The Temple

Get on Board
I hope that you enjoyed our High Holy Days services this year. They were the culmination of considerable
planning and preparation by our clergy, staff, and numerous volunteers.
I would like to thank everyone whose participation and effort combined to make the holidays so special
for our congregants and guests, and I enjoyed the kind words of appreciation from so many of our members.
Particularly gratifying were the compliments from several of our out-of-town visitors, who were impressed
Ray Berkt by our services, clergy, and facility. I was delighted to hear such glowing accolades from non-members.
With the arrival of autumn, things are in full swing at the Temple. That is not to suggest that summer is a
slow period, because it is not. During the summer, life cycle events continue, our services and programming go on, and your staff,
clergy, and lay leaders continue to look after Temple affairs.
The officers still meet the first Tuesday of each month, the Executive Committee the second Tuesday, and the Board of
Trustees on the third Tuesday. Among the important matters addressed by our Board during the summer months is the adoption
of the annual budget, as well as a presentation from our endowment investment advisors.
In between the meetings noted above, the various committees of the Temple continue with their responsibilities. Some
of their work done over the summer becomes obvious in the fall, when we consider such things as Social Action Committee
allocations for non-profits, and annual giving.
Although the Religious School has no classes during the summer, Lynda Gutcheon is busy planning and organizing for the
upcoming year. This fall, Lynda has arranged for a variety of “Food Trucks” to come to the Temple one Sunday each month during
the school year. If you are unfamiliar with the food truck craze, I encourage you to give it a try. It can be a fun, interesting, and tasty
treat for all. Plus, the Temple receives a portion of the sales.
The Development Committee worked hard this past summer, formulating and finalizing strategies for planned giving
opportunities that you will be hearing more about in the coming year. In addition, the committee met with our past presidents and
worked with several congregants who have generously included the Temple in their estate planning.
One of the most innovative giving opportunities created by the Development Committee is the ability to endow one’s dues,
or to endow dues in memory of someone who has passed away. It is a wonderful way to support the Temple in perpetuity, and to
remember and recognize someone special in our lives, for the life of our congregation.
Of course, the members of the Caring and Concern Committee, who do so much for our congregants, don’t miss a day
in the summer. They are always there to assist our members in difficult times. I think that you would be surprised how much time
committee members put in, and how many congregants they assist on a weekly basis.
I have mentioned only a few of our committees. In fact, we have more than thirty active committees at the Temple, all of
which work in conjunction with members of our staff and/or clergy. Everything you see, everything you touch, and everything that
is consumed at the Temple is associated, in some way, with the work of our volunteers.
The hundreds of volunteers who contribute their time and talent to the Temple don’t take a season off. They work tirelessly,
year round, for the benefit of our congregation. So, if you want to help, check out the list of committees in our Temple directory,
and talk with a committee chair about volunteering opportunities. Help is always needed and appreciated, and it can be a satisfying
and rewarding experience.
Regardless of the season, many of your fellow congregants are working hard to make the Temple a better place for you and
your family. This New Year, please give some thought to what’s going on at the Temple, and how you can be part of it.
Adult Education with
Rabbi Rami Shapiro
November 14 th , 28 th
& December 12 th at 7:00 pm
Dialogues with the
Hassidic Tales, Narratives & Stories
November2012 - www.templenashville.org - 615-352-7620 ~ page 3