NHBZ – Yom Kippur Appeal Letter – 2023/5784

I would like to extend my family’s greetings to you and your family for a Happy and Sweet New Year!

This past year has seen a lot of positive growth and energy here at Nusach Hari Bnai Zion. We welcomed Rabbi Bogopulsky and his wonderful family to our congregation, and they now begin their second year with us. We saw Rabbi Ze’ev Smason transition from Senior Rabbi to Rabbi Emeritus. Our Shul Administrator Nancy Stenn, and our Bookkeeper, Hindy Anton, helped keep our synagogue on track on a daily basis as usual; while our Board of Directors and Executive Committee spent countless hours making impactful decisions with the best interest of the synagogue at heart.

We hosted multiple simchas, Bar Mitzvahs, weddings and baby namings. We celebrated several milestone birthdays and anniversaries in honor of our esteemed members. We continued to host our popular community events such as Pizza Night and Synaplex, as well as monthly Sisterhood Book Club discussions; and we prepared our annual Thanksgiving meal for the Olivette Police andFirefighters. We initiated some fantastic new programming and events including: Father/Son TeenMinyan, Scotch, Cigars & Torah learning program, Father’s Day Pancake breakfast, Mother/Daughter learning program, Sisterhood Membership Tea, and our recent YP Ignite Dinner for young adults.We also offer an amazing assortment of new and continuing classes and learning opportunities on adaily basis – including Shabbos – led by Rabbi Bogopulsky, Rabbi Smason, Rabbi David,Rabbi Feigenbaum, Rabbi Berkowitz, Rabbi Miller, and numerous other community Rabbis.

We continued to attend to the daily physical operations of our building, and we made sure that wekept our services running safely and responsibly, while adhering to the halachic standards expected of an orthodox synagogue.

All of the above would not – could not – be possible without your generous donations to, and financial support of our synagogue. During Rosh Hashanah and the Ten Days of Awe, it is our belief that Repentance, Prayer, and Charity are transformative. This is your opportunity to fulfill the mitzvah of Tzedakah: During these Ten Days of Awe, I am reaching out and asking you to commit to our mission to provide a warm and welcoming Shul open to all Jews at every level of observance. Commit to building up our programming for children. Commit to our future by reaching out to young adults and young families. Commit to strong Israel programming. Commit to outstanding educational and social programs. Commit to NHBZ with your financial investment in our future. Nusach Hari B’nai Zion has existed for over 100 years, and with your continued support, we will exist for another 100 years.

Contributions may be made by mailing a check, calling the office with your credit card, or by going to https://www.nhbz.org/2023-5784-yom-kippur-appeal/. Please also consider dedications to have friends and relatives recognized.

May you have a Happy, Healthy, and Prosperous year, and may we all be inscribed in the Book of Life.

Thank you for your continued support.

Kenneth Bressler, Shul President