Vayeishev reminds us of a time when our people were in turmoil but still managed to maintain community. This
message of the beginnings of exile and slavery in Egypt, a dark period indeed in the time of our people, comes
just before Chanukah, a time of light when we commemorate the rededication of the Temple. We begin
Chanukah in near darkness with just one candle. Adding another light each night as the holiday progresses,
our chanukiot get brighter and brighter.
We don’t have read the newspapers to know that these are dark economic times, but we look forward to
brighter days ahead. According to Rabbi Edythe Held Mencher, LCSW, “Many people, perhaps all people, are
experiencing heightened anxiety, insecurity and doubt as troubling economic events are unfolding. Some of us
have already been directly affected as we or a family member has lost a job, others fear they will be next, still
more are concerned and confused about pensions, mortgages, investments and diminished resale values of
homes.” Rabbi Richard Address sees these dark times as “a unique and necessary opportunity to become an
even more meaningful caring community.” He sees this as a time “when no one should be left to feel that they
are l’vado, alone. This is a time for community and relationships to be enhanced and expanded, our
congregations responsive to and involved with those who are hurting.”
At BAJC, even in these hard economic times, the Board is dedicated to providing for the health of our
synagogue under the budget approved by our members at the annual meeting last June. We balance our
dependence on the member dues with a dues abatement policy that helps those that cannot afford the full
dues. We look at fundraising ideas, both large and small, to augment income from dues. However, we
recognize that maintaining our Jewish community during these dark financial times is not just about money.
When one of our Board members learned about a member’s special need, she organized an effort to provide
that family with meals and our members responded with caring generosity. When it became necessary to
dismantle one of our barns for the safety of our children, members responded to remove the barn, saving us a
considerable expense. We offer meals for Brattleboro’s needy, including a monthly dinner for Morningside
Shelter and one every few weeks for the Overflow Shelter during the cold weather months.
I could go on with stories of our shul’s efforts to repair the world (tikkun olam), but I won’t. Instead, I will ask
you, as we approach the end of another secular year, to take a moment to reflect on what it means to have a
viable Jewish community and consider what you can do to help. If you want our synagogue to be here,
particularly in these challenging times, it is only our individual and our collective action that will insure this. If
we persevere as a congregation, our future together will continue to grow brighter as time goes on, like the
candles on your chanukiot.
B’shalom,
Marty
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