President’s Blog – Greetings on behalf of GRS
Posted under: July Overview
Dear Fellow Congregant,
It is my pleasure to extend greetings to you on behalf of Greenwich Reform Synagogue. I have the privilege of serving as your current Board President, and it is an exciting time in the life of our congregation. We are in the very fortunate circumstance of having substantial resources to create a new permanent home (thanks to our sale of property to The Stanwich School), continuity in our school location and operations on Stanwich Road, and a wonderful “bridge” sanctuary in Old Greenwich.
Even as we prepare to move forward, some of the most important aspects of our congregational community remain the same:
- Rabbi Andrew Sklarz and Cantor Sabrina Lipton continue to lead our congregation, with meaningful services, wonderful music, and individual attention to congregants when called upon.
- Our Religious and Hebrew schools will continue to operate, as they have, at our historic location at The Stanwich School at 257 Stanwich Road, led by Rabbi Sklarz and Education Director Lisa Gittleman-Udi.
- The staff, led by Executive Director Stephanie Glaser, is focused as always on the best possible administration of all GRS business and activities, as well as our upcoming move.
This year, we will celebrate the High Holy Days at our current sanctuary at 257 Stanwich Road, and continue to hold services there through October 2012. Then, we will bid a fond farewell to our sanctuary and in November begin holding regular services at the First Congregational Church of Greenwich, at the corner of Sound Beach and Forest Avenues, across from Binney Park. We have arranged use of their beautiful auditorium for services, and other space there for important activities such as practice space for our inspiring and dedicated choir. Saturday’s are busy days at the Church, so B’nai Mitvah will be celebrated at the handsome Round Hill Community Church on Round Hill Road. Thanks and congratulations to Helen Stark and her team for their hard work and success in arranging the above.
The wonderful and appropriate spaces described above will serve our current needs well, and also serve to “bridge” GRS to our new home. Finding the best possible site and constructing our new home is a multi-year project, on which many of GRS’s devoted volunteers are working (led by Sandy Soule), along with professionals that GRS has engaged. Considerable dialogue is taking place, and will continue to take place, within the congregation to further define the vision of our new home; we encourage you to make your voice heard. Again, we are fortunate that GRS now has substantial resources to devote to making the vision a reality.
GRS exists to serve you, your family, and the community. The Rabbi’s door is always open, and you are encouraged to contact him whenever you see fit, on a confidential basis as appropriate, to discuss concerns, issues, and ideas. As Board President, I am also available to you on matters of GRS business—please feel free to contact me at robertdbirnbaum@gmail.com .
While we are here to serve you, many of our members find great satisfaction (and we could not function without them) in providing volunteer service to GRS. This is an important period for GRS, and the work really matters. If you too would like to have an impact on this institution through volunteer work, please contact the Rabbi or me. There are many important roles to be filled, and we will work with you to find a role that takes advantage of your talents, interests, and experience, and that you will enjoy.
Best regards,
Robert