Rabbi had a sermon back in May called “Do Not Separate Yourself From the Community”. It got me thinking of different Jewish Communities people are part of like their mahjongg group, reading group, Torah study . . . well, you get the picture.

My community is vast and growing. Last year it extended when 10 of us from Temple Sinai traveled to Israel and we are all still in touch with those we met on the trip and those living in Israel. My community also extends to my professional groups, including the National Association of Temple Administrators (NATA). I head to Denver in a couple of weeks to be part of a NATA Professional Development Task Force. Eleven of us were chosen to work with a consulting group for three days. We will serve as “subject matter experts” to complete a Job Task Analysis. This is conducted to identify the knowledge, skills, and abilities a person in a particular job ought to have. Establishing the baseline requirements for a synagogue executive director or administrator. This will help determine the need for professional development for NATA to offer or look to collaborate with others. Fun, right? And they pay for the whole thing. This group of eleven people, while I already know some of them, adds to my community and builds new relationships and resources. 

The NATA President, Amy Schwack from Temple Shaaray Tefila in NYC, called me last week seemingly out of the blue. She said NATA was having an officers meeting and wanted to know if I would Co-Chair the 2025 NATA Conference in Tuscan, Arizona. I was blown away if I am being honest. What an opportunity! I, of course, agreed as this is something you just can’t say no to. I was on cloud nine for a few hours until the panic set in about how much work this might be and I have no idea what I just agreed to do. My co-chair, Chip Schrager from Congregation B’nai Yisrael in Armonk, NY, sent me a text and talked about being excited to start working on things. He told me I shouldn’t be surprised they picked me because I am involved, on a leadership track, and always have great input. Both Amy and Chip are in my community as well as all the people working on the conference and all the members of NATA. Stepping up for this endeavor is going to add to my community and strengthen the connections I have already made.

I encourage you to think about how you can stretch your tent to make it bigger and more inclusive.