"A WORD TO OUR TEMPLE'S LEADERS"
May 2, 2003
Rabbi Edward Paul Cohn
Temple Sinai
New Orleans, Louisiana
I want to offer my very best wishes and steadfast support to our new
officers:
President Gene Fendler
Executive Vice President Sandy Levy
Vice Presidents Jay Corenswet and Ann Kimball
Secretary Rita Murov
Treasurer Cliff Kern
and to each of the members of our Board of Trustees who are being installed
this Shabbat evening.
From my perspective I would say to you, Gene, as now you assume the
greatly honored position of President, that tonight you join a distinguished
and select group. Of course, each one of them has had their own approach
to the job, even as each has had incorporated within their personalities
varying gifts and styles of leadership. The one constant that they have all
shared, however, is that of energetic devotion and unbounded dedication to
service.
Ask anyone of our past presidents and they are sure to admit that
there is nothing convenient about being the president of this congregation.
You and I both know that, for one reason or another, our members expect
an uncommon level of attention and TLC from their clergy and their officers
and leaders. And, as with anyone who is the "Chief," to the degree that you
devote yourself heart and soul to the follow-through, I can safely predict, to
that degree will your success be assured. You can depend upon me to
support your every effort. I look forward, as I know Cantor Colman does, to
serving with you as your clergy team.
Tonight we want to say our thanks to our outgoing president. Surely
no one has been more effective and, at the same time, more stimulating and
enjoyable to work with than Matt Greenbaum. When Matt stood before our
congregants, on festive occasions or in times solemn, he inevitably projected
warmth of personality and incredible pride in being our Temple President.
Shabbat by Shabbat, he put his special brand of articulate vision to work,
not only from the Bema during his announcement time, but one-on-one
during the Oneg Shabbat and at B'nai Mitvah celebrations.
Matt's investment of time and energy inspired all of us who work
under this roof to only work harder and devote ourselves with greater
creativity, larger spirit and increased determination. By every standard of
measurement, Matt Greenbaum's presidency has been characterized by
extraordinary accomplishment.
Temple Sinai's present is bright. Our goals for the future have never
been more clearly crystalized or our aspirations more creatively framed. It
has been my delight to serve as Temple Sinai's Rabbi during the Greenbaum
Presidency. He has been his Rabbi's friend and teacher, mentor and
supporter-even as I have rejoiced to be the same for him. Nothing has made
me happier than knowing and hearing his pride in me. To Matt and his
wonderful Ashley, my sincerest thanks and lasting admiration and
friendship.
About sixty years ago, Rabbi Abraham J. Feldman of Hartford,
Connecticut, offered this definition of a synagogue:
A Jewish congregation is not just another organization or
club to which one "ought to belong". . . a congregation is a
comradeship of Jews who are faithful to the religious heritage,
the religious forms, the religious content of Jewishness and who
want to be considered faithful. . . .
We band together in a congregation amongst other valid
reasons, for the purpose of learning to think of God in adult
terms and in modern idiom.
We band together in a congregation to learn the content of
the Jewish tradition and its validity and relevance for our day.
We band together in a congregation to learn how to live as
Jews today, and how to impart what we have received,
unimpaired and enriched, to the generations who come after us.
We band together in a congregation to learn how to
translate our historic religious ideals and to apply them in daily
life in this modern world.
"Comradeship," to use Dr. Feldman's term, means that you and I must
care about one another while we join with our fellow members in applying
our magnificent heritage to daily life in this community and in this world. I
sense a wonderful and enheartening spirit of unity, respect and genuine
caring with this Temple Family. Older and longtime members work
cooperatively in harmony with new members at all levels of our
congregation's rich programs. This is a warm congregation. This is a
welcoming congregation which prides itself on outreach and inreach. We
allow no one to be a stranger, for we know we were once strangers.
For one hundred and thirty-three years now, the life of this synagogue
has facilitated men and women taking into their lives the concerns, the joys,
the sorrows, the dreams of their fellow Jews. Here we worship, we eat, we
socialize and we study with an extended Chavurah. And, when dark times
intrude on our lives, we draw upon our sacred family for the necessary
strength and support to see our way through.
Says Robert Herford: "The religion of the Torah learned to live
without the ancient Temple, but it never dreamed of doing without the
synagogue." Cantor Colman, Betty Zivitz, Herbert Barton and I know, along
with all who work with us, and with all of our lay leadership, how
profoundly our members love this Temple.
No doubt every Rabbi thinks their congregation unique, but we know
for a certainty that this congregation is one of a kind in all the world. Our
distinctions are to be celebrated even as our consecrated service to God,
Torah and Israel must be preserved and enlarged.
As your Rabbi, have never a doubt that my hands, my mind and my
heart will always be extended towards your well-being. And to the Officers
and Board members who take their places as leaders this Sabbath evening, I
welcome the special friendship and partnership that is ours.
In this spirit do we warmly and affectionately congratulate each one of
you, and we pray that the light of our faith may ever guide your hearts and
souls and minds as we seek to safeguard our roots, and dream even worthier
dreams. May God bless the nobility of our efforts with inspiring success.
Amen