Executive Director

After my father passed away in 1977, my mom and I had a tradition of attending Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services (almost) every year together at our synagogue in Cedarhurst, Long Island until she entered a nursing home in 2011. One year the Rabbi gave a sermon on the difference between doing well and doing good, meaning that it’s great for you to do well financially, but make sure that you are also doing good for society. That always stuck with me. It is something that I have always tried to live by, and it is something that I try to instill in my boys. And while I think the Rabbi meant this for individuals, I think it can also be applied to organizations. And that makes me think of TBS.

We are doing well. Our membership is growing, school registrations are growing, our endowments are growing, our mortgage is paid off, and we have cash in the bank. And all you need to do is read the TBS mission statement to know that we are also doing good for society:  “Temple Beth Sholom is a welcoming and inclusive sacred community that connects its members to one another, Judaism, and Israel through interactive spiritual, educational, and social experiences.” This is achieved through our daily and Shabbat services, myriad programming, our schools, our numerous committees and affiliate groups, Project Yahad, and I could go on. But what I find especially moving is the good we are doing right now for Israel. All of the congregational outpouring of financial donations and donations of much-needed supplies, the solidarity gatherings, the social media posts, the Masorti mission to Israel that Rabbi Peltz recently returned from, and the volunteer work that I will be doing on an IDF military base in two weeks, increases morale, provides hope, shows our love and support, and does immeasurable good for Israel.

Let’s continue to do well, and do good, as a TBS community.

Wishing you a Shabbat Shalom, and I look forward to seeing you in shul! If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, you can always reach out to me at rons@tbsonline.org or (856) 751-6663 x218.

B’Shalom,
Ron Safier 
Executive Director