Open Your Eyes by Bill Shafton

If you close your eyes for a moment during Shabbat services and think about what Temple Israel means to you . . . you will undoubtedly feel a sense of joy, a sense of appreciation for everything we have in our congregation:

• spiritual leadership in Rabbi Moskowitz
• musical harmony from Cantor Finnley
• and, the lovely sounds of our choir with Kendra and Barry Cogert

Perhaps you’ll imagine your friends and family from our community, some whose families have been Temple Israel members for generations.

But then when you open your eyes . . . you’ll see the tired carpeting, the cracked paint, and a floor plan that’s like a labyrinth. And that’s not even mentioning the water damage or other deferred maintenance that’s been put off for decades.

If you look around, you’ll see that we’ve been teaching our children that it’s ok to neglect our Jewish home.

But Enough! As a community, we have said “Ki Va Moed,” “The Time is Now.” The time is NOW to have a building that reflects the beauty and richness of our spiritual home. The time is now to nurture our sacred space.

Our congregation members are leaders in our community, both in the Jewish world and in political and social causes. We have given SO much, and will CONTINUE to give of ourselves to fulfill our promise of Tikkun Olam.

But the time is now, “Ki Va Moed,” to shore up our own home, so that we can continue to lead, continue to grow, and continue to enjoy everything Temple Israel has to offer in a space that reflects who we are.

I take great joy and pride in reporting that as of October 19, 2010, 135 families from our congregation have made their gift to the Capital Campaign, and we have raised more than $3.3 Million Dollars.

This is an AMAZING beginning—especially in a challenging economic environment. But it is only a beginning. With everything we need to do, we are still almost $2 million dollars away from the finish line.

This truly is a once in lifetime opportunity to be an example to our children, to show through our commitment the importance of caring for our Jewish home.

That lesson will live through our children, and will be passed on to generations of Temple Israel members in the years ahead.

So when you think about making your gift to support Ki Va Moed, close your eyes, and think about everything Temple Israel means to you - - so that when all the construction is done, you can open your eyes and see the beautiful surroundings and know that you had a critical part in making this a Jewish home of which we can all be proud.