I am writing this message just after experiencing our remarkable centennial weekend. How honored I feel to be serving our kehila at this
pivotal moment in our history. So many of our members contributed to the making of our centennial celebrations, each of you deserve
recognition but the space allotted prevents me from identifying each of you by name. But there is one couple especially deserving of
acknowledgment, Harley and Lela Franco. To see but a small example of their generosity, one need only stroll to the newly dedicated
Franco Family Courtyard. Harley and Lela have transformed the space into a destination for contemplation and reflection on where we have
come from, what we have lived through and where we are going.
As the High Holidays approach many people see Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur as days of fear and trembling. It is true that Hashem has
designated this period as a time of judgment, but we must remember these are also days of hope and promise. We are hopeful in the
knowledge that Hashem has given us a path towards forgiveness through the process of teshuva (sincere repentance).
While the task of improving ourselves may appear daunting, our sages teach us that if we start on the path of teshuva, Hashem will assist us
in completing it. The simple act of taking on one new mitzvah can have spiritual repercussions far greater than we can imagine. Thus every
step, large or small, towards improving our relationship with our Creator and following the words of His Torah are worthwhile and
laudatory. Let us each pledge to take our faith to a higher level this New Year, perhaps through being careful in saying the berahot
(blessings) before eating and the Birkat Amazon (grace after meals) afterwards. If we attend services only on the Holidays, perhaps we could
increase our attendance to one Shabbat a month. For those of us who reliably attend Shabbat services, perhaps we could attend minyan
several times a week. Perhaps we can increase in our charitable giving to worthy causes or make a point of comforting the ill and caring for
the aged in our community and beyond. The possibilities are endless, the benefits are enormous and the time to start is right now.
On behalf of Racheli and myself, I would like to extend our blessing to the entire kehila for another 100 years of guarding our traditions and
educating our children in the path of our father and mothers. We wish the entire kehila success in all things, salut bueno and tizku leshanim
rabot.
Hazzan Yogev Nuna
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