When I worked in Israel as Vice-President of a jewelry company, I had to deliver an executive report every six months to the CEO and to the other V.P’s. This demonstrated our progress on the one hand, and on the other hand we also benefited from learning from each other, and find different ways to improve the company.  My very first presentation was scheduled for the second day of that week’s presentations.

On the first day the Financial VP made his presentation with a broad smile, very confident with the accuracy of his numbers. He pointed out every big and small fix needed to be done in order to maximize Company’s profit. He mainly listed out the defects and the ways to cut unnecessary expenses to save money. I was impressed.

 

The CEO was not impressed.  “If we are in such a bad shape, tell me, how I am able to pay wages to over a hundred and twenty workers..? I didn’t hire you to fix small holes in the Net Revenue; I want you to find ways to substantially increase my income”.

 

After that first day, I worked all night long, to add every positive thing I could think of into my report…thanking G-d for providing me the opportunity to learn from other peoples mistakes.

 

Chaverim, we are getting to the end of the year 5773, from the creation of the world, and to the beginning of the new year of 5774.  Rosh HaShana is referred as Yom HaDin – Day of judgement. We need to submit a report to the CEO who is none other than   G-d himself, His company being the entire Universe.

 

Going through the Machzor in preparing the services and in adding my personal prayers for my own family and for my new Beth Israel family, I decided to submit a report not like regular reports, that have both negative and positive items., I decided this year that I am going to stand in front of HASHEM with humbleness and prayer and report ONLY the good things.

 

All year long we try to fix ourselves both on a personal and a on a communal level.
By participating in services, visiting those in the hospital or in mourning, attending Board meetings, various discussion groups, taking lessons, small talks, etc. and I see how easy it is for human nature to be drawn to a critical talk. Indeed, there are many defects that should be fixed!

None the less, I want to focus on the positive to balance out the negative criticism that we are so used to be doing.

Let’s try something else this year. Let’s see if we can increase our “Jewish assets” by seeing  what is good, do more of that and help others do the same.

 

Along that train of thought here is my summary of some of the positive communal things that Avia and I witnessed during this past year:

• 9 new Chazzans &Torah Layners,
• Torahs maintained and are strictly Kosher now, plus  due to the better care, a few years of useful life have been added to them,
• Kiddush club– from 20-30 minutes of standing and eating Herring, we now see people staying to 1-2hours  sitting together with a light brunch.
• Facebook – over 55 new people follow the Beth Israel’s announcements and broadcasting, since last August,
• 4 new members joined the Beth Israel,
• Last year’s experimental Choir has been expanded this year, which means we even though they were good last year, they are going to be even better this year (worth coming just to hear them),
• Along the same lines, the President the Ritual committee and with the professional aid of Cantor Eddy Berkovitz. found a new Cantor at half the price of earlier years,
• This year, we improved our hospitality to the new-comers. We held more Simchas and we installed more  plaques on the memorial boards of our sanctuary, than all previous 5 years combined,
• Kosher:   Sobey’s expanded their Kosher section,  and B”h Costco will start to bring Kosher meat, due to efforts of our members  and consistency in demand.
• 2 families changed their houses into Kosher homes and more are considering doing the same.
• 9 Families installed  new Kosher Mezuzot, declaring proudly their Jeweshness .
• Minyans are held every morning, and about of half the evenings (100% when there is a Yahertzeit, regardless to which congregation he/she belongs, if any).   And what is most amazing is the fact that we started to have Minyans almost every Saturday night, even though sometimes they started around 10pm due to he lateness of the sunset Without Avia’s encouragement it wouldn’t have been easy to get there even for me.
• Terry Israel’s breakfasts exceeded the budget, which is a good thing, becausee we are having Minayans of more than just ten sleepy men. The morning Minyans are growing and are well attended..
•  Also, you may be surprised to learn that the women’s section is at long last, thank G-d, is being used during weekday’s services as never before, by women devoted in their prayers, who want to be there for the prayer service regularly, and others who want to say Kaddish for a loved one.
• We participated in the first Open Doors Halifax and had around 400 visitors! We expected less than 50..
• 2 Queens Jubilee Medals received by devoted members of our congregation ,
• Big 65th Anniversary to Israel – Nova Scotia support Israel.
• Israel Apartheid – Although it is in extreme bad taste that such an event is commemorated in an advanced and modern University like Dalhousie, nonetheless, it was so minor and has become a non-event, such that the arrival of the Israeli Soda Stream to Halifax created more buzz. Congrats to the Jewish community of handling this week very wisely.

FIXING HOLES IS IMPORTANT, BUT IT IS LESS THAN HALF THE JOB –

I learned that from HASHEM Himself, saying in the Thirteen Attribute:

~”Being Slow to anger”

~”Extending loving-kindness to a thousand generations”

~”forgiving iniquity, rebellion and sin..”

We see from this that His goodness is emphasized much more than His revenge.

 

All the above and more, show the importance and eternity of traditional Judaism – by using G-d’s gift of freedom of will in a responsible manner!

We are part of the Halifax society, maximizing our contribution by keeping alive the special uniqueness of the Jewish tradition.

 

Expand your Jewish assets, and we will NOT ONLY be saying “We continue our grandparent’s heritage” BUT ALSO “We will make every effort for our grandchildren so that they can be Jewish too. And proud of it!”

 

To you, our Beth Israel family, it is an honour for me and Avia to be Beth Israel members, serving you. Now that we know more and more of you personally, and your personal preferences and requirements, we plan to do more for each of you in the coming year. We are proud to be at “The Beth”!

 

Shana Tova U-Metuka (a good and sweet year),

 

 

– Amram