From weddings and Bar/Bat Mitzvahs to business functions and lectures, our facility is a great setting and location for your special occasion. BAS Rabbi's Message
Message from Rabbi Daniel Stein
October, 2010
Before my “proper” article, I would like to thank all who helped make my first High Holiday experience at Bnai Abraham run smoothly. Those of you who saw me in the weeks leading up to Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur know what an exhausting process it was for me, and I am very grateful for the kind words and support I received. I also know that there were many people—more than I can mention here—who dedicated a considerable amount of time preparing for the services and break-the-fast. May God continue to bless you with the strength to continue your good work this year and in the years to come.
Over the next year, I hope to engage in discussions with our community about how we can make Bnai Abraham the most successful religious community it can be. One of the challenges that faces almost all synagogues, and many other community organizations, is the division of stakeholders into what management literature calls silos. Silos are individual groups within a community who exist almost independently from each other. There are often few or no structures in place for these groups to interact or communicate with each other and, as a result, community is weakened.
So, for instance, a synagogue might have an adult education group, a group dedicated to attending a weekday minyan, a board of directors, perhaps a group of parents who regularly drop their children off at religious school, and a core of volunteers who help with programming. Though having so many active groups in a synagogue is certainly desirable, the challenge they present to building a strong community is twofold. First, because these groups often are not in the building at the same time, it can be difficult for them to realize who else considers themselves part of the community.
Secondly, and equally as important from a community-building standpoint, there is often little relationship between what the different stakeholders are trying to accomplish educationally.
The challenge to us as a community is to figure out how to move from this silo model to a community of synergy. I hope to work towards this goal by linking what we teach at religious school to what I speak about on Shabbat and what I teach in adult education classes. As a community, though, we must also create opportunities for all of us to interact beyond our silos. So, this month I have a challenge for us. Try, just once, to attend an event at Bnai Abraham that might be new for you; there are always exciting things going on. This month, our Men’s Club will be hosting its kickoff event; our knitter’s group continues to meet, and, as you will see announced elsewhere, I will be beginning adult education courses this month.
And, of course, you are always welcome to attend our religious services on Thursday mornings and on Shabbat. I have been personally honored by the strong attendance at these services and have been inspired by the quality of participation during my teaching.
Finally, one great way to strengthen our community is to sponsor a Kiddush after services, either Friday night or Saturday morning. Dena and I will be sponsoring one on October 30th to celebrate our first wedding anniversary; the entire community is welcome to attend. I hope that others are inspired to do the same; it is a great way to celebrate a life milestone and to share joy with the community.
Best wishes for a meaningful and productive month,
Rabbi Daniel Stein
.........................................................................................................................