From The Co-Presidents

This month’s column is a reprint of this year’s Days of Awe co-presidential speeches that were delivered on Rosh Hashanah I & Yom Kippur.

(To view, please press the plus sign next to the title of the speech you wish to read.)

Congregants, Families, and Friends,

Welcome. As I stand before you today, this is my fifth and final time addressing you as president. When Roger and I moved full-time to the Berkshires in 2018 and joined CBI, I never imagined I would soon be in this role. Joining the board was a way to learn about my new community, and it quickly became a home.

It has been a momentous five years, with joys and challenges. I’d like to share a few reflections: what I’ve learned, my hopes for CBI’s future, and what this community needs from each of us.

Soon after I joined, we faced rising antisemitism and growing security concerns. I partnered with another board member to pursue a state grant, which allowed us to strengthen our safety systems so we could gather for worship, learning, and celebration with greater peace of mind.

Then came the pandemic. Suddenly, we had to re-imagine what Jewish life could look like online. When our president, Chris Kelly, faced health challenges, I stepped in as acting president, and then became president. The questions became: When and how do we reopen? How do we rebuild our school? How do we bring people back? Together with Rabbi Rachel, the Board, and many of you, we found new ways to connect — through a new website, new programs for families, and new ways of celebrating holidays and learning together. And last year we marked Rabbi Rachel’s 13th year with us — a true joy.

So what did I learn? That the best way to become part of CBI is to jump in. Some contribute by bringing food to onegs, ushering, greeting, or singing in the choir or playing instruments. Others plant, weed, and build the sukkah. Some help with the school, create new programs, or raise funds. Each contribution, large or small, is essential — especially in a small synagogue like ours that thrives on volunteer participation.

As we gather for the High Holy Days, I invite you to look around. Notice the people you know — and those you don’t. Take a moment to greet someone new. This is our precious community, and it depends on all of us.

Yes, financial support is essential too. Membership dues cover only part of what it takes to keep CBI vibrant. Gifts from the High Holy Day appeal, and throughout the year, allow us to welcome everyone regardless of means, to support our rabbis and staff, to maintain this building, and to provide an innovative Jewish education for our children. Thank you to those who have already given to the High Holy Day Appeal. If you haven’t yet, I hope you will — in whatever way feels right. Every gift, large or small, makes a difference.

Looking ahead, the board has set a clear goal: building community. You’ll hear more about that on Yom Kippur from Wendy Penner, our co-president. We want to offer more opportunities to learn, celebrate, and simply enjoy being together. For that to succeed, we need you — to attend, to host, to bring food, to greet, to share ideas, to join the board, and yes, to help financially if you can. It truly takes a village. And when you step in, the rewards are great.

I want to thank Rabbi Rachel for her spiritual leadership; Rabbi Jarah Greenfield for her work with our children and families; Adam Green, music director and the choir and band, who enrich our worship with beautiful melodies; Wendy Penner, co-president; our dedicated Board; Oliver Jones, our administrator; our ushers and greeters; and the many volunteers during the High Holy Days and throughout the year. And to my husband Roger, who has been with me every step of this journey.

On behalf of the Board, I wish you and your families a sweet, healthy, and meaningful new year.

L’shanah tovah.

— Natalie Matus

Dear congregants, families, and friends,

My name is Wendy Penner and I have been a member of CBI for about 20 years, since shortly after we moved into this beautiful building. My two daughters became bat mitzvah at CBI, and I have had the privilege of knowing many people who grew up here in the northern Berkshires, where CBI was a hub of Jewish community. For many of these people, dedicated service to the synagogue was part of the fabric of their family. In fact there has been a synagogue in North Adams for over 120 years — you can find a photo of a mural from the first synagogue in the back of CBI’s social hall — that mural was installed at the Yiddish Book Center in Amherst just last year.

Being in community and observing the holidays gives me a deep sense of history and connection to those who came before me. Growing up, my extended family celebrated all the Jewish holidays together. My parents’ friends were all Jews, we had a vibrant Jewish community center, Jewish Day School and overnight camps, and a sense of community that gave me a deep and foundational grounding that my Jewish identity was integral to who I am as a person. Being with all of you, singing our traditional prayers, studying torah, listening to the shofar, these experiences are spiritual because they connect me to who I am and to my roots.

We are blessed to have a beautiful building, an outstanding and dedicated Rabbi, a robust Jewish education program, and opportunities for Jewish observance and study throughout the year. We also have a reasonable degree of financial stability — but our budget is tight — and we rely on your generosity. Please support CBI by becoming members, and by contributing to the HHD appeal. Gifts from the High Holy Day appeal, and throughout the year, allow us to welcome everyone regardless of means, to support our rabbis and staff, to maintain this building, and to provide an innovative Jewish education for our children. If you have already given to the High Holy Day Appeal — I offer my heartfelt thanks. If you haven’t yet, I hope you will give as generously as you can.

This year, the board has set a goal of building community. I see this as both an invitation, and a call to action. Jewish communal life is no longer a “given”. It exists only if we as Jews are dedicated to building and uplifting it. And the invitation feels like it meets this moment. At a time when we see divisions in Jewish community that feel painful and isolating, it is especially important to hold space to be in community. I invite you to be part of building this community. Join us on November 9 from 10am–11:30am in our social hall for a coffee and bagels social hour, and look for more programs like this each month (and help us host them).

We also invite you to build our Sukkah on Saturday — and you have an open invitation to join our book club, our Israel Palestine study group, Zoom torah study, to host a kiddush, plan a service project, help our volunteers with caring for our buildings and our grounds, plan a movie night, or — fill in the blank. It’s my greatest hope that 120 years from now, CBI is still here and our descendants are feeling the same sense of gratitude and connection for our work that I feel for those who came before us.

I want to thank Rabbi Rachel for her spiritual leadership; Rabbi Jarah Greenfield for her work with our children and families; Adam Green, music director and the choir and band, who enrich our worship with beautiful melodies; Natalie Matus, co-president; our dedicated Board, Oliver Jones, our administrator; our ushers and greeters; and the many volunteers during the High Holy Days and throughout the year.

I wish you a year of sweetness, health, and hope, a sense of community, and a feeling of empowerment and purpose in dark times. G’Mar chatimah tova — may we all be sealed (…for a good year — I think that’s the translation).