STATE OF SYNAGOGUE ADDRESS - 2008
Chazak, Chazak, V’Nitchazek.  Be strong, be strong, and we will be strengthened.  In our tradition, these words are proudly and publicly declared whenever a committed assembly concludes a sacred cycle.  The custom is to then immediately begin the task again, to renew the efforts to better ourselves and the world by studying and living the principles of our faith as revealed in the Torah.  This is the moment we find ourselves at Etz Chaim.  As we “close the books” on our congregational year, we do so with our hearts and eyes fixed and focused on the future as well. 
We’ll start at the beginning of the liturgical calendar with the Jewish New Year, followed by the balance of the High Holidays.  This will be our third Rosh Hoshanah and Yom Kippur together, and happily each experience has exceeded the previous one.  Last season member participation hit a high mark in many gratifying ways.  From Torah reading, to Haftarah chanting to extraordinary Shofar blowing, our congregants’ involvement was integral to the authentic atmosphere of Jewish communal worship that we have fashioned.  The hard and rewarding work resulted not only in spirited services but a fun filled and memorable Tashlich, another meaningful Yizkor Book, and an absolutely successful community Break the Fast gathering and meal.  With everyone’s help, we will continue to create a prayer environment that is accessible, comfortable, spiritual, and familiar yet new in an experiential and educational way.  Everyone who spends time in our sanctuary will feel like they are indeed home for the holidays. 
          And, we have found much joy, celebration, passion and inspiration in and outside of our home as well.
          We sang and danced with joy and laughter as we welcomed Jewish rock star, Rick Recht, into our midst and we are grateful for the efforts of Betsy and all those who worked with her to make Jewish music come alive in NWA and for maintaining and keeping the sounds of our people in our hearts and on our lips. 
We continued the excitement with the voices of our people as we celebrated our candle lighting of the Hanukah Menorah on the square. When we returned to  our building, all were greeted with a festive party, great food, and special guests, including out of town family, an author from New York doing research, and a reporter from the area’s Spanish language newspaper.  Understanding that Etz Chaim is the sum total of all our members, we gathered for another special Shabbat, recognizing the enormous volunteer efforts of Mark Levine and Cindy Flynn.  This took place during our new member Shabbat where we welcomed and blessed all those that had recently joined the congregation. 
And speaking of recognition, it was a special treat to travel to Little Rock and participate in attend the Jewish Federation of Arkansas’ annual campaign dinner ceremony where our own Tom Douglas was awarded a much deserved Tikon Olam award.  Interacting with Jews from across the state, reinforced the realization that being involved in Etz Chaim is crucial  and Jewish communal work is a reflection of being part of something bigger than ourselves.
          As Spring and Passover unfolded, we witnessed another spectacular women’s Seder, and ushered in a new chapter in our congregations’ history by the use of our new Shabbat prayer books – Mishkan T’fillah, and the transition has been seamless and satisfying. 
If the past is prelude to the future, we are very excited to recall all the accomplishments that Melissa Perlman demonstrated during her Bat Mitzvah weekend.  Melissa’s mastery of the liturgy exhibited the power of the partnership among our highly dedicated students and families, our committed CEC education team, and the talents and tireless efforts of our Cantorial Soloist, Debbye.  Along the continuum of lifecycle events, we at Etz Chaim savored the sweet moments, even when they were mixed with the harshness of other realities.
          For example, the dramatic and poignant juxtaposition of the baby naming of Olivia Warfield and the acknowledgment of Yom Hashoah, (Holocaust Memorial Day), was not lost on anyone that was present in our humble sanctuary.  Yes, even in our corner of the world, it was evident that the continuity of the Jewish people is a cause for great jubilation and ritualized recognition.  The exuberance of marking our incremental growth, was tempered by the recollection of those who needlessly perished at the hands of madmen.  Birth always inspires hope and given the tremendous amount of success we have had as an institution, including an active and worthwhile Men’s Club, Sisterhood, and Religious School, we feel prepared and poised for additional achievements.
          Subsequent to the holidays, we will have two months of consecutive Bat and Bar Mitzvah celebrations that will usher in the largest class of candidates to date.  Margot Cushman-Brown and Scott Bratspies, will be called to the Torah to publicly accept the responsibility as young Jewish adults.  Indeed, the demographics of our membership shows an increase in all age brackets.
Our growth in numbers, and scope of our presence, dictate that we continue to pursue the establishment of a permanent Jewish cemetery in NWA as well as undertake the serious preparations for expansion and renewal of our physical facility.  Moreover, as much as Etz Chaim began in 2004, we are quickly approaching our five year mark and the planning for the accompanying acknowledgement of this anniversary will soon take place in earnest.  No doubt, we will have an event commensurate with the miraculous milestone of half a decade of existence in Benton County.  We will continue to build on the important foundation that we have constructed in connection with interfaith experiences and dialogue such as the very significant visit by John Brown University students as well as the attendance of All Saints Episcopal Church during one of our services.  Our commitment to expanding our energies on behalf of community service  will also be on our agenda. 
To meet the needs of our congregants and extended community, I will be commencing a course of classes that will take place during our monthly visits.  The subject will be of interest to anyone seeking to formalize his or her relationship with the Jewish way of life.  It is entitled, “Fundamentals of Judaism,”  and my hope is that many will avail themselves of the opportunity to explore the journey of possibilities. 
Let me conclude on a personal note of thanks on behalf of Debbye and myself.  By asking us to be your spiritual leaders for the next two years, it evidences confidence in what we do. It is an expression of mutual love and it is with a sense of true family that we respectfully and humbly undertake this serious responsibility. 
Let us look forward with the eager anticipation borne of the power of a proven path. Chazak, Chazak, V’Nitchazek.  We are strong, and by working together for what we believe in, we will be strengthened even more. 
Rabbi Jack