May 10, 2017
Dear Fellow Congregants,
We are closing out the fiscal year as a spiritually vibrant and financially healthy congregation.
We are now focused on planning for the upcoming year and the future. Next year will be a year of exciting possibilities.
You may already know that Rabbi Spitz will be going on a sabbatical starting after the High Holidays (October 1, 2017), returning on July 15, 2018. This will be his fourth sabbatical in the 30 years he has worked at CBI, and it has been eight years since his last sabbatical. I know it doesn’t seem like eight years, but my daughter Caroline had her bat mitzvah during that sabbatical, and she will turn 21 during this next sabbatical! How time flies!
Rabbis work six day weeks and are on call seven days a week, 24 hours a day. With this schedule it is impossible to get any downtime, so it is customary for synagogues to provide Rabbis with this time off. This sabbatical will give Rabbi Spitz a chance to travel, learn, and write, thus leading to personal renewal that will allow him to return to CBI with new energy. Rabbi will be sending out a separate letter to let us know what his plans are for his time off.
The CBI Board of Directors feel strongly that CBI will benefit from this sabbatical! This is our chance to explore, investigate, learn, and get invigorated as well.
We have an exciting year planned that will include:
- Guest Rabbis leading a vast majority of our Saturday morning services
- Increased incorporation of music into our services
- Special programs planned for Sukkot, Simchat Torah, Hanukkah, and Purim
- Alternative praying opportunities such as CBI Coastal, Prayersong, Junior Congregation, Tot Shabbat, Young Family Services, and more…
- Guest speakers and shabbaton weekends on varying topics
Our high quality religious school, youth programs, and pre-school will continue to flourish with all of our existing staff in place. The office will continue to run smoothly with our excellent administrative staff. All family life cycle events such as B’nai Mitzvah, funerals, baby naming’s, and weddings, will all go on as usual. We will continue to care for the sick and participate in social action projects. We have high quality coverage planned for everything.
There will be more details coming out shortly, and constant updates and communication throughout the year. My challenge to everyone is to come out and get involved. CBI is all about the people and our relationships. Together we will have a great year.
Sincerely,
Tony Kravitz
President, Congregation B’nai Israel