Leaders Who Serve
03/17/2025 12:42:05 PM
Rabbi Spike Anderson
When congregants share with me, usually in a whisper, that their favorite Friday night service each year is our Volunteer Shabbat, I feel a sense of joy.
Initially, perhaps, because I’m ‘tickled’ that congregants have a favorite worship experience, which implies that they have many to choose from. We put a lot of thought and energy into creating worship that is both engaging and meaningful, so it's nice to get that type of feedback.
But with time, I’ve come to recognize that my joy at hearing this frequent pronouncement is that they appreciate a community that thrives because of Temple Emanu-El’s culture of volunteerism and that it is uplifting to be inspired by congregants who truly go ‘above and beyond’ for TE, and for the Jewish people.
The congregants who receive the Shirley Schiffer Volunteerism award are highlighted through a weaving of their efforts into the prayers themselves…think of jazz or a woven cloth. Their accomplishments inform the prayers, which in turn, provides context for their volunteer efforts and who they are as people.
It is a joyous evening.
Join us for Shabbat dinner with the volunteer award winners, our Honi Circle, and fellow TE congregants. Register HERE
You will be inspired. And through your presence, may you be strengthened in making our world the place that we Jews know it could be.
B’shalom,
Rabbi Spike Anderson
Shirley Schiffer Volunteerism Award Recipients-5785
Moses Anderson
Karen Asher
Gabrielle Bland
Jack Dubrow
Andrew Mark
Roni Mintz
Laura Pollock
Cary Romanoff
Linda Satlof
Aaron Silverman
Phil Singer
Beverly Stahl
Jake Summerfield
Lynn & Bob Sustak