JUNE 2008

My term as President of Main Line Reform Temple Brotherhood has come to an end. I feel very fortunate that I was able to serve such a great congregation. When I became President two years ago, my goal was to make Brotherhood an important and recognizable auxiliary of the Temple. In order to achieve this we had to work hard at supporting Temple events and create new and exciting ones. We achieved this by supporting many Nursery School and Religious School events, the Cantor’s Bar Mitzvah service and concerts, Sage and Spirit, Chanukah and Purim parties for the kids, and many other Temple functions. We donated furniture to MLRT and printed the new Temple Haggadah for Passover. We manufactured recordings of music from the Cantor’s Bar Mitzvah and the Sage and Spirit concert of 2007.

Brotherhood’s Car Show and Family Fun Day has become an event not to be missed! Our monthly Minyan gives the men in our Temple a chance to pray together, and our Texas Hold’em tournaments have brought fathers, sons, and brothers together for a night of fun and camaraderie. The Brotherhood-sponsored Sunday morning Central Perk is responsible for new Temple friendships and offers a place to “hang out” while waiting for Religious School to end. Our community service projects now include helping refugees relocate as well as the annual pizza sale at Narberth’s Fourth of July celebration and Mitzvah day deliveries.

Main Line Reform Temple’s Brotherhood has a long history of service. I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge all of the past presidents who served our Temple over the years. Thank you all for your dedication and inspiration. Thank you Rabbi Straus, Cantor Portnoy, and Rabbi Franzel for your leadership, spirituality, and commitment to Brotherhood. Our MLRT office staff and maintenance staff have been unequalled as a support team for us.

The success of Brotherhood depends on the quality of people on your board. Herman Gerwitz, Mark Komen, Andrew Miller, and honorary board member Rich Cohen are the benchmark of quality people—thank you all so very much. Special thanks to Beth Lloyd for all of the hard work you put into every Brotherhood project.

I want to thank my wife Mary for all of her help these past years. She has done so much to help us be successful.

Thank you Main Line Reform Temple members for the opportunities for professional and personal development that you have provided me over the last two years. I have enjoyed being the Brotherhood President and appreciate the support provided me during my tenure.

With Sincere Thanks,

Louis D. Bernstein