Well, here we are two years later. When I stepped up here two years ago, I said the following: “Leadership is not about the leader, it is about how he or she builds the confidence of everyone else. And by the way the word “confidence” is the Latin word for “having faith.” I said that this was my hope that over the next two years we would grow in confidence, take risks, and try things knowing that some of them would fail. The result….by working together, trusting, and having confidence in one another and ourselves…we took some amazing risks that resulted in some amazing results. I am proud that we have begun to think differently and how well we now govern and lead. I am so honored to have pursued this work with an amazing group of 2 committed leaders. Not only did we have faith together----we had faith in each other. In one of my Hineni articles I mentioned three quotes that seem so much more relevant to us now than ever before as follows: As Hillel said in Pirkei Avot in the first century C.E: “If not now, when?” Hillel-Pirkei-Avot 1:14 c. first century C.E. As Robert Zimmerman a.k.a Bob Dylan said in 1964: “The times they are a changin.” Robert Zimmerman-1964 (Bob Dylan) Don’t worry we’re not going to sing it at the end of my speech. And as Albert Einstein said in 1916: “We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.” Albert Einstein-c. 1916 3 I believe these three statements are the mantra that your leadership has embraced over the last two years. But more on that later. So let me highlight some of our significant accomplishments. There are countless highlights from our current year, but I will only focus on a few. We began our year with the arrival of Rabbi Danny. I could speak for hours on how this has dramatically affected our congregation—but I won’t. The preparation for Danny’s arrival actually started almost 3 years ago. To Judy Kaye and all who participated in our Rabbi search, this congregation will be eternally grateful to you. Judy, you led us with such laser focus and determination and delivered a result that I must speak to. We now have a leader in place who has pastoral, organizational, spiritual, and interpersonal acumen. But over and above this— we now have a paradigm of partnerships that could 4 be a role model for synagogues everywhere. Rabbi Danny has been my partner and my friend, but moreover he has been Hollis’ partner. Danny you have embraced Hollis’ 17 going on 18 years of institutional knowledge to forge a partnership that is so gratifying to watch develop. The two of you collaborate as equal clergy partners to do what’s best for TST. And Hollis and Danny you have been my partners and friends. It has been a pleasure and honor to work with both of you---you have helped me grow in this job and in many cases protect me from myself. I will always be grateful to both of you. And yes the times they are a changing…under the leadership of Karen Kavet and Brian Levey in partnership with Rabbi Danny and Cantor Schachner we now have a marriage policy that allows our clergy to perform Jewish marriages for interfaith couples. The details of the policy were presented to the 5 congregation on May 14 and ultimately approved by the board of trustees. I won’t go into the details of the policy since it will ultimately be published and available on our web site. But I will read a statement from Rabbi Blumberg: “I have come to the conclusion that, if I were now in the active rabbinate, I would be among those reform rabbis who had adopted a carefully honed new policy. My younger colleagues and our children have become my teachers! I share this significant change in my thinking publically as Rabbi Burkeman and the congregation has adopted a comprehensive, innovative policy regarding cantors and rabbis performing marriages, both traditional Jewish and intermarriages. I was moved by Shir Tikva’s original task force deliberations regarding outreach and the thoughtfulness of the current proposal. Since my first meeting with Rabbi Burkeman I have admired 6 his careful consideration of this question. I applaud the work of the Marriage Guidelines Committee and fully support its conclusions.” Rabbi Blumberg has asked that I make the full text of this statement available to you—thus copies will be on the table that you may pick up on your way out with your gift. Thank you again to Brain and Karen. In case anyone missed it, we celebrated our 40th anniversary in this room a little under a month ago. We had almost 400 people in attendance including past clergy, founders, past presidents, and congregants who had moved away. We ate, we laughed, and we honored Rabbi Blumberg. But most important the event reflected the neshama, the soul of TST. We were all there because we wanted to be together as a community, we wanted to celebrate this remarkable milestone, and yes we wanted to kvell 7 together. I cannot extend enough gratitude to Jill Abend, Karen Langweber, and their many committees for orchestrating this remarkable event. I would like you and your committee members to stand up as we applaud you. I am also extremely proud of what our professional staff will look like next year. I am so grateful to Scott Cohen and Heather Meterparel who ran our assistant/associate rabbi search and Laura Brande and Trudy Sonis who lead our Director of Education search and their committees. We made two bold hiring decisions that speak to how we do not rely on the old way of thinking. Having interviewed 15 rabbinical students and 6 field rabbis we opted to hire Rabbi Jordi Battis with over 7 years of experience and a national reputation for her work in education. Alison Weikel, our new Education Director, comes to us with 10 years of experience as an Ed Director and 8 a resume that includes a myriad of certifications, awards and honors, and publications. We could have gone the traditional route and hired young recent graduates. However, our thinking was such that we aimed to hire the best candidates available without regard to financial or experiential constraints. For those of you have met Jordi and Alison, I am sure that you see the excellence that is in store for us. I am so excited about the new partnership of our professional staff that now includes Rabbi Danny, Hollis, Rabbi Jordi, Sandy Gold, and Susan Altman. I am confident that they will redefine what it means to be a collaborative professional team in partnership with each other. In regard to our operations, as you will see we are now enjoying our third year of financial stability. Jeff, Michael, and our financial team are to be thanked and congratulated for all they do. Our stable 9 financial condition has allowed us to tack on new staff, enhance our programming, and to judiciously embrace appropriate capital projects---one of which is going on as we speak—the repainting and repairing of the building exterior. A big part of our financial success has been the success of our annual fund. Dues and fees only support 60% of the operating budget. Over the last two years we will have raised over a $1,100,000 through the annual fund. I cannot thank you enough for the support that you have shown in over doubling our annual fund contributions from $300000 in 2016 to $600000 this year. As of today we are approaching our goal with about 3 weeks to go. Kudos to Susan Benjamin and her team in orchestrating this remarkable performance—and by the way if anyone would like to step up tonight to help us reach our goal please see Susan. Despite this great news—we need to do even better next year. With all of our success these past two years the board 10 has deemed it appropriate to embrace Hillel’s statement of “If not now, when?” Next year will be a bridge year where we will move toward aggressive investments in staff. We could have waited---but our momentum has shown that this is an appropriate risk. On top of inflationary and appropriate operational increases we will be investing almost an additional $250000 (quarter of a million dollars) in the ELC and our professional staff. Increased membership will take care of these increases in the near future—but not next year, however people follow programs and vision. You will see the budget that Jeff will present- --thus next year is a bridge year in which we are investing aggressively to insure that we are positioned to be the center of Jewish life in Metro west. As I said before---we could have waited—but I am confident that you will agree that this would not be the Shir Tikva that we are today—this budget is saying yes to what our bright future will look like by 11 taking prudent risks. So please invest with us by continuing to support the annual fund at an even higher level than in the past. Continue to ask yourself…. If not now—when? A brief listing of some of our other accomplishments this year include: • The continued growth of the ELC to over 70 children, which pushes us to capacity and will require the opening of a 5th classroom. • The acquisition of a second Holocaust Torah that will be dedicated thus Friday—please come to this remarkable event. • An innovative gift membership program that will remove all financial barriers for new membership. • The acquisition of new Machzors, which will debut at our September High Holiday services. 12 • Mitzvah day where we packed over 40000 meals in a little under 2 hours. • Installation of a new phone system and a new management system that should be up and running by 8/01. • A remarkable presence at the URJ biennial where TST distinguished itself with the performance of our choir and a joint standing room only presentation with our friends from the Islamic Center. • We have over 60 new members this year. • Unprecedented investments in capital projects— such as a new water heating system, new furnishings for the Rabbi’s office, repair and repainting of the building, technological upgrades, and recovering of the cushions in the rotunda 13 And now for some final thanks you’s…..I want to thank the staff, Susan, Toni, Karen, Aviva, Jenna, Rebecca, Mike, Julio, Pam, Sandy, and Elizabeth. You have put up with me for 2 years—I don’t know how you did. You dealt with my presence in the building and approximately 5000-phone calls from me (which is about 8 a day—which is probably low). Hopefully we learned from each other—I know I did. Please treat Scott gently, at least for the first 30 days. And to Scott: I cannot think of a more worthy successor. I cannot be more pleased to be turning over the reins to someone of such deep knowledge and passion. You have been an incredible partner to me this year and I commit to you that I will be available to you for advice or just to discuss the dirty little secrets that only presidents know. 14 To the continuing, outgoing board, and new board my sincerest gratitude. You embraced our new structure and delivered with grace on a timely basis. We bought numerous issues to closure with appropriate discussions. Many of our new board members clearly found their voices as the year progressed. I am so confident that our incoming members will continue this high level of performance. A thank you to Trudy and Phil who over the years have given countless hours in developing leaders and serving on our nominating committees. Thank you to Jay who was always available to give me advice whether I wanted it our not, and to prepare a Power Point presentation on a moments notice. You guys are TST heroes. 15 If during the past two years there was anyone that I spoke inappropriately to, or if I offended anyone, or if I seemed to trivialize your perspectives, I sincerely apologize. Please know that my actions and demeanor are informed by my love for this place that sometimes manifests itself in unsatisfactory communication choices on my part. Finally there are 4 final very special thank yous that I must offer. First, to my wife Karen: During the past two years you never kvetched about my demanding schedule that had me out of the house so frequently. If fact by the second year I got the impression that you actually wanted me out of the house. However, on a very serious note, Karen was an incredible source of encouragement to me, she always listened and put things in perspective that allowed me to have 16 incredible clarity. In fact, it is a little known fact that she was the one that ultimately pushed me to take this job—and I can say that has been one of the best decisions that she has orchestrated on my behalf and hopefully on TST’s behalf. Karen, I love you so much and look forward to being in the house with you for the next two years. The next special thank you goes to two of my special friends. Brain and Julie, (and I also include Dan and Wendy—since I previously mentioned the influence of the first spouses) you truly showed us that as Einstein said--- “We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.” Albert Einstein-c. 1916”. You guys boldly pushed and taught us to think differently about our community, our leadership, and our some of our anachronistic perspectives. My success could not have happened without the foundation that you set. 17 Both of you provided me with wise counsel (over many bottles of wine) and always said yes when I asked you to step up and lead various efforts. You guys are my special friends, confidents, sounding boards, and Patriots and Celtics buddies. Thank you for being there for me. I could not have done it with out you. And finally, I must offer a special thank you to Rabbi Blumberg. Even though he is not here tonight—I am going to speak as if he is here. Herman and Paula, when I see you in this building a certain calm comes over me. It is a calm that speaks to me and says—it’s gonna be all right—TST is going to be here for at least another 40—no 120 years. Your presence in our synagogue galvanizes our generations. Our lunches every 4 or 6 weeks were the wise counsel that was invaluable in keeping me grounded. Your unselfish commitment to be available for life cycle 18 functions coupled with your generosity toward our new professionals is a gift without measure. May the mutual love between this congregation and you and Paula continue for another 120 years. So once again thank you to all of you who have supported me over the last 2 years. Chazak, chazak v’nitchazek! Be strong, be strong and may we be strengthened! 19