Home At Last
by Faith Kaplan, Executive Director (07-08)
Published in the Shaarey Zedek Shofar in May
2007
Timing is
everything. After 19 years with MTS (the Phones, not the Teachers),
it was time to find new challenges. A former MTS colleague brought
the newspaper ad for Jackie’s successor to my attention. Some of my
friends in Federation mentioned it. It was time for me to move on,
and it seemed as though the perfect job was open.
I didn’t grow up at
Shaarey Zedek. When we were young, my parents Sheila and Al Linder
decided that my sister Nadine (Short) and I would have our b’not
mitzvah at Rosh Pina. Much to Baba Dolly and Grandpa Issy
Silverman’s dismay, the Linders left the Ashkenazi. Hart and I were
married at Rosh Pina, Adam’s Pidyon Haben was at Rosh Pina,
and Yael’s baby naming was at Rosh Pina. My parents joined Shaarey
Zedek after Rosh Pina amalgamated and became Etz Chayim. Our shul
had disappeared, so we joined the Linders here for Yomtov
with my mother-in-law Ida Kaplan — somewhat reluctantly on my part,
having the 1970’s Shaarey Zedek firmly fixed in my mind. I’m not
sure when I realized that Shaarey Zedek was not the same place I
remembered as a teenager, but I was surprised at feeling as though I
belonged. There was a sense of community here that I recognized from
Rosh Pina. There were familiar faces here. I wondered how it was
possible to reclaim the sense of community that had been lost.
The answer was
obvious; Shaarey Zedek had evolved. Our congregation’s dynamics have
changed to reflect the demographic reality of Winnipeg. The
leadership has changed, in the pulpit and on the board, in response
to the challenges facing the synagogue having changed. I like what
Shaarey Zedek has become, in no small measure due to our good
fortune in having such gifted clergy, who are learned, committed and
passionate about their congregation and community. We have a core
group of volunteers whose dedication to the synagogue is an
inspiration. From daily minyans, to Adult Leisure, to attracting
young families, to the Board of Directors — there are people who
give so freely of their time that the only response is Yasher
Koach. We have a terrific team working behind the scenes to
propel the synagogue forward and translate your ideas into reality.
I am proud to be associated with such an organization.
I want to work with
you to make our synagogue become the place where we prove to
ourselves that we can make the world a better place — one act of
caring and kindness at a time. I believe we can work together to
strengthen our community by connecting people to each other so that
they are never alone in moments of joy or grief — unless they want
to be. And a great place to start is with the educational
programming we offer. (Did I mention how much I’m enjoying the
Florence Melton Adult Mini-School, taught at the synagogue by Rabbi
Pinsker and Cantor Mass?)
To everyone who’s
called with encouragement and congratulations: thank you for your
kind words and good wishes. I look forward to working with you to
turn the possibilities into reality. |
