A Message from Our President

A message from our president On June 28, I was installed as the lasting friendships that I heard so many speak of. 55th President of The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah. I love Our last family move came the summer before my junior our rich history, and our core year in high school. Seriously!! Don’t even get me started purpose which is to nurture Jewish on my feelings towards my dad for moving us at that time! meaning, connection and But fortunately for me and for my dad, I met John nine continuity with open hearts, with months into my junior year. I, of course, later thanked him Kedusha and Derech Eretz. for moving us! I was honored to hold our Torah as John is my best friend, my confidant, my biggest supporter the Rabbi blessed me, while 11 of and the love of my life. We dated for six years and I learned our past President’s surrounded me, placing their hands on about the Jewish faith through his family’s actions and my shoulders. I was moved and felt the weight of the words. They were kind, welcoming and loving. They cared responsibility and the strength of their experience support for their friends as if they were family. They cared about me. It was a very powerful moment and one I won’t soon their community as if they were their friends. These values forget. became core to me. I experienced them through John’s family and wanted them for my own. For those of you who were unable to be there, I wanted to share my speech so that you know my story. I knew I wanted to be Jewish and chose to convert prior to our marriage. We moved to Kansas City in 1978, five Shabbat Shalom, It is my honor to be here tonight and to months after we married. We joined B’nai Jehudah because serve as president of this congregation. John’s parents belonged here. We were young, in a new city and knew no one. Neither one of us worked in careers Rabbi Nemitoff asked me to speak tonight so you can learn that gave us a social circle, so we joined a tennis league, a a little bit about me and some of our congregational goals. wine club, a bridge group and a variety of activities. These He gave me seven minutes or less! were fun and gave us casual relationships, but provided us no lasting, meaningful friendships. When I was asked to consider becoming President – three things came to mind. In 1988, just before Carrie entered kindergarten, I chose to 1. I want to show my kids and grandkids the importance of leave the business world to stay at home with my kids – it being involved . was a life choice that I have never regretted. It was a time 2. Having kids and grandkids, I feel compelled and when my volunteer life took flight– from the classroom to prepared to address some of the challenges that Jewish the school library to soccer manager, high school sports, communities are facing - religious school attendance, fundraising to Sisterhood and Temple. engagement and participation. 3. I take great pride in what this congregation and Many of you will remember Rabbi Smiley’s Erev Rosh community has done for me and my family over the last 41 Hashanah sermon last year. It certainly resonated with me. years. I want to continue moving us forward as we look to She spoke of that “moment” when she knew she was the needs of future generations. Jewish. We talk a lot about journeys in our Congregation. I never Now, I can’t tell you the month. The day. Or the time. really thought much about my journey until I sat down to Which for anyone who knows me might be surprised – but write my speech. I can tell you “my moment”. My Jewish journey began as a … Presbyterian. I grew up in a Back in the 80’s, garage sales were HUGE and I decided I wholesome household with very loving involved parents. I just HAD to have one so that I could maybe make $100 on went to church on Sundays, attended Sunday school, my all my “valuable” stuff. dad was a leader in our church- we were “involved”. But that faith never spoke to me and I never felt the sense of I’m in our garage, sorting and organizing and pricing my belonging that I later found in Judaism. great stuff, and the phone rings – this was pre-cell phone days, but we had a phone in our garage, so we’d never miss a I mentioned at the Annual Meeting that we moved a lot call. I answer and the voice on the other end says in an when I was a child. I realize, now, as an adult that I never Argentinian accent “Jocelyn, this is Roz Goodman. I am got to put down roots in any community – I never had those president of B’nai Jehudah Sisterhood. Your friend 3 A message from our president … continued Steffi Katzif told me you were no longer working, and I wanted to ask you to join Sisterhood and come on our Very near and dear to my heart and reflecting on my Board.” “journey”, is working on engagement. All across the country and across religions we see dwindling numbers – That was it. Someone who did not even know me – reached and we ask why? We are in the “business” of raising Jews – out and tapped me on the shoulder and said “come”, “join”, how can we best accomplish this in the times we are in? “be a part of this community”. That was the “moment” I felt People are spread thin – more “things” are demanding that I was Jewish. parents/kids time. How do we recognize this and adapt what we’ve always done to what works for the now? How At Temple, I found my belonging. It was a connection to a do we help engage our single congregants? Our couples faith and a community that I never had. My skill sets from with no children? Our empty-nesters? Our retirees? the work force translated immediately to the volunteer world. I am a doer – I set goals and work relentlessly to I want to have conversations with congregants, those who accomplish them. My girls describe me as organized, aren’t congregants, those who belong but haven’t found thoughtful, reliable, dependable, communicative, motivated, their connection within our walls, those who feel deeply and encouraging – I sound like a Boy Scout! Although my about their Judaism, but don’t know how they can fit it into daughter didn’t “get” this, I felt many of you would! their lives. We need to have serious conversations, relevant input and a strategy moving forward – this is one of my I see the big picture and am also good at getting all the little goals. stuff done to accomplish the larger goal. In closing, B’nai Jehudah, its inviting presence, its history, And, speaking of the larger goal ... its warmth, the clergy and staff and the many, many friendships we have developed here, the opportunities I The Board’s focus this year continues to be completing the have been given to support this community, have helped renovation of our sacred space, the move back in and shape the Jew I have become. adapting to our new space. I wish for all of you your “moment”, I want you to have the We continue to raise the funds required for the renovation same feeling I had when I was tapped on the shoulder, – this is ongoing with a goal of everyone in the congregation invited in and finally felt I belonged. There will be lots of participating to whatever level they feel comfortable. opportunities to share your expertise, to volunteer, to give back to this organization, to find connection and In addition to the renovation, our 150th Congregational community. Celebration and the transition of our senior rabbi - are all happening in the next two years. Beyond these Roz, thank you, dear friend, for that tap on the shoulder, I congregational milestones, we will be looking closely at am forever grateful for you and your friendship. how we can grow our religious school and foster greater engagement within our community. And, how fortunate I am we splurged for that phone in our garage! It starts with a tap on the shoulder. Committees and task forces will be formed. I ask that you consider joining us as Shabbat Shalom! we shape the future of our congregation. Jocelyn [email protected] I am so excited to have such a talented and dedicated Board (913) 908-8588 to work with. They are thoughtful and engaged and I am proud to serve with them. Our congregation is so fortunate to have these people who are willing to give of their time for Daily Minyan Monday—Thursday 5:45 p.m., Sunday 9:45 a.m. the greater good of this congregation. Volunteers throughout our community help our congregation thrive. Federal holidays (when the office is closed) minyan is held at 9:45 a.m. the morning of the holiday. From retirees, professionals, families with young children, For Jewish holidays, holiday services replace daily minyan. families with older children, we have people willing to put in the time and effort in our community because they care, Until our building reopens, daily minyan services are held at the and they want to be part of the process – that is their Menorah Medical Center Chapel, connection.

Load more