We look so forward to the beginning of summer after a miserable winter and spring. Now summer is half over and we wonder where the time went. We seem to be running through our lives not wanting to reach the end, but we are always rushing in that direction. WHY? Why don’t we slow down a bit, see things a little differently and enjoy the moment? You have heard this before, haven’t you? You are probably asking yourself why is he telling me this? It goes back to my thought process that rambles on at times. I was thinking of the people at the synagogue who have died in the past year. My friend, Sharlene Ungar, was one of those people. She was always planning ahead for the year. I still remember her giving me advice about what to do and how to do it. Only two weeks before she died, she sent me an E-mail about things that needed to be planned and things that needed to be done now for the coming year. She told me that she would probably not be here to see it done, but, she wanted to make sure it gets done. Sharlene was always in a hurry, but she knew how to enjoy life. I miss her sense of direction and purpose.

This coming year we have many things planned--great Shabbat dinners, and our Apples and Honey New Year’s Celebration II. Many other programs will be announced during the year. These programs will be for the young and young at heart. I am looking forward to another exciting year for our synagogue.

We have just finished a very successful fundraising campaign for our Siddur Tefillah L'Moshe project. This is one of the most successful fundraisers in recent times times.

As we approach the High Holidays we will be asking you to donate to the Yom Kippur Annual campaign. Please remember what our congregant, Daniel Tukel, wrote in the May 2008 Bulletin. “The additional, that we need to collect, beyond dues, to meet our budget is not for non-essential or discretionary spending.” If everyone would give at least chai or double chai it would make an enormous difference.

“Food for Thought”

At the time I was writing to you, I heard that Israel and Hamas were near to an agreement on declaring some type of truce for at least six months. I hope that by the time you get this letter the truce happens. I have my doubts that it will. It would be great if all peoples could live in peace. The issue of Corporal Gilad Shalit’s release should be part of the truce, not something that Hamas wants to deal with separately. I believe that all Hamas wants is a reprieve in order to shore up their defenses and acquire more weapons. I hope I am wrong but history is on my side when it comes to dealing with terrorists.