Rabbi Locketz, Cantor Lipsett-Allison and I have received so many comments and calls and notes and emails of appreciation for the services during The Days of Awe. We appreciate so much your taking the time to say such nice things. However, we want everyone to know that while we are the most visible, there are so many who work so hard to make everything happen. I am so very grateful to my colleagues, Rabbi Locketz and Cantor Lipsett Allison, consummate professionals.

We are grateful, and you should be as well, to the entire staff of Bet Shalom. Mike Mahigan and his custodial crew work tirelessly so that the building looks and functions the way that it does. We hardly notice but they are artists and masters at what they do.

All of our committees work so hard on so many aspects of the activities that make our congregation so special. On the High Holydays, our ushers, led by Jay Silver and Paula and Mark Fields, and our Ritual committee, led by Kent Rissman, put in extra time so that we can be welcomed and involved in the services in the best way possible. Our Torah readers and shofar blowers add so much to our observance. Our Israel Awareness Committee, led by Gayle Kaplan and Susi Saxl, and our two dialogue presenters, Brooke Burton and Tom Meyers, gave all of us a thought provoking, heartfelt Food for Thought Forum on Yom Kippur afternoon. And the building committee, overseen by Tom Silver, and landscape committee, chaired by Alan Bensman make the grounds look so spectacular, truly awe-inspiring. We all benefit each time we enter and leave the grounds and building.

The food that we enjoyed at the break the fast was not only paid for by many donations from so many of our congregants, but also was prepared by David Schulman and his staff so that we might have such a satisfying conclusion to the Day of Atonement.

The cantor is our inspiring voice, but she has wonderful assistance from our accompanist Rita Lusky, the other talented and blessed musicians, Marilyn Zupnick, Bill and Nannette Goldman, Eric Bressler, Claudia Schnitker, David Thompkins, our Ruach ensemble, and the most amazing volunteer choir that we could hope for. Accompanist Emilia Flegel will add her artistry to our Simchat Torah celebration as we conclude our High Holyday celebration next week.

Our youth group, led by Wendy Hemingway, and the BESTY president Hannah Michelson, made miracles happen. Indeed, the food and coats that we gathered along with the very generous cash donations will go a long way toward helping the growing number of our neighbors who are in need.

We all are very fortunate to have the lay leadership that oversees so much of the significant responsibilities of our community. Our president, Jodi Upin works tirelessly. She inspires us daily, for there is always another project; another great thought that she wants to explore to benefit us all. And Brian Shapiro, our treasurer, spoke with such sensitivity and compassion at this very difficult time in our nation's economy, in asking all of us to do what we can to support our synagogue and those in need. Brian is one of the many of our leaders who continually seek to balance the fiscal material needs of our congregation with the human needs of our congregants. Our financial administrator Sandy Ruesewald works shoulder to shoulder with them in helping us to do this.

We want to thank our office staff, Claire, Marlee, Joanie, Eve, and Heidi, who are amazing human beings. They work long hours, and are ready to respond to the needs of this community whenever they can. We rely on them every day and without them, your rabbis and cantor, along with our executive director, Andrea Blumberg, our education director, Meryl Gruber, and our preschool director, Michelle Raymond, would not accomplish a fraction of what we are able. I cannot imagine any congregation with volunteers as fabulous as ours. Christy Bateman, who is also now a new board member, sets the tone and is the model for all who give so unselfishly to our family of friends. We miss Andrea Blumberg who is on maternity leave, but who worked hard before she left to take care of so many High Holyday arrangements.

May this coming year be one of blessing and interaction with Bet Shalom for you and your family.