The future of Reform Jewish Life

Recently there was an email circulating about the "cost of being Jewish."

The article referred to the cost of a synagogue membership, religious and Hebrew school, special events, etc. A comparison was made to how churches operate without dues or fee schedules and seem to do fine.

Certainly, in the Oklahoma City area alone, one can see fabulous, even opulent church structures that must cost a fortune just to operate. Knowing what it takes to run our Temple, I often wonder how they raise that kind of money and continue to raise it. But it also occurs to me that we can't compare our mission to theirs.

As the only Reform synagogue in this part of the State our mission is to not only provide a place for learning, worship and celebration, but to sustain Reform Judaism itself. As the smaller Jewish communities throughout the State diminish and disappear, our center for Reform Jewish life becomes even more important.

I look through the Temple Directory and see the names of people I do not know and the names of people I have not seen for a long time. But their names are there. Their names are there because they support the Temple. The contribution of every single Temple member is important, regardless of the form because it not only insures the Temple's future but the future of Reform Jewish life in this part of the State.

Jim Moore
President

Dan Lee joins TBI as Music Director

Our Temple Board, at the recommendation of our Music and Choir Committee, has voted to hire Dan Lee as Music Director beginning in January through June 2010. In that capacity, Dan is responsible for leading the congregation in song and prayer during all Friday night services, bringing music back to our students during ICSS and Confirmation Academy, and working with Chai Notes, our own in house musical group. In addition, our professional choir will perform at Friday night services once a month along with Dan.

As the son of Chris and Ann Dee, we've watched Dan grow up at our Temple and beyond. Dan has led us in song and worship from the Bimah at bar mitzvahs and many other celebrations. In addition to serving as president of our youth group, Dan has served as Head Song Leader for several years at Greene Family Camp and regularly attended Hava Nashira, the Reform Movement's premier workshop where musicians from all over the world come together to bond, network, teach and share their music. He has led and performed at URJ conferences and events across the country with some of the leading Jewish musicians of our time.

Dan earned his undergraduate degree at the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston and joined us in early January. He is thrilled to have the opportunity to share his musical experiences with the congregation where he grew up. I hope you will join me in giving Dan a warm welcome home.

I want to thank the Music and Choir Committee for their hard work to bring our Temple family this new opportunity to come together through music, prayer and song.

Jim Moore, President