Thanksgiving 2005

I am feeling particularly thankful this Thanksgiving. After all the upheaval we have been through this year, I am grateful for the resilience and strength of my congregation. We worked ourselves hard in response to Katrina and were slammed by Rita but are still doing what synagogues do.

This weekend we will have our first post-hurricane simcha in our wounded sanctuary---the Bat Mitzvah of wonderful young lady. Steve W. and Randy G., visiting from Colorado, took it on themselves to drape the grim gray walls with white cloth. Steve also repaired the damaged light fixtures. Thanks to them the sanctuary will be bright again.

I am thankful for the honor of training our Bat Mitzvah. Some years ago she was stricken with a life threatening illness. She has had to endure suffering and fear that no one her age should know. Baruch HaShem, she is well and will be called to the Torah on Saturday morning. Blessed is the One who is good and who does good.

I am thankful that I had the privilege of representing the congregation at the URJ Biennial in Houston last week (more on this later). Bob K. and I told the story of our congregation many, many times to people from all over the country. Our brothers and sisters in the movement know what you did.

Baruch HaShem for my wonderful family. They are visiting the relatives in Tulsa this weekend. God bless all of them also. Without Justine and Nathan’s personal rescue mission to us I do not know what we would have done.

Many blessings to the Beth Shalom chevre and to our many friends and supporters around the country.

Yom Hoda’ah Sameach!