We had been regulars at Temple Micah for a couple of years when I experienced a moment that firmly linked me to this community. I can't remember what the occasion was, but my two daughters, aged somewhere in the single digits, were dressed to the nines--black velvet dresses, patent leather shoes and hair pulled neatly back. My guess is that the rest of us were casually dressed. They entered the sanctuary and walked over to settle in with David and me. As they did, I watched Ted Cron and his beloved late wife Lee gaze at my daughters. As my girls sat down, Lee and Ted looked at one another to share a sweet smile, as if to say, how delightful that we and these children belong to the same community. And I knew then that my family was part of a special place.

I thought of that lovely moment during our last board meeting, as we heard from representatives of Neighbors in Need, the High Holiday Committee, the North American Federation of Temple Youth (NFTY) musical fundraiser, and the Capital Campaign. The particular issues ranged from how to identify members who could use home visits to how best to accommodate a growing number of worshippers on Yom Kippur. But two themes connected the presentations and the issues that were raised for board consideration: commitment to our community and the desire to pull even more members into the rich life of Temple Micah.

Harold S., Judy H. and Evelyn S. coordinate Neighbors in Need (NiN), arranging for teams of temple members to help members who need grocery shopping or a lift to the doctor's. NiN provides the structure so the rest of us can perform the mitzvot of visiting the sick. They could use more members to support this important effort.

The High Holiday co-chairs with technical guru David Diskin reported on what worked well for the holidays and what needs more attention. They are looking for volunteers to take on this critical responsibility for next year.

Doug Mishkin has arranged to have celebrated folk singer Tom Chapin perform at a fundraising concert this spring. The proceeds from these concerts enable us to give financial support to Micah students who attend Reform movement summer camps and Israel travel programs. We want to ensure that we can fill the house, as we have done with each of our earlier concerts.

And Celia Shapiro, our stalwart co-chair of the Capital Campaign, with Larry Cooley, described the status of our fundraising for the critical expansion of the building. We all know what this group needs.

Many members have been extremely generous, stretching further than they thought they could to support the campaign, and we are confident that we can reach our goal. But in our discussion of the campaign, one board member remarked that perhaps we are encountering a phenomenon where some members, totally supportive of the expansion plans, assume that other, perhaps more affluent members, will ensure that we reach our goals. The campaign is about more than just reaching a target number. We also want to "build connections," that is, establish and strengthen the way members connect to our community.

And that brings me back to that magical moment many years ago when a shared smile led my family to commit to Temple Micah. We can't impose a feeling of belonging on members. But we invite everyone to explore for themselves how much Temple Micah can enrich their lives. It takes some time, and perhaps some money, but each person's involvement here strengthens us all.

See you at the bowling alley.