I am delighted to welcome Wendy Penner as co-president of CBI for the coming year! Wendy has been a true partner over the past year, taking on numerous responsibilities and acting as a valued thought partner. I am so pleased that she has decided to take on the official role of co-president. Together, we look forward to serving the CBI community in the year to come.

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From The Co-Presidents

Dear Congregants and Friends,

Last Wednesday, we held our Annual Meeting, during which we shared highlights of the past year and plans for the coming year. Thank you to all who participated, both in-person and on Zoom. Members unanimously approved the slate of directors and officers. Ben Rudin and Michael Smith will continue respectively as vice-president and treasurer, and Cheryl Sacks will be the clerk. Joe Apkin, Robin Brickman, Cheryl Sacks, and Paulette Wein will begin new 3-year terms as directors. Suzanne Levy Graver and Sheila Roman will also continue their terms as directors. We welcome Eric Koster as a new director; he has already stepped up to usher and is quickly learning how we operate, and we look forward to his input as a person with multifaceted experience in nonprofit management. We are grateful to all members of the Board, whose work on behalf of CBI continues all year long.

There was a sense of joy and accomplishment in compiling and sharing the annual report for the meeting, and looking back on the very full year at CBI, the stability and evolution of our community, and expansion of our Jewish education programs. If you haven’t had a chance to review the annual report, you can find a digital copy here or pick up a printed copy at CBI. The photos and descriptions chronicling last year bring the richness of our community to life.

After many years of service to CBI as a board member, past president, head of the Chevra Kadisha committee, and member of the choir, Darlene Radin has stepped off the Board. We were pleased to honor her at last Friday night’s Kabbalat service, and to thank her for her many years of service. We compiled a collage of photos that included her participation in the ground breaking for this building we reside in now. We are so thankful for her meaningful contributions, and pleased that she will continue as a member of the choir.

We are excited to work with the board on programming for the year ahead, and we welcome each of you to share your time and energy to help CBI blossom and grow as a hub for Jewish life in our region.

With the continuing and escalating tragedy in Israel and Palestine – addressed so thoughtfully by Rabbi Rachel in her recent sermon – we are committed to continuing our work as a community to offer programming and education that encourages our community members to grapple with what it means to live our Jewish values. Our Israel/Palestine programming committee is reconvening soon; please reach out to Wendy to learn more.

And finally, please plan to join us on Sunday, August 24 for our annual Tanglewood Potluck Picnic & Concert, where we gather on the lawn, share delicious food and conversation, and enjoy a beautiful concert. This year, our young families will be joining us for part of the pre-concert fun! We’ll have more details later, but note that gates open at noon, and the concert starts at 2:30pm. Children under 18 are free; adults will need to purchase their own lawn tickets from Tanglewood.

We look forward to seeing you at services-you can check our website calendar for details. Wishing you all a wonderful summer!

— Natalie Matus & Wendy Penner