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Some of us have grown up more than a little skeptical of Jewish
congregations that always seem to be raising money for something
– and don’t seem to be doing much else. I feel particularly
positive about this fundraising, precisely because, at BAJC, with
the congregation so active on the spiritual and educational and
community fronts, fundraising has not at all been our primary focus.
Devoting three months of intensive effort to fundraising this spring
does not seem at all out of line to me.
And here are two firm predictions: Under the leadership of our
chief fundraiser, Selma Schiffer, we will not only meet this goal
but we will also have a great deal of fun doing it. Selma has announced
that chai, the number 18, symbolizing “life,” will be
our leitmotif. We’ll do things and raise money in multiples
of 18.
Our wheels are busy churning:
- A very busy phoning and visiting system will
be in place. You’ll be hearing from Selma and from Faith
and from board members and from me.Then, even after we’ve
given all we’ve thought possible, the phone and the door
bell will keep ringing. No one is allowed to get upset –
even after we’ve been solicited for the 18th time—because
the goal is so worthwhile and important!
- Individuals will be organizing fundraising
gatherings and auctions and other events, all of it flying across
your e-mail screens and on our website. As an example,on April
23rd Louise and I “with a little help from our friends,”
will be hosting a gourmet 18-dish Indian dinner with entertainment
provided by our family and with an impressive door prize from
India. The cost will be a multiple of $18 per person (to be determined),
open to the first 18 people who sign up. (E-mail me right away
if you’re interested.) Others may wish to organize similar
events.
- Short term matching grants may be announced.
- There may also be some creative involvement
of our children in the Hebrew School.
We are so confident that we will meet our goal, and that we will
meet it before Abe and Faith’s 50th wedding anniversary (can
you imagine a greater gift!) that we are organizing a huge BAJC
bash to celebrate it and, at the same time, to honor the lives of
Ben and Sally Kotkov who have been so important to our community
over the years. The event, (date and place to be announced), will
be the haute cuisine event of the decade! Every family will bring
its most cherished recipe – the recipe of recipes, perhaps
the recipe passed through the generations, our very best. And the
evening will be filled with music and other entertainment! Time
to start going through your recipes to find your most elegant, most
delicious main dishes and desserts..
These will be three months we will long remember and, at the end
of it, we’ll be on our way to our new home!
B’Shalom,
Jim
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