It has been a wonderful summer of B-Mitzvah celebrations! Mazel tov to Leta Young, Lila Busby, Rose King, and Ilana Binder. Each of them did a fantastic job, and it was a joy to celebrate their accomplishments with them and their families. Seeing our young people grow into thoughtful, engaged members of the community gives us great hope for both their futures and the future of Humanistic Judaism. I will miss seeing their smiling faces at JCSS and hope we will continue to see them at Or Emet for many years to come. Onward and upward!
A Strong Community of Volunteers
At our annual meeting in June, the membership re-elected three members of the Executive Committee: Judy Tiferes, At-Large; Sarah Berman Young, Vice President; and Jeff Pipes, President. We are grateful for their willingness to serve and look forward to the next two years together.
We also welcomed volunteers to our various committees. Thank you to everyone who stepped forward to help! Our congregation depends on members who are willing to share their time, energy, ideas, and talents. We still have a few opportunities for those who would like to get more involved, so please let us know if you are interested.
Looking at Our Finances
At the annual meeting, Or Emet’s Treasurer, Sergei, presented our current and projected budget and financial picture:
In fiscal year 2025-2026 (ending on August 31, 2026), Or Emet ran a deficit of approximately $12,000. Next fiscal year (September 2026 through August 2027), we anticipate another deficit by a similar amount.
Or Emet has strong financial reserves to cover deficits for multiple upcoming years. However, the problem of deficit spending needs to be solved long term and it can only be done through increased membership, donations, or higher membership dues (which we have decided not to raise this year). We do not want to cut any programs or services that Or Emet offers currently. Many of these programs/services use volunteer labor, but they still carry significant costs.
That is something we need to address over the longer term, but there are good reasons for some of our recent expenses. Over the past two years, we have had several unusual costs that we anticipated and planned to cover in part from our savings. The Executive Committee has chosen to keep membership dues unchanged for the coming fiscal year, while encouraging those who are able to consider making an additional contribution to support our operating budget.
Long-term financial stability, however, will require us to continue growing our membership and strengthening our sources of support. One of the best things each of us can do is help introduce others to Or Emet. Invite a friend or relative to one of our programs, bring someone along to a community event, or encourage a family with children to learn more about our school. The High Holidays are an especially wonderful opportunity to invite someone to experience our community and learn what Humanistic Judaism is all about.
DONATE TO SUPPORT OR EMETWhere Do We Want to Go?
Perhaps our most important project for the coming year will be a strategic planning process for Or Emet. We want this to be a conversation involving the entire congregation—not simply a project undertaken by the board.
We have an exciting opportunity to decide what our community should become. What do you want from Or Emet? What kinds of programs, services, celebrations, educational opportunities, and community activities would you like to see? What should our congregation look like five, ten, or even twenty-five years from now?
We have already held our first planning meeting, and after the High Holidays we will begin a series of conversations and activities designed to help us answer these questions. We may also conduct a congregation-wide survey or poll to gather ideas from as many members as possible.
Your voice matters. Whether you have been an active member for decades or are relatively new to Or Emet, we want to hear from you. Please watch your email for information about upcoming planning sessions and opportunities to participate.
Looking Ahead
As we begin another year together, there is a lot to look forward to: the High Holidays, educational programs, community gatherings, and the opportunity to shape the future of Or Emet together.
I look forward to seeing all of you during the High Holidays and throughout the coming year. I feel fortunate to know so many of you and appreciate the many ways our members contribute to making Or Emet the community it is.
Please feel free to call me, email me at , or pull me aside at an event if you have a concern, an idea, or something you’d like to see us try. Or Emet is your congregation, and we are here for you.
Back to all articles