From the Desk of VBS President, Scott Howard

From the Desk of VBS President, Scott Howard

I am honored to begin my term as President of Valley Beth Shalom synagogue this week. I follow in the strong footsteps of Irv Weintraub, Norm Levine and Nancy Sher Cohen, among the so many others before them.

We joined Valley Beth Shalom when I was 13 years old in 1973. Back then, Israel was fighting a war of attrition that culminated in the Yom Kippur War. Boycotts against Israel were a way of life including companies such as Pepsi Cola and Toyota. Jews living in the USSR were not allowed to practice their Judaism, nor emigrate out of the country that betrayed them. Rabbi Schulweis, of blessed memory, led local protests in support of freedom of Soviet Jewry, removed Pepsi products from the vending machines at Valley Beth Shalom, and guided us through the uncertain times, and lack of news, stemming from the Middle East.

Today, Israel is fighting a war for its survival against enemies on each of its borders. Boycotts of Israel are now the norm at many universities and Jews are unable to wear kippot in France for fear of violence against them. And at Valley Beth Shalom, under Rabbi Feinstein’s leadership, we continue to be politically active. Not only do we annually send over 150 congregants to the AIPAC policy conference, we speak out against the BDS movement, we are also involved in sending our children to Jewish schools, Jewish camps, to March of the Living and to Israel every summer.

Over 40 years have gone by, but Valley Beth Shalom is at the forefront of the issues directly affecting Jews and Israel, but also so many other issues. We have taken the lead in fighting homelessness in our community, feeding the hungry and helping those in need.

There is so much to be proud of from our Shul. We have wonderful education programs for our children from our early childhood center to our nursery school to our Day School, Hebrew School, USY and confirmation programs. We have programs for young couples, families, empty nesters and those over 55, with our Hazak programs. Daily minyans led by the quiet Yossi Dressner, multiple Shabbat services, Torah study programs are all part of every week at Valley Beth Shalom.

Because of the vision and wisdom of so many and led by Jeff Levine and Nancy Sher Cohen, we now have an amazing building campaign in progress that has already raised more than $18,000,000 in less than a year. It is a campaign that will transform our campus for one that will be more conducive to help us continue to be a leader in meaningful Jewish life.

There is so much I can add to what we do, and it is all a community effort. Whatever areas you are involved with, we are one community. We will always be there for each other. I promise whatever time you put into Valley Beth Shalom, you will get back multiple times in being able to lead a Jewish life.

If you have questions, please let me know. You can email me or leave a note for me in my box at the office.

I pray 40 years from now, Israel will be at peace, Jews will be safe around the world, and Valley Beth Shalom will continue to grow and prosper to do our part in making our world a better place.

Shabbat Shalom