[Tif-mail] Letter to the Membership

[Amitai Levin]

May 24th 2010
11 Sivan 5770

 Dear Members,

 Last month we wrote to you that the board of directors has been discussing
the challenges facing our shul and possible solutions. We also said that we
would be seeking your constructive suggestions and we would provide you with
a framework within which to present them. 

The shul faces a challenging financial environment.  While we had, Boruch
Hashem, a successful dinner, the shul remains in a tenuous financial
condition.  In fact, for the past few months we have been forced to make
withdrawals from the shul's reserve account just to cover the typical
day-to-day operating expenses.  The shul's membership ranks, for a variety
of reasons, have also declined precipitously over the past few years.

 There is an urgent need for collective action.  If membership does not, at
minimum, return to its past levels, and if the financial condition does not
turn around, it is difficult to imagine how our beloved shul can continue to
be your center for davening, learning and chesed. In addition to the fact
that Passaic in general and the neighborhood around the Tifereth in
particular have plenty of shul options to choose from, new minyanim are also
constantly springing up that siphon off members and funds from established
batei knessiot. This is the crux of the challenge we face.

To that end, on Thursday June 3rd there will be a special board of directors
meeting where individual board members intend to make some bold proposals to
the full board.  The board will then consider these proposals and submit one
or more to the General Membership for a vote. If, in addition, you would
like to present a proposal to the board, please call or email the shul
office by Monday May 31st to be placed on the agenda for the June 3rd
Special Meeting.  Prerequisites and rules for presenting are:

1.	All presenters, whether or not they are members of the board, will
be required to be a member in good standing.
2.	The intent to present must be "registered" by May 31st in the above
described manner.
3.	Presentations at the board meeting must include:

a.	A brief written summary of the proposal.
b.	The name of at least one Member in good standing that will serve as
the spokesperson for the proposal.
c.	The specifics of how the proposal addresses the financial and
membership challenges.

4.	Each presentation to the Board will have 30 minutes to make the
proposal and answer questions.

If you have any questions about this process please do not hesitate to
contact me, any Officer or Board Member, or leave a general message with the
shul office.

For 120 years, our shul -with Hashem's help- has faced myriad grave
challenges and used them instead as constructive opportunities that served
to strengthen the shul and kehilla. As we begin Tifereth Israel's second 120
years, we daven that the current challenges facing the shul and its
membership will again be remembered as a time where we united and grew as a
kehilla as well as individually rose to the occasion.  Once again, with
Hashem's help, we will merit to see the success of our efforts.

With utmost thanks for your time and your help.

The Board of Directors and Officers of the Tifereth Israel

Amitai Levin, President 

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