I am honored by the trust you have shown in me by choosing me to be the new president of B’nei Israel. It is an honor to follow in the footsteps of such outstanding leaders as Marvin, Jimmy, Hilda, and Eduardo. Through their hard work and that of so many others, we all are able to be part of a congregation that is strong, with a future that is bright.
This is a very important time for our Congregation. Over the years, we have built a solid foundation. We are proud of our dedicated membership, a beautiful building, an excellent school, an indispensable cemetery, many active committees, and now, an energetic rabbi. We celebrate all Jewish holidays and lifecycle events. And in the process, we have become an important part of the lives of our members and of Jewish life in Costa Rica.
Precisely because we have achieved so much, our expectations for the future are even higher. For the future, we must continue what we have established, and then we must do more. We must continue to make B’nei Israel relevant to the lives of our members and the rest of Costarrican Jewry. We must plan and carry out events and programs that encourage people to take part. Our synagogue must be a place we attend not just to avoid feeling guilty, but because we are motivated by the experience.
Of course, we can look to Rabbi Holzman to play an important role in this process. However, it is we, the members, who must play the most important part. As we participate more in the activities of B’nei Israel, B’nei Israel becomes a more significant part of our lives. As B’nei Israel becomes more significant, our membership will increase. And as our membership increases, we will be more able to achieve our goals.
I believe the new Board is a wonderful group that will lead us into the next era at B’nei Israel, and I am proud to be a part of it. However, I hope that every member of B’nei Israel feels that it is not necessary to be a member of the Board to make a substantial contribution. We have many members of the Congregation who contribute prominently to B’nei Israel’s activities without being part of the Board. We have many active committees that are looking for more participants. And we are always looking for new ideas. There is much to do, and I hope every member will participate in the way he or she feels most comfortable.
Please contact me to let me know your comments, questions, ideas, or just to say hi. I look forward to working with each and every member of B'nei Israel, to meet the challenges of our shared future.
L’Shalom,