We are not the first congregation to embark on such a journey. In fact, if we were to consider all of the organizations that have undertaken the task of turning dreams into reality, I am guessing that there would be enough books written about their efforts to fill our pews. As a people, our history is replete with instances where the Jews have been thrust into action without the luxury of planning and dreaming. That, however, is not always the case. While not borne out of an era of community goodwill, Theodore Herzl nonetheless conceived of Eretz Y’Israel, declaring, “If you will it, it is no legend.” As Israel celebrates its 60th anniversary, we can not only marvel at the sheer scope of Herzl’s vision which took 50 years to realize, but also understand the complexity of first seeing it fulfilled and then seeing it maintained.

I do not mean to draw parallels between Herzl’s dreams and the steps that we will take to realize our dreams other than to hope that we will adopt the boldness needed to achieve great things. “Shaping Our Future” talks about our articulating a vision that will (a) define what we will look like and be known for in ten years and (b) help us become a truly visionary congregation. Defining what we look like and will be known for could be done through the development of a vision statement, something when mentioned often makes one’s eyes glaze over.  If a vision statement were the end we were seeking, I’m not sure it would do much to turn our dreams into reality. A vision statement, however, is only a first step. If we take the time to create a daring, audacious statement, we will then be in the position to do the really hard work that breathes life into this vision thing. If we are serious about realizing our dreams, we will be serious about aligning all that we do in fulfillment of that bold vision and, in the process, becoming a truly visionary congregation.

Imagine for a moment all the pieces that have to fit together to ensure that Temple Sinai functions effectively. From the prospective member inquiry, to the support of someone in need of care, to the engagement of a child of religious school age, to the fulfillment of the needs of everyone who worships with us, to the communication about all that happens in our community, it takes a lot to make sure that everything each of us looks to this community for is firing on all cylinders. I submit that one of the hallmarks of a truly visionary organization is that everything it does is aligned towards fulfillment of its objectives. I do not profess to know what our vision will be. That will take the collective input of many over a number of months. But I suspect it will revolve, to some degree, around ensuring that Temple Sinai can play a central role in the way in which each of us connects to Judaism. The work entailed in making sure those connections are meaningful is not insignificant. That we are in a position to articulate a vision and to think about how we evolve as a community is a blessing that speaks to the strength of our community. We should embrace this opportunity with the energy, commitment and dedication that characterizes so much of what we already do.

I hope that we will all play an active role as we begin to envision our future. Please come to the congregational meeting scheduled for the morning of October 14. We will take some time to review “Shaping Our Future” and then we will talk about the steps we will take to continue what has already become a very important and fruitful dialogue. I look forward to your participation.

Harvey Cotton, President