Dear CBINT Family,
I am honored to be writing to you in my second year as president of our kehillah. CBINT is open for Shabbat services, minyan twice daily, delicious Kiddush lunches, and exciting programs and events including Shabbat Under the Stars and our annual picnic. Rabbi Alter is beginning his fifth year as our warm and learned spiritual leader, and we are thrilled that we renewed Hazzan Stein’s contract and hired Beata Abraham as our Executive Director and Director of Congregational Learning. Our goal is to continue the positive momentum so our congregation can thrive, while regularly monitoring COVID trends so we can adjust our policies as needed.
The High Holidays are just around the corner, so it’s time to make your annual membership pledge. Our Tzedakah pledge renewal form is below. At the annual meeting in June, we passed a deficit budget for 2022-23, which means we will need to borrow from our line of credit to cover our basic operating expenses. This situation is not sustainable in the long term, so I am asking directly for your help.
Over 60% of our budget goes toward paying the salaries of our wonderful clergy and staff. The remainder goes to operate and maintain our temple buildings and parsonages, continue needed security, and offer the meals, events, programs, and services you rely on and expect from our community. Member pledge payments are the main source of funding that helps us cover these core expenses.
Each one of us values our membership in this community, so let’s all please step up as we are able. I am asking each member household to consider increasing their membership pledge in one of the following ways:
We are also maintaining the $180 security charge for each member household, as continued anti-Semitism and the threat of violence against synagogues necessitate ongoing security. I want to emphasize, finances should not be a barrier to membership or participation, so whatever your financial circumstances and the level of pledge you are able to make, you will be welcomed and embraced here. I am grateful for your membership and for your continued support of our beloved synagogue community.
B’Shalom,
Amy Blumenthal, President
P.S. If you are experiencing financial hardship that will impact your membership pledge, please contact Executive Director Beata Abraham; your conversations are confidential.
CBINT Annual Tzedakah (Membership) Pledge FAQs