I know that these are very trying times for us all. The ongoing financial crisis brings new physical, emotional, and spiritual challenges as every new day passes. We fear for our own families, the members of our congregations, the future strength of our own Jewish communities and the health of all those who are a part of our daily lives. Many of us are just beginning to make cutbacks that may be necessary while for others the physical and emotional toll grows as greater numbers of our community come to us for guidance and support. Although none of us can predict where all this will end, I wanted to refer you to some recent materials posted on a special page at the URJ web site. The site provides ideas for programming in a crisis as well as many different tools that other congregations are using to help weather this storm. The Union for Reform Judaism has collected all of the different materials into one easily accessible web site. Please visit the JFC economic concerns website and/or the URJ Responding to Difficult Financial Times page for this information. In addition, some of you requested copies of my sermon that I delivered at the recent regional biennial that reflected on these challenging times. That sermon will be posted on our SWC council web site within the next week or two.

Finally a word about the URJ. Many of you may have already heard about the very large deficits projected by both the URJ and HUC – JIR for at least the next two years. Please know that unlike much of what we are now reading about in the paper our crisis was not caused by any poor decision making or malfeasance on the part of anyone in our community. We are just another victim of a financial situation that is affecting MUM dues, endowment funds and general donations. However, please know that while painful for all of us, the URJ is viewing this crisis as an opportunity. In the next several months there will be the beginning of a re-imagining of the structure of the URJ across the board. All of the information gathered over the last few years from studies and task forces will be incorporated along with incoming information from our current pilot projects. We have every confidence that the URJ will come out of this period as a more efficient, leaner machine but built with the tools to still serve you our members in the best possible way. Please know that everyone, including our own staff and regional leadership, are a part of this conversation. More will become clearer in the next few months as plans for this reorganization develop.

In the meantime, may the light of Chanukah and the strength of your community warm you in this challenging time,

 
Rabbi Brian Zimmerman
Regional Director