Matthew, Jaxon and Fred Zola At the B’nai Israel Congregational Meeting, February, 2011, I was elected President of our Synagogue. It has been an enjoyable and fulfilling six years. Now it is time for me to take a break, a Sabbath year.
Thank you for this great honor. These past six years have been a wonderful, spiritually uplifting experience for me. I have received so much more from our Congregation than I have given.
Thank you to all of the Officers and Board members who have worked with me. Thank you to all the Committee Chairs that have done such a great job and thank you to all of our members who have been a source of inspiration.
A big thank you to Rabbi White who has always been there for me.
At the February, 2017 meeting new Officers and Directors were elected. We will have members joining the Board for the first time; Linda Chene, Myra Binstock, Aviyah Johnson, Dorrin Rosenfeld. Thank you so much for volunteering to join the leadership of B’nai Israel.
Marc North-Horowitz and Dr. Janet Leventhal will be the new Co-Presidents, Dan Feinberg will continue as First Vice President, Dr. Doug Cort Second Vice President, Anne Levy Howson Financial Secretary, Lou Hirsh Treasurer, Alisa Danyeur Recording Secretary, Roy Barush Director, Dr. Bob Linville Director and Joyce Georgette will re-join the Board as Parliamentarian. Thank you all very much. I am comforted that I leave the Board in good hands and see a great future for B’nai Israel.
Thank you to the members now leaving the Board; Martin Gewing, Don Bond, Helene Falk, Gail Lamkins and Youth Liaison Jacob Sousa.
I made a list of our accomplishments during the past six years. I was going to include the list here, but it looked too much like bragging, so I threw it away. This is the influence of Rabbi White, who teaches us to be humble. However, since I am not Rabbi White, I will brag a little. I will reduce the list to one item, my greatest accomplishment. During six years as President I have not missed a monthly Board meeting. It is said ninety percent of success is showing up, so at least I did that. I showed up.
The new Officers and Directors will begin their term April 1. We will hold the Induction Ceremony at the Shabbat Seder Friday, March 10. Please attend and thank them for their service to our Synagogue.
Back to the beginning. Following is the first President’s Message I wrote for the April, 2011 bulletin. The message is relevant today, so I include it here.
April 20114/1/2011
Thank you for electing me President.
It is a great honor, privilege and responsibility. I have been given a priceless gem and asked to care for it awhile, then pass it on.
Congregation B'nai Israel is unique. We have a Rabbi that is second to none. Rabbi David White's
spiritual leadership is a blessing.
I am surrounded by a talented and brilliant Board of Directors and Officers. Priceless. I look forward to what we will be able to accomplish for our community in the upcoming year.
As President, my slogan is "help me". I am asking every member to help me lead this community.
Past generations have brought B'nai Israel to this point and now it is up to us to maintain and build B'nai Israel for the future generations.
Each of us has unique talents and abilities. I am asking each of you to use your talent to the best of your ability to help make B'nai Israel great. When the tribe of Israel, in the wilderness, built the first Tabernacle, each person was assigned a task suitable to their abilities. No one was asked to do more than they were able.
This is what I am asking of the members of this community. We are in this together and we are all volunteers. Myself, I have volunteered my efforts to Congregation B'nai Israel as my way to "thank"
God for the blessings in my life.
In my view, our congregation as four functions;
1. A religious institution
2. An educational institution
3. A social club
4. A business
I ask each of you to assess your talents and interests and volunteer to assist in one of these areas.
I will assign you to the appropriate committee. It will be a MITZVAH.
Thank you,
Fred Zola
Fred Zola
President
Congregation B'nai Israel
1256 Nebraska Street
Vallejo, Ca. 94590
707-642-6526
bnaisrael.weebly.com
fredzola@earthlink.net
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