Through the entire month of Elul, it is customary to recite psalm 27, Adonai ori v’yishi, Adonai is my light and my help, at the end of the morning and evening service. In that psalm, we hear that:

Hiding me in His shrine, safe from peril / God will shelter me beyond the reach of disaster…

Though my father and my mother leave me /Adonai will care for me.

In these difficult times, this call for help is delegated to our fellow Jews. We have been asked for aid by some of our congregants, and though we are all generous as individuals and families in terms of time and money, we can do more as an institution to satisfy in some small measure the needs that go unmet.

To this end, we are creating a special Benevolent Fund that will be funded, in part, by your Kol Nidre donations. We are going to tithe these donations, which mean that 10% of your Kol Nidre contributions will go towards this fund and be allocated for the special needs of our Members and Community.

In this way we can satisfy the mitzvah: "I have put away the hallowed things out of my house, and also have given them unto the Levite, and unto the stranger, to the fatherless, and to the widow, according to all Thy commandment which Thou hast commanded me…"

In light of the extraordinary needs of some of our Congregants, and the ongoing and extensive financial demands an institution of our size makes on our resources, we are requesting that you consider increasing your donation this year to the greatest extent possible.

Larry Isaacson, President
Michael Sucher, President