president

Hello Everyone!

First of all, a huge thank you to everyone who attended the Annual Membership Meeting last Sunday (and a special thanks for all those who provided refreshments for the meeting).  We had a great turnout and welcomed new members to the Board.  Together we will be spending the summer planning more ways to bring the community together, get our message out to the wider community, and plan more in-person events now that we are emerging from the worst of Covid.  But before we get to all that, we must of course celebrate another of those great Hallmark style holidays: Father’s Day!  This Sunday is the time to dote on our wonderful dads and all they do for our families and community.  Like Mother’s Day before it, this is a day specifically set aside for these wonderful parents even though we should be celebrating their contributions and exploits every day!  And just like Mother’s Day, the themes of Father’s Day echo throughout Judaism and the Torah.  From the first father Adam through the Patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to the kings of ancient Israel,  all the way to the modern era, the perplexities of achievements of fatherhood are given much attention in Jewish custom.  And as shown many times in the Tanach, though fathers are not perfect and can mess up many times throughout their lives, they still provide a critical role in forging the bonds that keep families and communities together.  So for at least this one day, let us treat our dads like they can do no wrong!      

Coming up on June 27, we have our annual trip to the Oakland Coliseum to watch the A’s play their Jewish Heritage Month game!  If you would like to join us, please contact our office manager Brandy for information about tickets.  We encourage as many of our members to come as we can to show our support for our hometown team!  Some of you may have seen that there was a “reverse boycott” among A’s fans a few nights ago and the Coliseum was packed with supporters demanding the team stay in the city.  Temple Beth Hillel can do its part to further this movement and keep the tradition of the Jewish Heritage Month game alive!  

Also, next month Temple Beth Hillel will be hosting a booth at the El Cerrito 4th of July festival on Tuesday, July 4.  Larry has a sign up sheet for those who would like to volunteer their time to help spread the word about our congregation.  Please email me or Larry if you would like to help out.  In addition, on July 8 there will be a free showing of “A Room With a View” by the Actor’s Ensemble at Berkeley’s John Hinkel Park at 6:00 p.m.  To sign on for the carpool or with questions, email Jane Kemp at jckemp5674@gmail.com.  And on July 29 at 4:00 p.m. we will host our Movie Night Potluck, with our own Michael Cohen providing background, trivia, and other fun facts about the movie.  There will be plenty of snacks and popcorn!

Finally, the next Shabbat Service will be held this Friday, June 16, at 7:30 p.m., and we will have Torah Study on Saturday at 10:15 a.m.  Thanks everyone!

 If I am not for myself, who will be for me?

If I am not for others, what am I?

And if not now, when? -Rabbi Hillel

~ Anna B Stein and David Zimring, Co-Presidents, Temple Beth Hillel

Hello Everyone!

Once again, this week provides us with an opportunity for reflection.  Today marks the 79th anniversary of D-Day, the epic invasion of Nazi-occupied Europe by American, British and Canadian troops that helped to liberate Europe from Nazi tyranny.  And while the entire nation still marks the occasion every year with reverence and awe, sadly not many veterans or civilians who actually lived through that epic day are still alive today.  Millennials and Gen Z, not surprisingly, have a stronger connection to 9/11 than D-Day.  Nevertheless, the Jewish community especially must keep the memory of D-Day alive.  Not only did hundreds of Jewish soldiers fight and die on that fateful day, the success of D-Day also enabled the Allies to win the war only a year after the invasion, which brought the horrors of the Holocaust to an end that much sooner.  Without D-Day, who knows how many more European Jews would not have survived.  Therefore, let us all recommit to keeping the memory of D-Day alive so that the lessons of the Holocaust will not also slip into oblivion.  Future generations as well as ourselves will be grateful.    

In other news, we invite everyone to come to our Annual Membership Meeting on June 11 at 1:00 p.m.  You can meet the Board members, enjoy some nice treats, and see the plans for the upcoming year.  A few weeks later, on June 27, we have our annual trip to the Oakland Coliseum to watch the A’s play their Jewish Heritage Month game!  If you would like to join us, please contact our office manager Brandy for information about tickets.

Finally, the next Shabbat Service will be held next Friday, June 16, at 7:30 p.m.  The Adult Education class with Rabbi Dean will continue its regular schedule and we will also have Torah Study on Saturday at 10:30 a.m.  And those who wish to join Tefillah services at the Religious School, we are having our final session this Sunday, June 11, right before the membership meeting.  Thanks everyone!

 If I am not for myself, who will be for me?

If I am not for others, what am I?

And if not now, when? -Rabbi Hillel

We hope everyone had a wonderful long weekend!  It is that wonderful time of year when it is still daylight until 8:00 p.m. and will just keep getting longer for another month!  This is also a great time for reflection, in this case related to an event that is both potentially catastrophic and yet instructive at the same time.  For the past month bitter debates have raged in the nation’s capital about the conditions for raising the debt ceiling and avoiding economic meltdown.  Remarkably, this is happening even though no one wants to actually breach the debt ceiling because everyone knows the devastation that would ensue.  And although a solution may yet be in sight, it can still boggle the mind that leaders would even consider flirting with such disaster.  Nevertheless, the Tanach provides a similar type of lesson in the saga of the Judgment of Solomon.  As the story goes in 1 Kings Chapter 3, Solomon was confronted by two women who both claimed to be the mother of a newborn baby.  He decided to order the baby cut in half so each woman could have half the child.  Faced with this horrifying order, one of the women promptly begged Solomon to give the child to the other woman.  At that point, Solomon handed the child to the first woman, knowing that the real mother would never let harm come to her child.  In this case, the prospect of a horrifying result brought out the truth and justice prevailed.  Legend says that the band Van Halen used this same idea in the 1980s when they famously demanded in their contracts that all brown M&Ms be removed from the bowls of candy in their dressing rooms.  The idea was that if Van Halen found any brown M&Ms, they knew the venue managers did not read the contract carefully and so the band members would need to be extra careful in the set up of the venues for their concerts.  As a result, whether through terror or humor, the seemingly insane can sometimes lead to a positive outcome as long as there is a long term benefit.  We can only hope that leaders in Congress can take this lesson to heart and not flirt with disaster just for the sake of doing so.      

And as we head toward summer, our major events are about to wrap up for the season.  We invite everyone to come to our Annual Membership Meeting on June 11 at 1:00 p.m.  You can meet the Board members, enjoy some nice treats, and see the plans for the upcoming year.  A few weeks later, on June 27, we have our annual trip to the Oakland Coliseum to watch the A’s play their Jewish Heritage Month game!  If you would like to join us, please contact our office manager Brandy for information about tickets.

The next Shabbat Service will be held this Friday, June 2, at 7:30 p.m.  The Adult Education class with Rabbi Dean will continue its regular schedule and we will also have Torah Study on Saturday at 10:30 a.m.  And those who wish to join Tefillah services at the Religious School are welcome starting at 9:30 a.m on June 4 and June 11.  Thanks everyone!

 If I am not for myself, who will be for me?

If I am not for others, what am I?

And if not now, when? -Rabbi Hillel

~ Anna B Stein and David Zimring, Co-Presidents, Temple Beth Hillel

Hello Everyone!

And happy Shavuot!  The celebration of this holiday marks the end of the period of the counting of the Omer, which began on Pesach.  Along with indulging in dairy products and studying Torah, the counting of the Omer also represents the time of waiting between the liberation of the Israelite slaves in Egypt and their covenant with G-d through the presentation of the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai.  Incredibly, without even intending to, the secular calendar also has a period of waiting between two holidays this time of year reflecting both sacrifice and joy.  This past week, we all celebrated Mother’s Day, which of course acknowledges all the sacrifice and hard work our mothers have done and continue to do for us all (and hopefully all moms in the congregation had a wonderful day last Sunday).  Obviously mothers should be celebrated every day but in this case the celebration includes brunch, presents, and outings.  And this year, 35 days later, we will all celebrate Father’s Day, completing the recognition of how much our parents matter in our lives.  While this secular example is quite different from counting the Omer, it does have the similarity of starting with one celebration, waiting a certain period of time, and then ending with another celebration with a common theme (in this case parents).  I would like to think that the people at Hallmark (who have helped perpetuate these holidays, no doubt) took inspiration from the Jewish calendar.   

In other news, we have several exciting events occurring in the coming weeks.  We invite everyone to come to our Annual Membership Meeting on June 11 at 1:00 p.m.  You can meet the Board members, enjoy some nice treats, and see the plans for the upcoming year.  A few weeks later, on June 27, we have our annual trip to the Oakland Coliseum to watch the A’s play their Jewish Heritage Month game!  If you would like to join us, please contact our office manager Brandy for information about tickets.

The next Shabbat Service will be held on Friday, June 2, at 7:30 p.m.  The Adult Ed class with Rabbi Dean will continue its regular schedule and we will also have Torah Study on Saturday at 10:30 a.m.  And those who wish to join Tefillah services at the Religious School are welcome starting at 9:30 a.m on Sundays.  Thanks everyone and have a great Memorial Day Weekend!

 If I am not for myself, who will be for me?

If I am not for others, what am I?

And if not now, when? -Rabbi Hillel

~ Anna B Stein and David Zimring, Co-Presidents, Temple Beth Hillel

Shalom Everyone!

Incredibly, the end of school is getting closer and closer.  Before we know it our kids will have finished the school year and it will be time for camps, travel, family, and long days of fun activities!  It is appropriate, then, to consider one of the last major holidays of the year: Shavuot.  Like so many other holidays, Shavuot is full of symbolism, in this case perfect for the renewal of spring.  On this day we are required to hear the Ten Commandments, as our ancestors did thousands of years ago, in the renewal of the covenant between Adonai and the Jewish people.  In fact, Shavuot can mean both “weeks” (signifying the end of the seven weeks of Omer) and “oaths,” including the oath to follow the commandments.  Shavuot also has the tradition of staying up all night studying Torah, just as kids would love to stay up all night during vacation talking, playing, and experiencing the joy of having so much time.  And of course, Shavuot has the tradition of eating dairy products for special meals.  Legend says that once the Israelites received the Torah, they first learned about the Kashrut laws and realized they could not prepare proper Kosher meat right away.  Instead, they improvised and ate dairy products as a substitute.  For this year, when we come across an unexpected situation, let us pledge to not shut down in fear or anxiety but instead to improvise and make the situation work for us.  Just as the Torah can give us guidance in our everyday lives, so the holiday of Shavuot provides us lessons for life’s unexpected turns.

In other news, we have several exciting events occurring in the coming weeks.  We invite everyone to come to our Annual Membership Meeting on June 11 at 1:00 p.m.  You can meet the Board members, enjoy some nice treats, and see the plans for the upcoming year.  A few weeks later, on June 27, we have our annual trip to the Oakland Coliseum to watch the A’s play their Jewish Heritage Month game!  If you would like to join us, please contact our office manager Brandy for information about tickets.

The next Shabbat Service will be held this Friday, May 19, at 7:30 p.m.  Family Shabbat will also be held on the same evening right before the main service, at 6:15 p.m.  We will have a Lag B’Omer celebration by having the kids practice archery so please spread the word to family members and friends to come and enjoy the festivities.  The Adult Ed class with Rabbi Dean has resumed its regular schedule and we will also have Torah Study on Saturday at 10:30 a.m.  And those who wish to join Tefillah services at the Religious School are welcome starting at 9:30 a.m on Sundays.  Thanks everyone!

 If I am not for myself, who will be for me?

If I am not for others, what am I?

And if not now, when? -Rabbi Hillel

~ Anna B Stein and David Zimring, Co-Presidents, Temple Beth Hillel

Shalom Y’all!

As is so often the case, sorrow is followed by celebration in the Jewish calendar (and even vice versa sometimes).  Now that Yom Hashoa has passed, it is time to turn our thoughts to one of the most remarkable miracles to ever occur in the 20th century: Yom Haatzmaut!  In the wake of the tragedy of the Holocaust and the reality of the retreat of empires around the world after the Second World War, the eastern Mediterranean witnessed its turn for independence movements.  In 1948, after much delay and reluctance, the British Empire agreed to withdraw from Palestine and enact the plan of the United Nations to create a Jewish state for the first time in nearly two millennia.  The leaders of this new state of Israel issued their Declaration of Independence and received support from around the world, including the United States.  At that moment, the newborn state of Israel faced one of its greatest crises as it was attacked from all sides by a combined force from Egypt, Jordan, Syria, and several other countries, all eager to wipe Israel off the map before it even began.  And yet, miraculously, Israel survived all of these attacks and established itself as a brand new nation.  Seventy-five years, though the nation continues to have its problems and crises, it still represents a symbol of resilience for Jewish communities all over the world.  May it continue for many, many years to come.     

In other news, we will be celebrating Yom Haatzmaut and Yom Hazikaron, celebrating the birth of the modern state of Israel.  Also, on Sunday, May 7, at 2:00 p.m. we are in for a very special treat because Cantor Marney will be performing a free concert program entitled “Love Songs and Lullabies from around the World”  The program will be a mix of songs in Yiddish, Ladino, as well as Jewish composers from Broadway and some miscellaneous pieces.  We encourage all members and their families to come enjoy some great music as well as refreshments.  And there will be cake! 

Also, soon it will be time for elections to the Board of Directors, which will take place at the Annual Membership Meeting in June.  Please consider joining the Temple Beth Hillel Board of Directors for the upcoming year.  Our Board is always on the lookout for members who have ideas for the future of the temple and the ability to carry out that vision.  You can reach out to us or any Board member when you are interested.

Finally,  the next Shabbat Service will be held this Friday, May 5, at 7:30 p.m.  There will likely be a special treat as members of the Richmond City Council will attend to deliver a Proclamation for Jewish Heritage Month.  Also, Family Shabbat will be held two weeks later on May 19 at 6:15 p.m, right before the next Shabbat service.  The Adult Ed class with Rabbi Dean has resumed its regular schedule and we will also have Torah Study on Saturday at 10:30 a.m.  And those who wish to join Tefillah services at the Religious School are welcome starting at 9:30 a.m on Sundays (though not this Sunday because of a field trip).  Thanks everyone!

 If I am not for myself, who will be for me?

If I am not for others, what am I?

And if not now, when? -Rabbi Hillel

~ Anna B Stein and David Zimring, Co-Presidents, Temple Beth Hillel

       We hope everyone is enjoying expanded diets again now that another Passover is in the books.  We also wanted to thank everyone who was able to attend the Yom Hashoa service last night.  This time of year weighs heavily on all of us as we contemplate the magnitude of the tragedy to the Jewish communities of the world that the Holocaust unleashed.  We must never forget, painful as it is, because we must never allow it to ever happen again.  And yet Yom Hashoa also brings a sense of hope as well as sorrow.  When the Nazis and their allies embarked on their murderous crusade, they set out to completely destroy Judaism everywhere in the world.  Despite the millions they managed to kill, however, they still failed, because Judaism and Jewish communities all over the world survived and continue to thrive.  Just as remarkable are the stories of those who risked their lives to ensure that outcome.  Individuals such as Oscar Schindler, who though he joined the Nazi Party spent his entire fortune during the war protecting over a thousand Jewish workers in his factory (he remains the only former Nazi to be buried with honors in Israel).  Or Raul Wallenberg, a Swedish diplomat who risked his life to personally save thousands of Hungarian Jews in Budapest at the close of the war (and ended up dying in a Soviet gulag for his efforts).  Or the entire nation of Denmark, which stood up to the Nazis by spriting nearly the entire Jewish community of Denmark to safety in Sweden, saving over 90% of them.  These stories, and many others, remind us that even in the midst of immense tragedy hope can live on with the right amount of motivation and courage.

In other news, several holidays are coming up now that Passover is complete.  In the coming weeks we will be celebrating Yom Haatzmaut and Yom Hazikaron, celebrating the birth of the modern state of Israel.  Also, on Sunday, May 7, at 2:00 p.m. we are in for a very special treat because Cantor Marney will be performing a free concert program entitled “Love Songs and Lullabies from around the World”  The program will be a mix of songs in Yiddish, Ladino, as well as Jewish composers from Broadway and some miscellaneous pieces.  We encourage all members and their families to come enjoy some great music as well as refreshments.  And there will be cake! 

Also, soon it will be time for elections to the Board of Directors, which will take place at the Annual Membership Meeting in June.  Please consider joining the Temple Beth Hillel Board of Directors for the upcoming year.  Our Board is always on the lookout for members who have ideas for the future of the temple and the ability to carry out that vision.  You can reach out to us or any Board member when you are interested.

       Finally,  the next Shabbat Service will be held this Friday, April 21, at 7:30 p.m.  Come worship with our community!  Also, Family Shabbat will be held earlier in the evening at 6:15 p.m, right before the next Shabbat service.  We plan to hold a mini seder for all the kids so spread the word to families in the area to come and enjoy the festivities.  The Adult Ed class with Rabbi Dean has resumed its regular schedule.  We will also have Torah Study on Saturday at 10:30 a.m.  And those who wish to join Tefillah services at the Religious School are welcome starting at 9:30 a.m on Sundays (though not this Sunday because of a field trip).  Thanks everyone!

 If I am not for myself, who will be for me?

If I am not for others, what am I?

And if not now, when? -Rabbi Hillel

~ Anna B Stein and David Zimring, Co-Presidents, Temple Beth Hillel

Chag Pesach Everyone!

And so another Seder has come and gone.  Incredibly, Passover itself is nearly over as well, it seems to be going fast this year.  We wanted to thank everyone who helped put our Temple Seder together along with all of our members who attended.  It was the first time in three years we have gotten to have our traditional Seder so it was extra special.  And after looking at the calendar, we realized something else remarkable about this year.  Not only did we all enjoy our Passover traditions, but during the same week both Easter and Ramadan occurred as well.  It is not often that all three holidays occur at around the same time (the only thing that would have made it even crazier is if Seder and Passover also happened on April Fools Day!)  Yet it actually makes sense because of the links between these holidays.  Part of the story of Easter itself concerns the Seder, which Christian communities believe was the Last Supper.  And Ramadan involves a tradition where families and friends gather every night after a day of fasting (reminiscent of Yom Kippur) and share a wonderful meal together.  We guess this just goes to show that the simple acts (getting communities together, enjoying a good meal, reveling in each other’s company) bind us all together.

And now that Passover is almost complete, it is time to think about the next major events happening at the Temple.  Soon we will be observing Yom Hashoah and Yom Hazikaron (a tale of tragedy and a tale of joy, much like Passover itself).  And on Sunday, May 7, at 2:00 p.m. we are in for a very special treat because Cantor Marney will be planning to do a free concert program entitled “Love Songs and Lullabies from around the World”  The program will be a mix of songs in Yiddish, Ladino, as well as Jewish composers from Broadway and some miscellaneous pieces.  We encourage all members and their families to come enjoy some great music as well as refreshments.  Yes, there will be cake! 

Also, soon it will be time for elections to the Board of Directors.  Please consider joining the Temple Beth Hillel Board of Directors for the upcoming year.  Our Board is always on the lookout for members who have ideas for the future of the temple and the ability to carry out that vision.  You can reach out to us or any Board member when you are interested.

Finally,  the next Shabbat Service will be held next Friday, April 21, at 7:30 p.m.  Come worship with our community!  Also, Family Shabbat will be held earlier in the evening at 6:15 p.m, right before the next Shabbat service.  We plan to hold a mini seder for all the kids so spread the word to families in the area to come and enjoy the festivities.  The Adult Ed class with Rabbi Dean has resumed its regular schedule.  We will also have Torah Study on Saturday at 10:30 a.m.  And those who wish to join Tefillah services at the Religious School are welcome starting at 9:30 a.m on Sundays (though not this Sunday because of a field trip).  Thanks everyone!

 If I am not for myself, who will be for me?

If I am not for others, what am I?

And if not now, when? -Rabbi Hillel

~ Anna B Stein and David Zimring, Co-Presidents, Temple Beth Hillel

Shalom Everyone!

A new month is almost upon us and with it the next great holiday on the Jewish calendar: Purim.  Certainly one of the most festive holidays, Purim is the time when Jews around the world let down their guards to eat, drink, dance, and dress up.  Or as my old college roommate described it to me, in his interpretation, it was the one time of the year when Jews were required to get drunk! And yet, Purim also symbolizes a time when the illogical can appear logical and vice versa.  It requires us to reexamine our perspectives and look at the world from a different angle.  By doing so, we could potentially find a solution to a problem that has eluded us, make a big decision we were stuck on before, or come to a realization about ourselves we had never considered.  This Chag Purim, therefore, we encourage all of you to approach a part of your life from a different perspective and see emerges.  Just like the revelations of Purim, you may be surprised at the result!  

In keeping with the theme of Purim, we are thrilled to announce that this Sunday, March 5, will be the revival of our traditional Purim Carnival.  It will be held from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.  There will be games, a bouncy house for the kids, songs, and a bake sale.  In order for the event to be as exciting as possible, we still need your help!  We are looking for volunteers to help with clean-up, selling baked goods, and especially running the game booths.  The Temple Beth Hillel Board will be volunteering as well.  Below you can find the link to sign up as a volunteer for the task you feel will contribute the most to the success of the event.  Let’s all make this Purim an event to remember!

Sign up now to volunteer for the Purim Carnival!

Looking ahead, this year’s Passover Seder will be held on Saturday, April 8.  Please help spread the word and invite family and friends to our revitalized Seder at the Temple.  

In addition, please consider joining the Temple Beth Hillel Board of Directors next year.  Our Board is always on the lookout for members who have ideas for the future of the temple and the ability to carry out that vision.  You can reach out to us or any Board member when you are interested.

       Finally,  the next Shabbat Service will be held this Friday, March 3, at 7:30 p.m.  Come worship with our community and as a bonus learn some Purim songs from Rabbi Dean and Cantor Marney!  Also, Family Shabbat will be held two weeks later on Friday, March 17, at 6:15 p.m.  There will also be Torah study on Saturday at 10:15 a.m., which will be in-person and on Zoom.  And those who wish to join Tefillah services at the Religious School are welcome starting at 9:30 a.m on Sundays.  Thanks everyone!

 If I am not for myself, who will be for me?

If I am not for others, what am I?

And if not now, when? -Rabbi Hillel

~ Anna B Stein and David Zimring, Co-Presidents, Temple Beth Hillel

Hello Everyone!

We hope y’all enjoyed the longer weekend and your kids are enjoying the entire week off from school this week.  As you may have seen yesterday, the world received a shock when the U.S. government announced that President Biden, despite the dangers of a war zone, traveled to Kiev in the Ukraine to show support for that country.  Such a decision represents the kind of commitment both leaders and ordinary citizens can make when they feel deeply about an issue or a cause.  The whole episode reminds us of the risks and sacrifices made by past Jewish communities all over the world often simply to live their lives.  The Jewish residents shtetls in the Russian empire that endured countless waves of pogroms by the Tsar’s secret police yet continued to practice their religion and pass on their traditions to their children and grandchildren.  The Ladino communities in Spain who were forced to flee the Spanish Inquisition yet rebuilt their lives in North Africa and the Middle East.  Even those who accepted baptism so they could remain in Spain still taught their children rituals like lighting candles in secret to preserve a part of their heritage.  The Jewish soldiers who enlisted in the American, British, and Soviet armies in World War II knowing that if they got captured by the Nazis they would be tortured or sent to concentration camps.  These and countless others over the years symbolize the commitments Jewish communities have made and continue to make even in the face of danger and risk to carry on the traditions of which we all deeply care.  Whenever we may feel alone, we know that there are others who will make the same effort for the same causes.

In other news, a week from Sunday will be the revival of our traditional Purim Carnival.  As a reminder, it will be held on March 5 from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.  There will be games, a bouncy house for the kids, songs, and a bake sale.  In order for the event to be as exciting as possible, we need your help!  We are looking for volunteers to help with set-up, clean-up, bringing baked goods, running the games, etc.  The Temple Beth Hillel Board will be volunteering as well.  Below you can find the link to sign up as a volunteer for the task you feel will contribute the most to the success of the event.  Let’s all make this Purim one to remember!

Sign up now to volunteer for the Purim Carnival!

Looking ahead, this year’s Passover Seder will be held on Saturday, April 8.  Please help spread the word and invite family and friends to our revitalized Seder at the Temple.  

In addition, please consider joining the Temple Beth Hillel Board of Directors next year.  Our Board is always on the lookout for members who have ideas for the future of the temple and the ability to carry out that vision.  You can reach out to us or any Board member when you are interested.

       Finally,  the next Shabbat Service will be held next week on Friday, March 3, at 7:30 p.m.  Family Shabbat will be held two weeks later on Friday, March 17, at 6:15 p.m.  There will also be Torah study on Saturday at 10:15 a.m., which will be in-person and on Zoom.  And those who wish to join Tefillah services at the Religious School are welcome starting at 9:30 a.m on Sundays.  Thanks everyone!

 If I am not for myself, who will be for me?

If I am not for others, what am I?

And if not now, when? -Rabbi Hillel

~ Anna B Stein and David Zimring, Co-Presidents, Temple Beth Hillel