Laurie & Joe Brofsky - Hewlett E. Rockaway Jewish Center
Laurie & Joe Brofsky - Hewlett E. Rockaway Jewish Center
Laurie & Joe Brofsky - Hewlett E. Rockaway Jewish Center
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DAN GERSTMAN<br />
From the President<br />
In one of my favorite books called As a Man Thinketh, author James<br />
Allen says, “A woman’s/man’s mind may be likened to a garden,<br />
which may be intelligently cultivated or allowed to run wild; but<br />
whether cultivated or neglected, it must, and will, bring forth.” With<br />
this in mind, here at HERJC, we have our own garden called the<br />
Mitzvah Garden and it will bring forth! But before it does, there is a<br />
lot of cultivation needed and I am most confident that our growing<br />
list of volunteers will insure an abundant crop (especially if the<br />
weather cooperates). As we till our own East <strong>Rockaway</strong> soil, we do<br />
it to create a community project where children and adults can learn the lesson of creation,<br />
get involved personally and share in the joy of growing and ultimately giving.<br />
The vegetables (spinach, carrots, potatoes, tomatoes, beans, etc.) will be donated as<br />
tzedakah to local food banks along with the packaged foods we all give so willingly to<br />
those in need.<br />
As I wrap up my second of three years as HERJC President, I have learned many valuable<br />
lessons. One important one is that while growth of membership numbers is a nice<br />
statistic, what really matters is the growth of our community members which gets<br />
measured in so many other ways. Recently, I attended a Tot Shabbat where we had over<br />
80 people, which included three generations, enjoying each other’s love at our Friday<br />
night service and dinner. Another example was earlier this year when we eclipsed our<br />
Patrons Society goal for the second straight year. It was so meaningful to know that a<br />
growing number of HERJC families are furthering their connection to our synagogue.<br />
When I take a look at our new programs like PJ Library and next year’s Post Bar/Bat<br />
Mitzvah class, I realize the positive effect of our dedicated professionals in combination<br />
with our member volunteers.<br />
And there is a growing sense of anticipation as we head into our Israel Day celebration,<br />
Monday evening May 9th, when, along with UJA, we will honor Philip Engel and<br />
of course our Annual Dinner Dance where we will honor a most deserving couple, Dr.<br />
<strong>Joe</strong> and <strong>Laurie</strong> <strong>Brofsky</strong>. There is so much to look forward to, so just as we will tend to<br />
the Mitzvah Garden, I know together we will tend to the ever growing list of events and<br />
community work that shapes our character and destiny. My prayer is that together we<br />
continue to bloom, allowing HERJC to be the place where we make every person and<br />
every day count!<br />
Congregational Meeting<br />
MONDAY, MAY 23, 8:00 PM, TEMPLE BOARDROOM <br />
Agenda: Election of Board of Director Members<br />
and Approval of 2010–11 Budget<br />
HERJC MISSION<br />
STATEMENT<br />
<strong>Hewlett</strong>-East <strong>Rockaway</strong><br />
<strong>Jewish</strong> Centre–Congregation<br />
Etz Chaim (HERJC) is a<br />
warm, vibrant, traditionalegalitarian<br />
Conservative congregation.<br />
Our diverse, forward-thinking<br />
community is<br />
one in which learning, prayer<br />
and social action flourish.<br />
Since its founding in<br />
1949, HERJC has been<br />
recognized for creating a<br />
welcoming environment in<br />
which each member—regardless<br />
of age, stage of life or<br />
background—feels a connection<br />
to one another, to<br />
the <strong>Jewish</strong> people, to the<br />
United States, to the land<br />
and State of Israel, to<br />
Judaism and to God.<br />
We are committed to continuing<br />
to provide innovative,<br />
interesting, and thought-provoking<br />
programs that:<br />
Foster lifelong learning<br />
from pre-school through<br />
adulthood<br />
Celebrate our <strong>Jewish</strong><br />
heritage<br />
Deepen the sense of<br />
community among our<br />
Congregational family<br />
Promote religious involvement<br />
of all members,<br />
and enhance their<br />
spiritual experience<br />
Encourage intergenerational<br />
cooperation<br />
Nurture the State of<br />
Israel and our<br />
relationship with it<br />
Serve the needs of<br />
our members, the local<br />
community, the United<br />
States, and K’lal Yisrael,<br />
the <strong>Jewish</strong> people<br />
throughout the world.<br />
Pirkei Avot says the world<br />
rests on Torah, Avodah, and<br />
G’milut Chasadim. So too<br />
does our Congregation.<br />
HAKOL www.herjc.org MAY/JUNE 2011 page 5