G’mar Tov:

Most Yom Kippur appeal speeches stress the need for you to donate to the synagogue you are a member of or seating here as a guest or listening on YouTube.  And yes, you will still hear that appeal from me.

As you entered today, you received an envelope addressed to Congregation Am HaYam which holds a card with numerous fold-down monetary tabs.  Please take it home and select an amount that you are comfortable donating and please mail it back.  We need your help to continue offering all that we do – our Mussar classes, our continuing educational classes, our special events, Kaddishim and all that keeps our community thriving.

Now I want to continue with something that is close to my heart which I have mentioned more than once and you can help with.  And that is kindness – simply being kind. And as we gather together on Yom Kippur and are given the opportunity to not only reflect on the year that has passed, but also appreciate the people and community around us.

Kindness isn’t about great acts.  It’s about seeing each other.  Really seeing each other and doing small things.

Kindness can take many forms. It is reaching out to someone who is going through a difficult time. It is welcoming a new face at services. It is volunteering when something needs to be done. It is celebrating together in times of joy and supporting one another in times of sorrow.

These acts may sometimes seem small, but together they are what make Congregation Am HaYam a community rather than simply a place where we come to worship.

This past year has given us much to appreciate, thanks to Robert Berman, of blessed memory, who left CAH his home.  We have continued to improve and renovate our synagogue so that it can remain a welcoming home for us now and for the future.

And we have begun an exciting new chapter with the installation of Rabbi Ron Goldberg as our rabbi. We are grateful for his warmth, energy and leadership that he has already brought to our congregation.

None of this happens by itself. It happens because people care. It happens because people give their time, their talents and, yes, their financial support. Every contribution is an act of generosity and an investment in our community.

As I mentioned, our Yom Kippur appeal helps make possible the services, programs, education, live streaming, our website,  celebrations and moments of connection that bring us together throughout the year. It also helps us maintain and improve the synagogue that we are fortunate to call our spiritual home.

On this sacred day, I ask you to think about what Congregation Am HaYam means to you. Think about the friendships you have made here, the kindness you have received, and the moments we have shared together.

And then, if you are able, please respond with kindness of your own by making a generous contribution to our Yom Kippur appeal.

Whatever the amount, your gift matters. Just as every person strengthens our congregation by being part of it, every contribution helps strengthen our future.

As we begin this new year together, may we continue to be a congregation defined by kindness, appreciation, generosity and community.

Thank you for being part of Congregation Am HaYam, and thank you for helping ensure that this very special community continues to thrive.

G’mar Chatimah Tovah.

Please use this link to donate through PayPal and check off the box to cover fees. 

Or use Zelle with payments@CongregationAmHaYam.com