By now, I trust you’ve heard the good news. Our board of directors (for the second year in a row) adopted a budget with no increase in the basic dues structure. Tremendous thanks go to our extraordinary budgeteer Steve Fine, and especially to the entire synagogue staff – clergy, professional, office, and building services. We know our congregation depends on everyone pulling together.

Of course, our big problem in Michigan is our poor economy. Incomes are down, business activity is sluggish, and people are leaving for opportunities in other states.

Revenue from basic dues alone is not sufficient to maintain our operations. Therefore, those who are able to help with additional donations are needed more than ever in this, our 99th year serving congregants and the community.

We are extremely grateful to those who joined the Chai Club at the Silver, Gold, or the new "Platinum" levels. If you are not a Chai Club member and are able to join or if you are in the Chai Club and can move to a higher level, please seriously consider doing so. But, even if you can’t afford the full Chai Club commitment, we would appreciate any extra support you can pay above the standard level.

Additionally, we must maintain and increase fundraising efforts from members and beyond. The "Annual Campaign" is always a big part of our budget. Please send in your pledge card and give generously as in the past.

Besides major fundraising events, there are many other ways to provide support through the year and these all add up. These include tribute cards, gold leaves, siddur dedication bookplates, tzedakah boxes, paper recycling, online purchases through Goodshop, and participation in the programs of local merchants who give us a rebate from purchases we make at their stores.

One of the very best ways to support B’nai Moshe is to help our membership grow. With the High Holidays quickly approaching, if you have friends or relatives looking for a synagogue, bring them in for an introduction or pass their names to Chuck Berris or Membership Chair Annette Kaufman who will be glad to give them a phone call.

Now, I’d like to turn to another topic. A central tenet of the Conservative Movement is the support of Israel. We should all learn about Israel, support Israel financially, travel to Israel, and educate others about Israel. Unfortunately, Israel has been in the news a lot for taking legitimate actions in its own self-defense.

The election season will soon be upon us. Campaign mail and phone calls have already started. Political yard signs pop up like mushrooms. Whatever your political persuasion, as you prepare to vote please remember to evaluate the candidates’ records on Israel; and, more broadly, consider how each candidate would if elected affect our government’s support for Israel as it faces threats to its very existence. This is an obligation to be taken seriously.

Finally, when I finished this column, Elaine asked me if it had any jokes. When I told her "no" she seemed a bit disappointed, so I added one for her. (I hope she gets it.)

A man spoke frantically into the phone: "My wife is pregnant and her contractions are only 2 minutes apart!"

"Is this her first child?" the doctor asked.

"No, you idiot!" the man shouted. "This is her husband!"