In the summer of 2005, I wrote to you all that we were forming a Tenth Anniversary Committee to help plan a year of celebratory activities to mark our congregation’s anniversary. Among the committee’s goals were:

         Raise awareness about our congregation
         Involve our members in congregational activities
         Raise money for our congregation
         Engage in social action activities for the Jewish and general communities

The four “Pillar Events” the committee planned for the congregation were:
         Make Your Mark: Write a Torah scroll
         Cantor’s Concert
         Ten Commandments: A Year of Study and D’rash Contest
         Gala Closing Event: The Dedication of our Educational Center on December 9, 2006

   There was so much more we wanted to do; but we have more anniversaries ahead of us to do those things. Each month, we are providing more and more services to our members and our community on Alvernon. We are still completing some details at our Educational Center to ensure the safety of our young and adult students alike. We are beginning to visit with members of our congregation, seeking pledges so that we can complete our design and begin construction of our sanctuary. In the meantime, we continue providing for the needy, comforting our members in times of need, celebrating important life-cycle events, and living by divine principles of loving-kindness, compassion, and study.
    Thank you all for being a part of this dream.

Rabbi Thomas Louchheim