Current Bulletin Message
by Rabbi Mark Dov Shapiro

For Your Consideration
Rabbi Mark Dov Shapiro

Some of you may have noticed an article that has appeared a few times in this year's Temple bulletins. The article has come under the heading - What Makes Me Happy about Sinai Temple

Each time that heading has appeared we have asked 4 or 5 congregants to describe why belonging to Sinai Temple pleases them.

It's been interesting to see how different people feel about belonging to Sinai. To be honest, I've sort of hoped that when you read someone else's endorsement of Sinai, you might think more actively about your own connection to the Temple.

That's important because we are living through a time of transition in which we are doing everything we can to make membership at Sinai Temple as meaningful and rewarding as possible. We want to retain every current member of the Temple. Better still, we want to recruit new members.

Part of the recruitment effort began in May and continues through the summer. We are collaborating with Temple Beth El and Congregation B'nai Torah in an outreach effort that involves some open houses at Starbucks and Bay Path College, an open house at each of the synagogues, plus a reduced membership rate for newcomers to synagogue life.

The synagogues in Springfield have never collaborated this extensively, but, as a result of many meetings for our leadership, we have forged this brand new alliance. We've set the stage better than ever before for a summer of membership recruitment.

There is only one missing ingredient: We need recruiters, supporters, and cheer leaders. That's where you, my dear readers, enter. Are you happy at Sinai? Are you proud of Sinai? If so, please don't keep it to yourself. Look at your friends and neighbors who don't belong to a synagogue. Speak to them. Invite them to a Sinai event. Ask them to call me. If they're willing, give me their number and I'll contact them.

I am very, very happy at Sinai Temple. I would be even happier if you join me and our Temple leadership in recruiting more happy members to Sinai. We do have empty seats. Let's fill them for the New Year. Have a happy June!

Prior Bulletin Messages from the Rabbi are available on this site.