WHAT IF TEMPLE BETH SHOLOM NEVER EXISTED OR CEASED TO
EXIST
Beshert--- Fate or Destiny
SANDY HORWITZ
Grew up on MB
Temple Ner Tamid ,
a conservative temple
I was Bar Mitzvah there
Rabbi Eugene Leibowitz married me and Janet 28 years ago
Colonial Book Shoppe- open early 70’s
On 41st- temple and store shared alley
I was 15 years old
First connection to TBS, much different than all of you
We were not members
Call Ramona Horwitz- my mother
Never imagined being a member
Ramona interacted with the temple as follows:
Rabbi Kronish parked in back of store
Ramona marched into his office and made him move it
Jack Shapiro, catering for temple, would leave his van, blocked bookstore delivery trucks
The temple knew my mother
My early connection to TBS
University of Georgia -1976
The torah says
YOU SHALL NOT ABUSE A STRANGER AND YOU SHALL NOT OPPRESS HIM, FOR YOU WERE STRANGERS IN EGYPT
Never knew I was Jewish till I got to U of G
Many folks pointed out I was Jewish
However I wasn’t made to feel like a stranger
Somehow they were following the torah
Aaron – dorm mate on my floor
Took me to his home one weekend
3000 people- father was mayor
For his family I was first Jew that they ever met, maybe first Jew in town
Didn’t make me feel like a stranger
So warm and welcoming
Southern cooking, fresh pies
Its was really neat
Not long after that weekend
I CAN FEEL THE FEELING RIGHT NOW
Walk in the dorm, early evening – first door on left, Aaron’s bed room
Door is open , group of kids in room
Hi Hitler, Hi Hitler, Hi Hitler
All raising their hands
I COULD NOT BELIEVE IT
AARON DID THIS TO ME
FELT SO HURT
Not that I ever would deny it, but at that moment I realized
There is no getting around it,
I am different,
I am proud,
I am a Jew.
Exactly 24 years ago I moved to 5514 Pinetree Drive
w/ Janet
Michelle- 3 years old
Zach – 6 months
BESHERT- FATE
And we joined TBS
“Torah wants us to remember what it feels like to be a stranger “
We NEVER felt like a stranger at TBS
Like we grew up at TBS
We found our home
Michelle and Zach- Bat and Bar Mitzvah at TBS
Without TBS, would not have made these friends,
be part of this community, be so fulfilled
10 years ago April 2011, diagnosed with cancer,
major surgery
7 months of chemo
Get a call from Jeff Bercow.
Saw each other,
Polite to each other
Not friends
How are you feeling…
I could not believe it – I was so touched.
WHAT IF TBS DIDN’T EXIST
BTW- no big deal if you don’t send a get well card
A big deal if you do.
THE BOARD
Israelites wandered around the desert
Being free is not having your head in the sand
Being free comes with the responsibility of finding your own pass
Moses refused the job of being Pharoah
George Washington refused the job of being king
TBS is not run by one person,
Not a dictatorship
Run by a board –us in this room
We have a board to make decisions of the community.
I was honored to ask to be on the board and serve.
Under :
Dribin
Citrin
Hirschl
Kipnis
Hertzberg
Shelley Groff
Ron Albert
NOW Peter
And I have met so many wonderful people over the years
Everybody sitting in this room
Those past folks,
Jimmy Knopke
David Miller
Phyllis Miller
WHAT IF TBS DIDN’T EXIST
I have missed a lot of meetings and can pin point why
5 years into accounting I needed a time management course……
So from missing that course is why I miss meetings
BUT my commitment is to be here ( tax season )
IN THE TORAH IT SAYS
…BE TO ME MEN OF HOLINESS or A HOLY MAN
That is what this board is made up of, Holy people.
Not because we are experts on the torah, Rabbis,
But because we are caring people.
How we act.
Kid who became a Rabbi
Smart Rabbi, intellect, wisdom, orator, amazing,
Water brought to him, he said thank you,
That’s what made the kid to be a Rabbi
In all my years, no matter how contentious an issue might be, never a cross word, never raising of the voice …..
That’s holy
DECISIONS
Easy
Difficult
Fail to make
Head in the sand
What is important is we make HOLY decisions
Separating our personal preferences
Applying our personal wisdom
What is best for the
Temple
Congregation
Community
---not ourselves.
We operate this way, we are HOLY people.
TBS CONTINUES TO EXIST FOR MANY REASONS.
ONE MAJOR REASON IS BECAUSE OF THE HOLINESS OF THIS BOARD
AND HOW WE CONTINUE TO CONDUCT OURSELVES.
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