01/11/2023 10:17:48 PM
Shalom Kol Ami!
Happy secular New Year! I hope that you all had time to be with all your loved ones and were able to take time to recharge during the end of December. There was a fair amount of activity going on at Kol Ami during December. Our Gala, under the helm of our Fundraising Chairperson, Roberta Baer, and her shipmates (committee) Dan Ochman, Ann Kalter, Jody Sampson-Nair, Recia Richman, Terri Hinds, Larry Caine, Ethel Pila, Staci Cross, Judith Sachs, Howard Baer, Cindy Schiff, and Mitch Weiss, was a social success and also met our budgeted goal for fundraising. Those who attended enjoyed the DJ and dancing, participating in or observing “The Newlywed Game”, our live and silent auctions, all the cruise food provided by Nosh Catering, and most of all, being together with our Kehillah. Thank you to all of you who made the ship sail and to all who attended and sponsored the event.
Chanukah brought a number of activities, including our Synagogue Chanukah party, which was attended by more than 150 people. The latkes were delicious, and everyone attending seemed to have a fun time. The dreidel hunt drew over 40 children to the back yard, and they found all the dreidels (I hope, otherwise our lawn people will be letting us know!!).
As we start 2023, the Nominating Committee, chaired by Denise Freedman, is preparing a slate of nominees for our Board of Trustees. As of this writing, there are still a few positions available, so if you would like to join us on the leadership team in steering Kol Ami to future success, please call the office so your name can be brought up at the next committee meeting. Our Annual Congregational Meeting will take place in the Sanctuary at Kol Ami on Tuesday, February 28 at 8 pm. Your attendance and input will be much appreciated. The Recharge Committee objectives to meet our goals are being formulated, and there has been some progress made in achieving our three goals: attracting and programming for young families at Kol Ami, attracting new members and retaining our current members, and being more welcoming to our interfaith families.
Rabbi Blatt is leading a Congregational trip to Israel at the end of April that will be occurring during Israel’s 75th Independence Day. It should be a great time and an educational trip with all the celebrations taking place, seeing the sights, and experiencing the history of the area that is now Eretz Yisroel. If you are interested, please contact Rabbi Blatt or the office to get more information.
I wish everyone a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2023 and a year where we will continue to increasingly be together at Kol Ami. Until next month, here’s to being
B’Yachad,
Kalman
