On Yom Kippur, longstanding NEMS member, Janet Kogan, shared these meaningful words with the congregation. Here is her message for those who couldn’t be there:
Leigh and I have been members of NEMS for about 26 years and in that time we have come to regard the community as a very important part of our lives. It has been there for us in happy times , such as our children’s bar and bat mitzvahs, the sad times when we have been bereaved , and the uncertain times such as the pandemic and now with the war in Israel.
At this time of year when we reflect on the past year and what we will do differently in the coming months I ask myself;
Is there a better way to do things in our community?
How can we build and strengthen it in the year ahead?
But then I think, sure, there are many aspects of NEMS that could be changed, but perhaps we should be focusing on its strengths of the past year. We have a small dedicated group on the executive who ensure that the shul runs smoothly. We have held well attended Onegs where food and conversations are shared. We have had wonderful simchas where families celebrate bar mitzvahs, and we have regular services lead by knowledgeable and enthusiastic lay readers. There is a dedicated team of people who provide security at events and there are social evenings where non members see what a warm and welcoming community NEMS is. I have had many conversations on the phone with members who can not get to shul through ill health or age but still feel a part of our community.
We should take the time to recognize the strength it took to get through this year, the small acts of kindness within our community, the meaningful conversations over a shabbat meal, the acts of resilience and courage of our members . These are our building blocks for the new year
And of course we can look forward to the new year with enthusiasm. We have our new student rabbi, Tim, who has joined us today and hopefully will be a regular presence at NEMS events. There will be more onegs, socials and simchas to look forward to.
A community is not just a place to go when there’s a shul service. For me it is about friendship and connecting with like-minded people. It is also an important link to other Jewish communities. It is comforting to me to know that as we sit here on Yom Kippur there are many thousands of Jews doing the same all around the world.
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