May 2024

Fellow Congregants,

Spring has sprung, bringing with it a sense of energy and growth. The flowers bloom and the trees regain their lush greenery; we are surrounded by nature’s renewal.

We are in the midst of counting the Omer, a time of spiritual growth, awaiting the arrival of Shavuot on which we renew our commitment to Hashem’s mitzvot.

This period coincides beautifully with the growth we are experiencing at Or Hadash and the renewal of our synagogue community.

We have had many new faces at our programs over the last couple of years, including many young families. The recent Purim festivities were a great example, with a large turnout of families enjoying the holiday together. Children played at the Purim carnival while their parents engaged in conversations over breakfast. These young families represent the seeds from which the future of Or Hadash will flourish.

It’s worth noting that nearly every new family that joins us does so because of a personal invitation extended by a member of our community. It’s these one-on-one connections that truly make a difference.   

Once newcomers step through our doors, they find themselves embraced by our warm and welcoming congregation. More importantly, our new young families find a small but growing community of their peers. These new young families will attract others in the same demographic, and our success will snowball, creating a vibrant Or Hadash for the next generation.

To ensure success, we ask your help in identifying and inviting new families (of any age) to the Temple, so that we can maintain our momentum. 

• Please reach out to friends and colleagues who may know Jewish families that have recently relocated to our neighborhood. Extend personal invitations to join you at events like Shabbat on the Beach, and continue to invite them to future gatherings. Provide their information to the office, along with any pertinent details or interactions you’ve had with them, so that our Membership Committee can effectively follow up.

Your efforts now will lay the foundation for a strong and vibrant Or Hadash in the years to come. We are grateful for each of you for taking on this important task and thank you for your dedication to our community’s growth and vitality.

Bernie Rosenfeld & Howard Sislin

As always, please feel free to reach out to us at [email protected], or leave a message for us with the office, and we will call you back.