| An open letter from the Rabbi to the Community |
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| Wednesday, 24 June 2009 16:40 |
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This is an open letter to the members of Wellington Hebrew Congregation, the leaders of the Community and especially to the Jews who are living in Wellington, but who are not members to our Shul. Dear readers shalom to you all. On Shabbat, after the Torah reading the Chazan blesses the entire congregation, those who study the Torah and those who provide the means and services for the general good. We always know to think highly of all who study Torah. Nevertheless we also know how great is the reward to those who provide means in order to enable the others to do this. We mention all those who dedicate and provide synagogues for prayer together with those who enter and use them to pray. Both are important and each one needs the other. It is not a secret, that together with many other organisations, the Wellington Hebrew Congregation is facing financial difficulties (when was this not the case?) The responsible leaders of the Community try very hard to find ways and means to save expenses on the one hand and find income on the other, in order to continue to provide all the valuable services that most of our members (and non members) enjoy. Today I am talking to those people who benefit from having a Jewish Centre, Jewish School, Kindy, social activities, Shaliach, Rabbi, Care of the Aged, Chevra Kadisha etc and think that they don’t need to contribute financially to this Community. In the Ethics of the Fathers (Chapter 3/1) there is acknowledgment of the importance of the material things of life together with the Torah as it is said “If there is no flour (sustenance) there is no Torah”. Without the Torah there is no respect or wisdom, no reverence, no knowledge and no understanding. In speaking with people from the Community, there are a few who think that historically they don’t need to contribute and have come up with ideas for saving money by not having a Shaliach for instance or maybe even closing the Kosher Co-op and the Centre. This is a very easy way to save by not spending anything. Every financial adviser will tell you that the way to overcome the recession is by adding investments and not by decreasing them. We are not allowed to give in to a difficult situation and I think and feel that at this time we are at a serious turning point in our Community. We have to combine our efforts now - members and non-members, NZ born, new immigrants, overseas readers (ex Wellingtonians) and Israelis need to contribute financially and participate in communal events, in order to ensure the future of the Community. In Egypt it was said that the more the Jews were inflicted the more they flourished. I feel it is about time that people with good and sincere ideas come forward and be part of the solution that will benefit the whole Community. I think overall that there is money in the Community to survive but the wisdom is in how to share it. This is in your hands. All the best Rabbi Chaim Dovrat |
