Over the past few months since my last article, the synagogue’s Executive and Board have had several important issues to deal with. The first was the same sex issue. As you know, this has been a highly controversial issue in the Conservative movement for the past several years. The culmination of the issue was the ultimate decision or non-decision, as the case may be, arrived at by the Committee on Laws and Standards almost a year ago.

This decision left the final determination on this issue to each synagogue’s clergy and lay leaders. Ultimately each Conservative synagogue became responsible for its own policies with regards to same sex couples. At that time the Board of Directors advised Rabbi Green to gather more information, consult with clergy and the various segments of the synagogue membership, and approach the Ritual Committee with his decision.

It took many months after the mandate the Board gave to Rabbi Green, but we saw the result of his deliberations during his passionate sermon on Yom Kippur. Rabbi Green then approached the Ritual Committee with a three-year plan for integration of same sex couples into the synagogue. The Ritual Committee and the Board of Directors approved the plan.

The second issue revolved around the synagogue budget for 2008. Our goal each year is to prepare a balanced budget. Our Executive Director, clergy, staff, and our various committee chairs consult with each other to prepare a preliminary budget. The budget is vetted through the Finance Committee, Executive Committee, and ultimately must be passed by the Board of Directors.
The synagogue by-laws allow us to budget for a dues increase in an amount equal to the increase in the cost of living. A request for an increase greater than the cost of living requires a special meeting and the approval of the congregation. Thus, we work extremely hard to maintain a budget within the constraints of our by-laws.

The difficulty that the synagogue faces each year is that the salaries for our synagogue staff, clergy, kitchen staff, and maintenance staff represents more than 50% of our budgeted expenses. Meanwhile our dues represent only 42% of our budgeted revenues. Thus, we fall further behind each year because the increase in the amount of our salaries, in terms of real dollars, is higher than the increase in the dollars earned from a dues increase.

We attempt to deal with this reality by controlling expenses, as well as garnering additional revenue from our other sources. I want to thank everyone involved in the budgeting process, as we were successful in preparing a balanced budget that stayed within the constraints of our by-laws. I am happy to report that the Board of Directors passed the budget in November. Now it is up to Faith and the rest of our wonderful staff to operate within our budget. It is up to all of us to support our synagogue in any way that we can.

The last issue is the Scholar In Residence weekend featuring Cantor Sol Zim. Our Scholar in Residence program is the one program where we expand our boundaries and try new things. However, please know that we have a policy and process that we follow before any Scholar is invited. The clergy presents every potential Scholar to the Ritual Committee for first approval.

If the Scholar receives the approval of the Ritual Committee, he/she then must pass approval of the Board of Directors. Thus, Cantor Zim’s entire program for the weekend, including the use of a musical instrument on Shabbat morning was approved. I believe the majority who took in the Friday night Kabbalat Shabbat and dinner, the Shabbat morning service and the amazing Havdallah service and concert on Saturday night, had an enjoyable experience.

However, I do know that the musical instrument on Shabbat morning was a surprise to a number of our regular congregants. I want you to know that we have discussed the issue and determined that our error was not in the policy or process of the Scholar in Residence program, but in our lack of communication to you. You should have been made aware of this fact. We will strive to ensure that this will not happen in the future.

I want to wish all our members a Happy Tu B’Shevat.