The board's midsummer meeting is generally an occasion to discuss goals for the upcoming year, and to focus on our priorities. While our August meeting reached those objectives, we also had a fair amount of housekeeping issues to handle. Foremost was our consideration of candidates for the temple's Cemetery Trustees Committee.
The current trustees presented the board with a slate of candidates for a new committee. The slate included Shelley Grossman, who will take on the chairmanship; Harold Sharlin, who will become a trustee after serving as chair for 16 years; Miguel F.; Gene G.; Mort S. and Mel G.. The trustees further recommended that the board approve the consolidation of the duties of the Chevra Kaddisha with the Cemetery Trustees. The Chevra Kaddisha, traditionally the burial society, will assist temple members make arrangements with funeral homes and help with other details for families that have experienced a loss. The board approved the slate of new officers and the consolidation of duties. This tends to be an area of concern that we overlook until it is thrust upon us, so I am most grateful to this group for offering care and assistance to our members.
The board also discussed ways to help relieve the burdens on the office staff, which are especially severe preceding the High Holidays. We rely on our office staff, and temple administrator Susie Blumenthal in particular, to perform a mixed array of tasks, many of which demand instant attention. This is a high priority for the board.
We spent the remainder of our meeting discussing ways to enhance our Jewish community. Rabbi Zemel shared his sense of the essential components of Micah's culture: embracing study, good works and prayer. We discussed various ways to strengthen these values both for new members and for long-term members who may have limited their involvement over the years. I welcome your thoughts on this effort, and your support as we move forward.

[By Betsy Broder]