Good Yontov. I am Karolin Lipman, the first of your co-presidents to have the privilege to address you on this most holy of holy days. And I begin by referencing one of the most awesome moments in Jewish History. When the children of Israel had their backs up against the sea and the Egyptian chariots were bearing down on them, slowed temporarily by the pillar of fire miracle, there was a need for instant and effective leadership. The Torah Text (and the Charlton Heston movie) depict God splitting the sea through the outstretched staff of Moses. There is yet another story told of the Red Sea crossing. It is in the form of a Midrash, a Rabbinic story created to emphasize the learnings of a portion of the Torah. The story is told of Nachshon, Aaron’s brother in law. Anyway, Nachshon was known for taking the lead and often being first. He was the first of the princes to make an offering at the dedication of the Tabernacle. But much earlier, on the banks of the Red Sea, the Rabbis tell of a frightened people and of God’s test, asking the people to wade into the Red Sea before it parted. What person would wade into a miles long sea on just a promise from God that he would be safe? If your answer is Nachshon, you would be correct. The story goes on that Nachshon waded into the sea and kept going, even though there was no change until the water was almost over his head…Some say he dove in, giving his full faith to God. No one knows…remember this is a Midrash. Of course the waters parted, the people were saved and the long journey to the Promised Land was underway. The rabbis point out that it took leadership to obtain freedom, not only from Moses (who called the shots), but also from Nachshon who had faith and took action. So, here at Congregation Beth Shalom we certainly have taken action and our initiatives need both leaders and dedicated believers such as Nachshon. Karin and I have for the past 1 1/2 year, been surrounded by such talented giving people in our congregation. People who step forward to create and plan programs and others who show up and participate in the untested and make them successful. Leaders often make decisions on what is good for a group before an idea is proven. I’d like to recognize some of these leaders tonight, share where we are, and where we are going at Congregation Beth Shalom. To be a leader, or a Nachshon, means that sometimes you have to stand and be counted. So I am going to ask something a little unusual of you tonight. Soon, I am going to ask you, if you are physically capable of doing so, to actually stand and be counted. Your cue will be when I mention an activity or a program in which you participated over this past year. Now when I do this, I ask that you remain standing until I am done. I promise it won’t take as long as the Amidah. The past presidents of Congregation Beth Shalom. (Please raise). You have all been tremendous resources to Karin and me. You’ve shared accomplishments, given us guidance and support and continue to be there for us. Our executive board and our general board are made up of incredible leaders. Just think about the commitment each person makes…at least 60 hours a year just for board meetings. Then there are the subcommittees and special projects and many more volunteer hours at all of our synagogue functions. I’m going to ask you to please stand if you were involved in the planning of or in attendance at any of these programs. If you were among the 130 people who sang or just attended Hazzan Horwitz’s Harmonious Hanukkah The Coffee House, our very successful night of entertainment and a great fundraiser for the shul. Maybe it was the coffee or the great music, but no one wanted to leave. If you attended one or more of our five brunches over the year. Some 250 congregants attended to hear from experts and compelling speakers and enjoy the creations of our kitchen Klub…Yum Yum. Our kitchen klub…dedicated congregants who know the success of most programs depends on food. And this club takes such good care of us. Yum Yum. As does the Chesed Network. This is a group of good-hearted people who reach out to many of us in need of help and comfort during difficult times. This group is a source of information and of immediate action. It is a real blessing for all of us. If you are in any way connected with our United Synagogue Framework for Excellence Hebrew school, our dedicated 11 teachers, 5 aids and 105 students and 45 families. If you stand or stood with our minyan this year…stand now. If you come to Third Fridays…boy is today a surprise. We’ve attracted approximately 20 young people a month for services at locations all over our region from Chadds Ford (in PA) to Newark (in Delaware) and all points in between. If you have led part of our Shabbat or other religious services or chanted Torah or Haftorah, been our Gabbi or serve on the religious life committee (planning ritual events in our building, enforcing Kashrut policy or assigning High Holy Day honors)…Thank you for your preparation and for sharing your gift. Please rise. And what about our High Holy Day committee, your efforts, your efforts have helped make our our return to our home an enourmous success. Are you one of the eight members of our Cantor search committee who has dedicated hours, shared your hopes and dreams for our next cantor to lead us in joyful, spirited music. Are you one of the dedicated members of our congregation who has spent hours in summer-time rehearsal as a member of our choir, in order to make these services more festive and enjoyable? Please raise. Did you attend Imun?... a program for service leaders... became the sixth congregant to make to committed to attend IMUN, a wonderful program to foster lay service leadership, teaching proper nusach (melodies), and Torah and Haftorah reading skills. You sang, tapped your feet, clapped your hands and let loose at the Interfaith Service for Martin Luther King Junior. You can’t do any of that now, but you may still rise if you were there. More than 50 people attended and Interfaith Seder and experienced the holiday from different perspectives. Rabbi Beals led the service and many of our interfaith friends attended. The service was seasoned with a tasty meal prepared by our congregants. Do you attend any Keruv programs? This committees’ initiative is to help Interfaith families feel more at home at Congregation Beth Shalom. 100 women attended a celebratory Passover sedar and shared unique readings focusing on the female perspective of our contributions to the Passover story. Many of us may not remember the Purim service and Megillah Reading because of Merrill’s and Tammy’s Margaritas. I’m not certain, but I think the Three Amigos led the service doing impersonations of the Rabbi, Hazzan and Rosh Roland. 3 dozen of you enrolled in our new Adult Education Mini-mester classes and learned the Shabbat service, the Jewish Calendar, Hebrew readings and Conversational Hebrew, Torah Trope, and more. You learned many things, but also valued the time with superior educators, including our clergy. Did you participate in Bar or Bat Mitzvah training or go to a meeting for the B’nai Mitzvah families this year? Were you enrolled in the Introduction to Judaism course? How about our series of winter movies sponsored by the Kraft Foundation, seen by over 300 people, Were you at a program sponsored by the Kraft Education Committee? Perhaps you were at S’lichot services two weeks ago and experienced the movie “Paper Clips.” Maybe you met the assistant principal of the school featured in the film, along with the other nearly 300 that attended! This was a phenomenal experience and we have many of you to thank. Did you go on this year’s Camping Trip? We had twice the attendance of last year. 25 people had a wonderful time with perfect weather. Everything…including the weather was organized by Dina Lipshcultz. did you go to the Blue Rocks game …..please raise……did you watch Seth Ebner throw out the first pitch? While it was a little more difficult to do this year, did you support the Gift Shop? It is important. You can’t really have a Jewish home without Jewish things. We have a new Kadima chapter, a youth group for 5-8th graders. Did you go to the Pool Party? Bowling? Chocolate Seder? There over a dozen at each of the event. And, after years without a Sisterhood, many of you decided to put an end to that drought. The new sisterhood now boasts 107 members and is gearing up its programming year. If you have attended or are planning to be part of this exciting Sisterhood group, you are invited now to stand. A new Kadima chapter….A new Sisterhood…These are both initiatives that would make Nachshon proud. As would almost everything involved in this synagogue reconstruction effort. There are many talented leaders who took us to this point and who will help us complete this huge task of constructing and outfitting this building. All of us, however, were asked to be Nachshon, to wade into the deep water of major fund raising, the details of a complicated construction project and the logistics of operating a congregation outside a synagogue building. Please stand if you are on the building committee, the capital campaign committee, and the landscape, way-signage and library committees. Did you host one of the (ten) parlor meetings in your home or attend a parlor meeting? And, were you one of the more then 300 families who have contributed so far to the capital campaign that has raised an unprecedented six million dollars? Are you a family that will help take us the rest of the way toward our nine million dollar goal? Incidentally, there are plenty of dedication opportunities remaining and it is a great way to be part of our congregation’s next chapter. By now, almost all of you, who are able to do so, should be standing, but if not, we ask you to stand now and be counted. Be a part of all these people. Join these leaders who make things happen at Congregation Beth Shalom. Be a Nachshon. Have faith, have spirit, jump in and take us to the Promised Land. You can now all be seated, but also please give your attention to my co-president and one of the most courageous leaders with whom I have had the privilege to serve, Karin Karel. Good Yon Tov. Karolin Lipman C0-President Sulam 30 Congregation Beth Shalom 425 Wilmington Delaware bethshalomwilmington.org