President’s Corner by Howard Krieger

As I sit here writing this column, I’ve just completed a wonderful weekend celebrating my son Jack becoming Bar Mitzvah. This was my second time as a parent of a Kol Ami B’nai Mitzvah (and my fourth of four overall; two to go.) It is also a great jumping off point for me to discuss an aspect of congregational life that should be refreshed every now and then.

Those members who have been here at Kol Ami know the saying well, “…pick up a shovel.” It’s a catchphrase that we use to signify the importance of accepting responsibility for our Judaism, our membership in the Kol Ami community and our citizenship of our world at large.

Responsibility taking can take the form of accepting leadership for projects when asked. It can involve taking on tasks that appear undone. We can search ourselves and find interests and develop them into projects that might benefit the larger community. We can look around and see needs and build structure to address them.

When succession to the Kol Ami presidency became available, I had sat on the Board for two years. I had no experience in synagogue politics or involvement in the Jewish world outside of my synagogue. I have a skill set that involves working one-on-one and was not confident of my abilities working in groups. However, the opportunity became vivid and my wife and a few others suggested that I might do well at it. That and a glass or two of Merlot and I said yes. Since taking office I have learned several important things. First, I still know very little about synagogue politics and only a little more about the Jewish world around me. I have learned that there is an enormous amount available to learn and many programs, courses and people willing to teach and mentor. I have also learned that my skill set is adaptable and that if I am willing to push into places that are uncomfortable to me and make changes that go beyond my inherent willingness, I will grow. I have grown. I have so much more to learn and realize that with one year of my term remaining I will leave office knowing only that I have only scratched the surface. It’s a frustrating feeling, but one that gives me another thought.

Some of you reading this may see yourselves with applicable skill sets and/or willingness to learn about the Jewish leadership world. If you think you have such willingness or will have it in the next few years, now is a great time to step up. If you have a little time to learn, we can get you some information and training with the goal of helping you get up to speed to assume leadership in the years to follow. It’s one way of “picking up the shovel” to build Kol Ami.

There are also ways to continue the work that others have started at Kol Ami. A short walk through the building will prove that many things have been started and need only effort, time and some continued interest to get to the next level. From the “kitchen” project that has gotten underway with the help of Lori Spector, her husband Gary, Craig Goldstein and others, to the office that we’ve moved into our new space, there are a multitude of projects wanting for more of your time and effort. Members with interest in decoration might want to hang some art in the new space, paint some walls, clean some carpets, organize some storage space. The list goes on, waiting for someone to look around, see the need and dig in.

We have members who are doctors, lawyers, teachers, electricians, plumbers, bankers. We have members who are writers, musicians and painters. If you have a skill and can use these talents to improve some aspect of our community, please “pick up a shovel.” Suggest programs, develop materials, use your gifts in a way that benefits all of us. Please know that there are very few barriers between your ideas and their fruition at Kol Ami.

As my first year as your President draws to a close, I am moved by the many compliments that Kol Ami receives. Virtually everyone who visits our synagogue offers compliments on the creativity, the unique worship service, the energy of our kids, the way we make something
wonderful happen in our Jewish lives. I also hear criticism regarding the lack of this and that, needs that are so real, so pressing, so important. All of this, the positives and the negatives are right.

We are so blessed and also need to do so much more. I hope that I haven’t offended anyone who criticizes aspects of Kol Ami when I turn the criticism around and suggest that they, the critic, take the issue on and develop it into an asset.

As we go forward this year, we will need to build infrastructure if we are to survive, much less grow. You will hear in the upcoming weeks how we intend to use volunteer time as a means of fulfilling dues and tuitions that have been revised. You will hear how we are building a project to sell script to Stop and Shop, Shop-Rite, Lowe’s, Crown Market and other merchants as a way of paying part of your dues and making donations to Kol Ami. We will be discussing ways to acknowledge Kol Ami in your estate planning. We will be asking for volunteers to support many
projects.

Our goals are not simply to raise funds. Certainly that is an important way to “pick up the shovel,” however it goes way beyond money. It goes to building the institution of Kol Ami. It goes to developing our ideas and applying our creative minds to our community. It gets to developing ourselves as people and as Jews. Please get involved. Please find a way to invest yourself in Kol Ami.

Have a wonderful and restful summer.
Howard