Blog

“Goodbye always makes my throat hurt” – Charlie Brown

We can all agree that 2020 was a transformative year.  

March 2020: Just as I was starting to feel settled in my new surroundings, the pandemic swept in, keeping us all at a distance and raising anxieties about our health.  I am very proud of the way CBE, led by Susan Marcus and the Mitzvah Committee, went into action to check on each other, making sure physical and emotional needs were met.

While we sadly held our first zoom funeral for Howard Siegman, may his memory be for a blessing, we also celebrated our first virtual Passover Seder! And, thanks to Alan Rubin’s expertise and a grant from the Rose Community Foundation, we were able to upgrade our audiovisual system to accommodate in-person and virtual services.  We invited talented musicians from afar like Laura Berman into our worship and increased our High Holiday capacity by offering services on our patio. And with the added number of virtual attendees, we are now offering CBEverywhere membership!

Virtual gatherings may be here to stay, but with in-person gatherings on the horizon I encourage you to show up for your synagogue, renew your membership commitment, and get involved in a way that’s meaningful to you. Becoming active in Tikkun Olam, Spiritual Life, Mitzvah, Member Ship, Program Planning, Social, or the Board gives you and your family a personal stake in our kehilah and the future of CBE.

Although I am optimistic about setting expectations in the “new normal,” I don’t want to lose sight of lessons learned through the pandemic. I have learned I am truly grateful for the health and wellbeing of my community, my relationships with the people I love, and living my truth. With these values in mind has come the realization that I need to shift my energy away from my full-time responsibilities at CBE in order to have the flexibility to volunteer in the community, deepen relationships with family and friends, and spend more time in nature.

It has been an honor to serve you and I will forever be grateful for the way you welcomed me into your community, into your homes, and into your hearts. My employment as Executive Director will officially end May 31^st, but I will remain an active CBE member and hope to see you in-person around town, on the trails, and at CBE.