DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE

If you have looked at the Temple’s calendar, you have probably noticed that it has been jampacked these last few months. It started with our wonderful celebration highlighting Wendy Beckerman’s many years of service to the Temple and broader Jewish community and her coming retirement at the end of November. Even though Wendy is retiring I know she will always be a part of our community and be a part of our family. She has always felt like family for all our staff, and I can’t tell you how lucky we have been to work with her and receive her sage advice as we started our families. She has literally witnessed William, Walter, Nolan, Fiona, Hallejah, Ezra, and Azaiah go from babies to children that are almost as tall as their parents now. She has done that for us and so many of our Temple families.

After that celebration the High Holidays began. It was wonderful being back in the sanctuary for the High Holidays. There really isn’t anything quite like hearing the choir’s voices fill our sanctuary, and it was nice that the air conditioner was working and there were no leaks as we had just replaced a few roofs. Once the High Holidays concluded with Simchat Torah we moved on to another busy month.

In November it’s hard to believe that we will have five young people experiencing their B’nai Mitzvah. I don’t know if that’s a record, but it’s more in one month than I can remember having here.

When I think back on these past few months, I realize that this is what the Temple is all about. Walking with each other as we journey through life, and it has been amazing to witness that journey. We have experienced our most sacred days, we have had funerals, we have had baby namings, we have had B’nai Mitzvahs, and we celebrated a wonderful career.

My children were here at the Temple with me for Sukkot, and they asked me a question I get a lot, “So, what exactly do you do?” That night I felt like I came up with the best answer I could.  I told them “My main job at the Temple is the same job I have at home, to make sure people here feel safe and secure, just like you do at home. When you are at home you don’t worry if the air conditioner working, is the roof in good condition, do we have enough food to eat, or if is our home clean. That’s what your dad does at home, and that is what your dad does at the Temple.

I really hope that as you have experienced all these amazing services we have had at the Temple, it felt like a home. A home where you felt safe, that you felt secure, that you felt was in good condition, and that most importantly, you had enough to eat.

I want to end by thanking Charles, Erin, Andy, Rabbi Neal, Sam, Tara, Ira, Chuck, Francine, Gabe, Edye, Porshia, Sgt. Bryan, and everyone (and there is no way I can name everyone) who work so hard to make the Temple feel like a home for the Jewish Community of Des Moines, and no one did that more than Wendy Beckerman. Wendy, I will never be able to say thank you enough for making me feel like a part of this family and making the Temple feel like home.   

David Muenchrath

Executive Director