Many Notes of Thanks

Keeping Connected July 2025

Shalom friends!

I hope everyone is enjoying their summer! This article has many notes of thanks in it! Showing gratitude is actually an important value in Judaism. In Hebrew, the value is called Hakarot Hatov. An article about this value from the CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City states: 

“ The idea of giving thanks and showing gratitude is a deep and lasting concept in Judaism. Hakarat Hatov is more than simple gratitude; it is recognizing and appreciating the good that another has done for us.”

Many people have helped at Congregation Shalom and since we are at the beginning of a new Congregation Shalom year, I first want to thank everyone who is leaving the board of trustees! Thank you to Stephen Rodman, Tony Zimmerman, Esther Wikander, Susan Goldman-Kreithen, Karyn Danzig, Neil Berenson, and Anne Rosenberg. Your contributions are valued and so important. Welcome to all the new board members! Norman McBride, Nesan Jegasothy, John Morrissey, Robert Birnbaum, Peter Sohn, and Sandy Moore. We are all looking forward to working with you!

Second, here are some updates to share and some more thank you notes! Very soon, if not already, you should start seeing signs of construction at the temple with the reconstruction of the exterior walls. Our website project is moving forward, and I hear it’s coming along well. Thank you to Sandy Moore and Liz Jegasothy, who have been working diligently at moving files over to our new CRM (customer management system) ShulCloud, and we are looking forward to seeing it in action. A thank you to Mitch Hyatt and John Terrio; they did an amazing job and a lot of work to put in a ramp for the shed, and it looks great and might outlast the building itself!

Lastly, a thank you to Susanne Curry and Bob Schneider for spearheading our booth at the Chelmsford 4th of July and for everyone who signed up to volunteer. It is a great opportunity for the temple to be involved in the local community. I hope you can be there!