do.
Back to Nitzavim, probably the most famous line from this parsha is Chapter 30, verse 19, "I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your seed may live." For me, choose to stretch beyond my boundaries, challenge the status quo. The alternative is not death, but never knowing if I will succeed or fail.
In taking this job, I realize that I am not alone. In addition to the previously mentioned board members, I have a great support system within the Keddem community. Many of you encourage me when I am unable to encourage myself.
Allow me to share one of my favorite quotes, "Promise me you'll always remember: you're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think."
That was Christopher Robin to Winnie the Pooh.
So, yes, a year ago, I could not envision myself up here, talking to you from this lecturn. A lot has happened and I have grown, and I expect that I will continue to grow quite a bit in the next two years. But I will not be growing on my own, we will be growing together, to make sure Keddem Congregation lives the vision, mission, and values that we adopted earlier this year.
L'Shana Tova Tikateivu! May you be written for a good New Year!
© 2010 Hayley Green Smith
**Vision and Values from http://keddem.org/About-Keddem.html.
**Torah quotes from Keddem High Holy Day liturgy.
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