My first year as your president has been an eye opener for me. I have learned many things and have developed many relationships. I have seen the inner workings of a synagogue, which I have found very interesting. From a business point of view, it is not so much different from when I owned my own business--a different product, but still a product. On the religious side I have learned a lot. I have gained more knowledge about the Jewish religion and am more appreciative about our customs and practices.

Usually at the end of each year, the President lists the accomplishments of the past year. But, I would rather list the people who made these accomplishments happen because without the help of these people nothing would have happened this past year.

We as a synagogue are made up of many different congregants with different ideas and different ways of implementing these ideas. This makes our synagogue an exciting place to be a member.

The presidency is also made up of many congregants. One person is designated as the president, but that person cannot do it alone. In order to have a successful administration, many congregants have to work very hard.

I have many congregants to thank for their help this past year. I know that I cannot name everyone and thank them what they have done. So please forgive me if your name is not mentioned. I still thank you with all my heart for a job well done and I could not have done it without you.

Thank you to:

• Rabbi Pachter, Cantor Berris and our Executive Director, Chuck Berris, for putting up with me and understanding the direction I was heading in.
• The office staff has been great. It has been a while since a President has hung out at the office as much as I have.
• Robert Riley and his staff have done a superb job maintaining the building and helping out every time they are asked.
• Doug Zack for stepping up when I needed a project completed.
• Kerry Greenhut for being efficient as ever and also performing his job as Executive Vice-President.
• My entire Executive Committee and Board of Directors for their support and hard work:
  • Joel Shayne as Chairmen of our Special Fund Raising Projects and other various committees
  • Carol Pollack for her work on Special Fund Raising Projects and our newest venture, procuring grants
  • Jacqueline Goldstein for the development and design of the beautiful Siddur Project brochure
  • Linda Kuppe, our Youth Director for planning events for our youth on a monthly basis
  • Daniella Mechnikov, Director of Education for her hard work to make our L.I.F.E. program one of the best in the city
  • Ellen Starr and Wendy Brickner, Co-Chairmen of the L.I.F.E program for their dedication to the program and for making the committee an active one; Laurel Rebenstock for her leadership as Bikkur Cholim chairman
  • Marc Betman, our Quiz Night Chairman.
• A special thank you goes to Pearlena Bodzin for her work to beautify our synagogue as House Chairman and her support of me.
• Ruth Shayne, Sisterhood President, who I can always count on to get a job done
• Jerry Friedman and his crew are always there with a smile on Shabbat morning, greeting our congregants
• Steve Fine for a good job as budget chairman
• Sherry Wasserman for her dedication to our synagogue library
• Seymour Ungar as Morning Minyan Co-coordinator and Michael Liebowitz for doing a great job on our minyan breakfasts.
• Daniel Tukel for his expertise in helping with our employment contracts. His skill and advice was very much appreciated.
• Mark Sussman, Lynne Avadenka, Marvin Zucker, Mark Roth, Larry Gunsberg, Steve Mondrow, Barry Kaufman, Michael Atler, Sidney Kraizman, Naomi Pinchuk, Cathy Zepelin, Daniel Sperling and Alisa Peskin-Shepherd.

I want to thank Dennis Deutsch for listening to my complaints and lifting me up when I was having a down day. His support and advice is golden.

Again, if I did not mention your name please do not feel offended. I do thank the whole congregation for their support in the many ways a congregation supports their Shul, financially, by volunteering, and just being there.

When is a wall not a wall, but a prison? I recently read an article about a wall that was being built by the Iraqis and the U.S. Army. The purpose of the wall was to separate a neighborhood in Saad City to prevent suicide bombers and other attacks. This sounds very familiar. Didn’t Israel build a wall for the same purposes and didn’t the international community condemn it?

It gets you thinking, doesn’t it?