Congratulations to us!
We did it! We got over 370 Jews to agree to something!
Sunday was amazing. We all packed into the Community Hall, ate bagels and voted unanimously to have Max Weiss be our next rabbi. We installed a new Board, voted, presented reports, gave & accepted awards all in less than 1 hour and 45 minutes. I think that must be a record.
Now back to life as usual at Oak Park Temple.
We'll be keeping you posted with updates on the transition, so stay tuned.
Lauren
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Thursday, January 15, 2009
The New Year at Oak Park Temple started off with a bang! In just one weekend we had the amazing Oy Vey Cabaret, a visit by Rabbi Weiss, and a cooking lesson by Laura Frankl sponsored by the Adult Ed. Committee.
I’d like to take a moment and thank everyone who worked on the Cabaret. This was an event not to miss and I hope it gets repeated again, and again.
Then there was the “visit”. As of the writing of this message, the Board of Directors has voted to recommend Rabbi Max Weiss to the congregation as the next rabbi of OPT. This concludes the work of the Rabbi Search Committee. I hope all of you on the committee feel all the gratitude that we in the congregation wish to express for the many hours you gave in order to find the “right” person to fill the void being left by Rabbi Gerson’s retirement. We all know that you on the committee wholeheartedly dedicated yourselves to this endeavor. Selfishly, I hope that you will continue on giving of yourselves to our congregation. Please think about what you would like to be involved with in the future, and just let me know. (That doesn’t leave the rest of the congregation off the hook. You all need to figure out what you’d like to do, too, and volunteer!)
Coming up this month will be a wine tasting fundraiser. Watch your mailboxes for more information about this event.
Finally, for the many of you who came to the temple on January 11 to meet Rabbi Weiss, things are going on every Sunday, Friday night, and Saturday morning too. Don’t be strangers. Join us whenever you can.
B’shalom
Lauren
I’d like to take a moment and thank everyone who worked on the Cabaret. This was an event not to miss and I hope it gets repeated again, and again.
Then there was the “visit”. As of the writing of this message, the Board of Directors has voted to recommend Rabbi Max Weiss to the congregation as the next rabbi of OPT. This concludes the work of the Rabbi Search Committee. I hope all of you on the committee feel all the gratitude that we in the congregation wish to express for the many hours you gave in order to find the “right” person to fill the void being left by Rabbi Gerson’s retirement. We all know that you on the committee wholeheartedly dedicated yourselves to this endeavor. Selfishly, I hope that you will continue on giving of yourselves to our congregation. Please think about what you would like to be involved with in the future, and just let me know. (That doesn’t leave the rest of the congregation off the hook. You all need to figure out what you’d like to do, too, and volunteer!)
Coming up this month will be a wine tasting fundraiser. Watch your mailboxes for more information about this event.
Finally, for the many of you who came to the temple on January 11 to meet Rabbi Weiss, things are going on every Sunday, Friday night, and Saturday morning too. Don’t be strangers. Join us whenever you can.
B’shalom
Lauren
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Happy (secular) New Year!
My family is once again spread out over the continent, Peter in Lompoc, California, Valerie in Baltimore, Maryland and the rest of us here in Oak Park. It was wonderful to be able to enjoy the whole clan together (along with my mother from New York City) for a week in a warmer clime.
Now that the Holidays are over, I hope you are all rested and ready to participate in the many events that our zealous volunteers have been preparing for your education and enjoyment. I hope you are all reading the Messenger and the emails that go out weekly (and sometimes more frequently), but if not, there are many events that I think you need to be aware of.
On this Saturday, January 10th the Chevre Chidur Mitzvah will be presenting the Oy Vey Caberet. If you’ve never been to one of these, you’re missing something. Many of our talented congregants will be performing, and many others will be showing their artistic creations. There is a $16 dollar entry fee that includes dinner! Where can you get a deal like that?
The very next day, you can meet the candidate for our new rabbi, and then learn about Jewish Foods Around the World.
And there is more…
On Sunday January 18th, we join with West Suburban Temple for the annual Israel Bonds Brunch at 10:15. Following that Rabbi David Nelson of ARZA will be speaking about the Reform movement and its support of Israel during this time of crisis. A light lunch will be served, and the program is free of charge.
More free food…. Join us at 10:15 on January 25th to vote in the new board and possibly a new rabbi. Your attendance is very important as we need a quorum to proceed with our candidate.
There will be lots more in the future, too.
Keep open February 21st for a special event being sponsored by the Membership Committee. This will be an event you won’t want to miss. Watch your mail for details.
Look for me to say hello at any of these events, and let me know what you want to see on this blog.
Stay warm, busy and happy,
Lauren
Now that the Holidays are over, I hope you are all rested and ready to participate in the many events that our zealous volunteers have been preparing for your education and enjoyment. I hope you are all reading the Messenger and the emails that go out weekly (and sometimes more frequently), but if not, there are many events that I think you need to be aware of.
On this Saturday, January 10th the Chevre Chidur Mitzvah will be presenting the Oy Vey Caberet. If you’ve never been to one of these, you’re missing something. Many of our talented congregants will be performing, and many others will be showing their artistic creations. There is a $16 dollar entry fee that includes dinner! Where can you get a deal like that?
The very next day, you can meet the candidate for our new rabbi, and then learn about Jewish Foods Around the World.
And there is more…
On Sunday January 18th, we join with West Suburban Temple for the annual Israel Bonds Brunch at 10:15. Following that Rabbi David Nelson of ARZA will be speaking about the Reform movement and its support of Israel during this time of crisis. A light lunch will be served, and the program is free of charge.
More free food…. Join us at 10:15 on January 25th to vote in the new board and possibly a new rabbi. Your attendance is very important as we need a quorum to proceed with our candidate.
There will be lots more in the future, too.
Keep open February 21st for a special event being sponsored by the Membership Committee. This will be an event you won’t want to miss. Watch your mail for details.
Look for me to say hello at any of these events, and let me know what you want to see on this blog.
Stay warm, busy and happy,
Lauren
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