Dear Mr. Rubin:

We have been members of TBZ for a long time – Teddy (Theodora) since her birth and David since marriage 62 years ago. Teddy's grandfather, Wolf Bergman, was a founder of the Temple. Throughout these years we have seen many changes – both in the general world around us and also in the lives of the congregants of TBZ.

But we have not seen that TBZ has adapted to many of these changes. The Temple in not in step with the changes in life-style or needs among the younger and middle-age generations. By its actions, or lack of such, it is turning away potential members or driving away those already members who do not see any benefit in belonging nor do they see any signs they are welcome. The Temple remains static in its approach. Platitudes and lip service is not enough today.

There is not enough community involvement in TBZ. I do not even think there is a Community or Social Action Committee in TBZ. It is not enough to work with one other temple. TBZ has to be involved in the whole community of Buffalo – with all its diversity – and not just on a holiday or one-time basis. We have to acknowledge that because our lives are changing, TBZ must change its approach, not just to keep things as they are and not lose members – we need creative and innovative thinking to keep our Temple strong and encourage the new generation to become part of TBZ.

Sincerely,

We have received your thoughtful and informative letter of December 24th and we strongly support the efforts to coordinate with Temple Beth Am.  In view of the realities of a shrinking Jewish community it is entirely sensible to merge as many functions as possible. The proposal of a possible joint religious school and shared worship opportunities are certainly positive steps toward that goal.

At one time we were members of both congregations.  Roberta served two terms as a member of the Board of Trustees of Temple Beth Zion and we each have a long history of family memberships at Temple Beth Zion.  We join with you in seeking to  "sustain the legacy, the tradition and the mission of Temple Beth Zion."

Sincerely,

c/o President Larry Rubin

Dear Trustees:

As a new Member, I cannot express enough how happy I am to call TBZ, my Temple community:  I have been welcomed, especially by your leadership and Rabbi Rosenfeld, and made wonderful new friends.  Along the way, it has been my hope that I might be able to "give back".  It is in this spirit, that I write this letter to you.

I understand from President Rubin's Chanukah letter that conversations are underway with Temple Beth Am in response     to declining membership and increasing financial pressures that a weakened economy places upon us.  This is a wise and timely dialogue and one that I am pleased that my Temple Board is being so proactive about.

I have significant experience locally, provincially and nationally in discussions like this and can attest that "The Start" is the most critical part.  My hope is that initial conversations eventually yield a feasibility review. This, I believe, should include an examination of growth; services; finances (operating, capital); and, finally, staffing, to meet our anticipated educational, religious and operational needs.  To be acknowledged also are the cultural distinctions that exist among Temples, since no two communities are alike.

Recently, I completed a similar review of provincial agencies for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada.  This effort revealed two commonly repeated themes:  The first is that feasibility exercises serve everyone's interests when they are balanced and judiciously executed.  The second is that there are inherent dangers to initial assumptions.  By way of an example, the "cost savings" assumption that often motivates a review usually does not bear itself out:  The assumption proves to be disproportionately higher than the actual savings. This does not imply that financial benefits will not be revealed through your due diligence but rather, and more importantly, that assumptions must be tested.  

I have worked with organizations who initially omitted a review and by consequence it compromised their sense of cohesiveness:  thereafter, and sadly, this takes much effort to restore.  In short, a review will identify the current state of things which will then lead the Board to where opportunities for collaboration might exist.  The solutions, the phasing in of tactics, and, the creative sharing of new approaches, will follow. 

You are leading a process that will shape how our WNY Reform community will evolve and nurture our Jewish lives.  I ask that if a committee is struck or if there is need for someone with my experience, that I be considered as a volunteer for this important work.  If the Board has already endorsed this feasibility approach, please know that I heartily support its efforts.  I hope my thoughts are accepted in the supportive tenor in which I have intended them: TBZ, to say the least, is a very important part of my life. 

Shalom.                          

Dear Larry,

An excellent idea to address our reality – hope this time discussions result in change. Can we afford 3 buildings? Will we accept short-term solutions?

I wonder if we could begin to know each other better by receiving each other's "Bulletins"?

I hope the goals of "reducing costs" and "maintaining traditions, culture, identity" will be joined by "achieving right stewardship".

 First of all, as the discussions begin, nothing can be off the table.  While things may be taken off the table at later stages of discussion, there should be nothing that cannot be discussed and considered at the beginning of the process.

 I note from David's letter that discussions have been held with Beth Zion.  I approve of discussing things with our "brother/sister" Jewish organization.  Having said that, I do not understand why Temple Sinai has been left out of the discussion.  They are surely having the same problems as exist for Beth Am and Beth Zion.  Unless they have expressed a desire not to participate in the discussions, Temple Sinai should be asked to participate.

 In addition, whether it was intended or not, David's letter implies a future merger between Beth Am and Beth Zion.  If there are not enough money and Jews "to go around" for each Temple separately, the logic of the letter is towards an eventual merger.  But, I would think that merger would be a last resort if all else fails.

 The following are some ideas that are worth considering: --A Western New York Jewish office supplies purchasing co-op.  It has to be more expensive than necessary for each organization to buy pens, copy paper, copy toner, printer ink, etc. on their own than it would be for all area Jewish organizations to have one central purchasing co-op to buy things in bulk.  And, when I say all area Jewish organizations, I mean ALL--reform, orthodox, conservative, the JCC, the Bureau of Jewish Education, and any other organization with the word "Jewish" in it.

--The same would apply to books and articles of religious significance--siddurs, kippas (don't know the plural of kippa), talit, etc.

--The same would apply to employee health insurance.  (I'm not sure if this could be done for worker's comp and unemployment insurance.) For each Temple and Jewish organization to purchase health insurance on its own has to be very expensive.  The only way to cut this expense is to buy "in bulk" in a health insurance purchasing co-op.

--As someone who attended Temple Sinai before joining Temple Beth Am, I noticed how old and out of date were the heating, cooling and l lighting systems.  The same applies to Beth Am and the North Forest building of Beth Zion.  (I've never been in the Beth Zion Delaware Ave building.  I assume that their heating. cooling, lighting systems are similarly aged.)  With this in mind, I would suggest joining forces to have a contractor assess how the buildings can be updated to save on energy costs and, of course, at what price and long term savings.

 Having made these suggestions, I recognize that even if they are completely successful, they can only go so far to help alleviate the chronic financial problems felt by all Jewish organizations.  The only long term solution is to get new members through the door on a sustaining basis.  Here are some ideas worth considering:

--As a new member, I have only a passing knowledge of Beth Am's history.  I have heard that about 5-7 years ago, there was a big upheaval which resulted in a mass exit of a large portion of Beth Am's members.  I am not interested in stirring up old waters.  But, in an era of declining enrollment and finances, we do not have a single "Jew to waste".  Who, and where, are the members who left? How many of them are there?  Are any of them unaffiliated with another Temple?  What would it take to bring some of them "back home"?  Suppose that even 50 members returned "home"?  At $1000 each, that adds up to $50,000.  I don't know about you, but I'll take $50,000!  I'll even take $30,000!

--In addition, just because there are less Jews "out there" than there used to be doesn't mean there are no Jews "out there".  I have no desire to "steal" Jews from other synagogues, but it seems to me that there have to be Jews who are not affiliated with other Temples.  Suppose we challenged our existing members to bring new Members to Beth Am.  As an incentive, we should offer existing members a financial incentive because nothing succeeds like capitalism.  For every new member brought in by an existing member, the existing member will receive $100 (or some other appropriate amount) off their dues.  The money lost in rebates would be far outweighed by the new income.

 As another suggestion, we need to do some thinking about how to attract unaffiliated Jews into Beth Am.  I wonder if there are Jews "out there" for whom full time membership is not something they are willing to contemplate.  If so, we should explore the idea of "part-time" or "partial" membership.  In order to avoid reducing income from existing members, we could offer "partial" membership (but find a better name for it) only to people who have not been members within the last 2-3 years.  "Partial" members would have less privileges than "full" members but would enable them to be affiliated with Beth Am at a lower cost.  Suppose we get 50 "partial" members at $500 each, that adds up to $25,000.  I'll take $25,000!  I'll even take $15,000!  And, maybe over time, some of these people will convert to full time members.

 And, lastly, maybe we need to think about why unaffiliated Jews are unaffiliated.  Perhaps it's time to think about what would attract these people "into the fold".  Do they have spiritual needs which are not answered by the way Beth Am currently does its worship?  If so, what can we do to answer their needs?  Are there unaffiliated Jews who do not necessarily want to worship but are interested in Jewish education?  If so, what can we do to answer their needs?  Are there unaffiliated Jews who want neither worship nor education but might like to socialize with other Jews?  If so, what can we do for them?

 I hope these ideas help.

Bob Kanner