January-February 2025
“Building A Community of Purpose”
by Brian Lifsec
Rabbi Josh’s reflections on Jewish elected officials highlight an important aspect of Jewish civic life, our ability to lead and contribute in meaningful ways. But leadership is not confined to public office or political engagement. At East End Temple, leadership happens every day within our community, in ways both seen and unseen.
Leadership begins with the choices we make about how we show up for one another. It’s in the volunteer who organizes a food drive, the parent who mentors a teen through their bet mitzvah journey, or the member who steps forward to lead a new initiative. Each act of participation strengthens our community and reminds us that leadership is about taking responsibility for the well-being of others.
As a congregation, we are uniquely positioned to inspire this kind of purpose-driven engagement. Our tradition teaches us that we don’t need to wait for others to solve the challenges we see around us. Whether addressing inequities in our city, supporting causes that matter to our members, or simply building a sanctuary of understanding in a complicated world, we all have a role to play in shaping the community we want to see.
East End Temple has long been a space where big ideas and collective action come to life. But just as democracy requires vigilance and renewal, so too does the work of building a vibrant synagogue. Let us commit to showing up not just for the rituals and celebrations that sustain us, but for the hard work of listening, collaborating, and creating a future that reflects our shared values.
Leadership, like community, is a practice. May we continue to practice it with care and courage.
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November-December 2024
“The Difference Between Welcoming and Belonging“
by Rebecca Shore
I recently was alerted to a powerful distinction between “welcoming” and “belonging” within congregations. During a call with leaders of the URJ’s Religious Action Center, it was suggested that congregations should evolve from being “welcoming” and “inclusive” to fostering a deeper sense of belonging for all congregants.
As I thought about this concept, I started researching the differences between the terms. What I discovered was that the movement from welcoming to belonging is a progression from actions conveyed to feelings held. As Rachel Hall wrote for the URJ, “when we ‘welcome,’ we often unintentionally convey that it is our place to welcome or decide who is welcome” (Welcoming vs. Belonging: A Key Step in Making Our Communities Diverse and Whole, 2021). Inclusion focuses on actions and behaviors of leaders, and belonging focuses on the feelings that a congregant has.
Like the eight ladders of tzedakah, the progression from welcoming to belonging carries with it varying levels of intent and impact. Our goal should be to ensure that all congregants feel like they belong, like this is their home and community, and that they are equally members of our community. We should always be welcoming; we should always be inclusive; and ultimately, we should all feel like we belong equally.
This is the challenge for each of us for the next year: to create a community in which all feel like they belong. What does belonging look like for you? What do you need to feel like you belong? What can we do to create a feeling of belonging among all in our community? Throughout the year, Brian and I, and the Board of Trustees will be working toward this goal, and we hope that you will take the steps into our community, so that this congregation belongs to you as much as you belong to the congregation.
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September-October 2024
Extending Our Reach: Living Our Values Through Action
by Co-President Brian Lifsec
At East End Temple, our community is strongly committed to social justice and helping those in need, guided by our faith’s teachings of compassion and integrity. As we approach significant moments in our religious calendar, I want to highlight how our collaboration with other organizations and houses of worship to support New York’s newest immigrants reflects these core values.
This letter follows my earlier communication where I emphasized “broadening outreach” as a key focus for our temple. We are excited to share that our temple has been awarded the Pathways Trailblazer Award from HIAS, the world’s oldest and only Jewish refugee organization, for our outstanding work in helping refugees, asylum seekers, and forcibly displaced people.
As we prepare for the High Holy Days, a time for introspection, repentance, and renewal, this reflection feels particularly meaningful. The themes of unity, community, and responsibility that mark this season closely align with our efforts to assist immigrants, feed the hungry, and continue working with other business- and faith-based organizations.
In addition to welcoming new New Yorkers, our community is also committed to promoting democracy across the country. We are actively working with the Religious Action Center and other organizations in nonpartisan efforts to protect voter access. Through our DemocRACy Circle monthly gatherings, congregants from all backgrounds come together to write postcards, make phone calls, and discuss issues impacting the upcoming election.
Our recent analysis by the Strategic Planning Committee and Board identified our core strengths and ambitions, focusing on vibrancy, impact, and fiscal stability. This led to key areas of focus: deepening connections, broadening outreach, increasing impact, and supporting growth while maintaining fiscal prudence. Our work exemplifies these priorities, showing how we can extend our reach while staying true to our values.
As we observe the High Holy Days, let’s renew our commitment to these ideals. Our collective efforts to support New York’s newest residents and protect democratic values not only transform lives but also strengthen the bonds within our community. At East End Temple, we will continue to champion the common good, striving to create a more just and compassionate world for all.