A Message from your President

Barry Weiss
August 29, 2019
28 Av 5779
Dear Members,

 I am sending this message out separately from our Newsletter as it affects our members and not necessarily all those who receive our Newsletter.

This past Tuesday, your Board of Directors met and addressed and voted on several serious and difficult issues regarding our Rabbi and the future of Bnai Israel Congregation.

Here are some of the resolutions that the Board approved:

1.      The Board voted to join the United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism, USCJ.

This has been a decades-old issue for our Congregation that prides itself on being “a “Conservative” Jewish Congregation both in our By-Laws as well as in our Mission Statement. The Board felt it was time to affiliate with USCJ not only to be a part of it, but more importantly to avail ourselves of the opportunities that membership provides in the way of resources for education, leadership, best practices and so many more tools for better and more efficient operation. Additionally, as we enter into a full time search for our new Rabbi, USCJ offers the best referral network, screening, profiling and placement for Conservative Rabbis.  

2.      The Board voted to offer Rabbi Barry Kenter a short-term position as an “interim” Rabbi.

Rabbi Kenter had a 35-plus year career at Greenburgh Hebrew Center in Dobbs Ferry, NY, as well as most recently acting as interim Rabbi at Adath Jeshurun Congregation in Elkins Park Pa, Congregation Habonim, NY, NY and Congregation Beth Israel, Greenville South Carolina (former Congregation of Rabbi Kozlow).

Rabbi Kenter, as interim Rabbi, will provide stability and support as we search for a new full time Rabbi and provide guidance for our Hebrew school, connect with our bar/bat mitzvah families, adult education, and of course be attentive to all life cycle and Rabbinic needs of our members.

For more information on Rabbi Barry Kenter please go to the “link” in this weeks Newsletter.

3.      The Board voted to have Rabbi Kenter start as interim Rabbi beginning September 15 th, (come meet him on that Sunday at “Shul Days”) and lead us with Cantor Zach Golden for our High Holiday services.

At this time, we wish Rabbi Kozlow all the success and happiness she prays for as she prepares for her new Congregation and we hope that her life will be full and complete being closer to her children and grandchildren.


See you in Shul,

Barry
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