President’s Message

September is here, which means that our New Year month of Tishrei is around the corner. On September 23 we welcome the first of Tishrei, which also happens to be the first day of Rosh  Hashanah. In the run-up to our New Year, we have been working diligently to bring our RST Growth Plan to life and to successfully fund our budget with our first “Giving From the Heart”  program.

I encourage you to scan our calendar on the web site to see the surge of activities, including many new activities that are available to you, and hopefully you will invite friends and family to join you.  For the first time in a while, we have had net positive growth of our congregation. We started the summer with 186 household units, and even though we unfortunately experienced the passing of four members, and the resignation of two others, we have gained 8 household units.

Start of summer: 186 household units
4 deaths + 2 resignations = 180 household units
7 new household units = net gain of 2 household units
End of August: 188 household units

We have reached the half way point for our “Giving From the Heart” program to fund our budget. It costs us about $2,100 per family to sustain our congregation. You can make you pledge on our  website or you can contact Radie at the RST office with your pledge. Many people are pledging more than $2,100, which is helping us close the gap.

Pledges received $183,200 / Budget goal $388,600 = 47% to goal
Number of pledges 85 / Household units 188 = 45% of congregation has pledged

We have a budget buffer this year due to the amazing organizational and fundraising skills of Robin and Kenney Murov and the all of the wonderful volunteers who helped make our annual “Rodef  Sholom Temple Golf Classic in Memory of Martin Damsky and Adam Deyong” such a resounding success.

Wishing you and yours a healthy and peaceful New Year,
Guy