It is amazing to see the amount of construction progress that has taken place over the last month. The building is really starting to take shape. Over the next few weeks we can expect to see roof joists, more heavy and light steel, decking and the formation of the new parking lot. As the good weather continues, we will see our beautiful new Shul evolve. I would like to thank those families that have stepped forward and have made voluntary financial commitments to our new home. Due to their generosity and timely payments, I am proud to report that all preconstruction and construction costs incurred to date have been paid for by these contributions. As of the date I am writing this article, Beth El has not used any money from our construction loan. This is an amazing accomplishment that we should all be proud of. I ask those of you who have not yet been approached or those who have not had the opportunity to visit with Rabbi Krupnick to please consider doing so now. Beth El needs your continued support and help in reaching our fundraising goals. Although we have made great strides, we still need to raise additional funds in order to accomplish our goals.

We all know within our congregational family how special our clergy are. It is great to see those outside of Beth El recognize our beloved clergy’s many talents. Rabbi Krupnick has been asked to serve as President of the mid-Atlantic region of the Rabbinical Assembly. Rabbi Arnowitz is currently serving as the President of the tri-county board of Rabbis.Hazzan Pomerantz-Boro serves as an Officer of the Cantors Assembly. We are truly blessed to have what many refer to as the dream team.Mazel Tov and Yasher Koach to our Rabbis and Hazzan.

Our USY has had another amazing year of growth. This year’s group of dedicated teenagers received several awards. I would like to highlight two of them. Our Beth El chapter has received an award for the best religious education program and excellence in Tikon Olam donations. A special thank you to Josh Fineblum for helping to develop our outstanding and nationally recognized chapter.

On Thursday June 5, 2008 we will celebrate together our last Rabbis’ dinner on Chapel Avenue. Bernie Miller and his committee are working tirelessly to make this an evening to remember. We will pay tribute to the building that has served us so well for the last 40 years. A tribute to some of our past Rabbis is also being planned. I urge anyone who has never experienced a Rabbis’ Dinner to make this your first. Those of you who come every year will find this evening very nostalgic. I am looking forward to seeing the largest attendance in our history of Rabbis’ dinners.

I would like our seniors who will be in need of transportation on Shabbat to our new Shul to know that our committees are in the process of reviewing alternatives to make this happen. We are committed to providing those seniors willing to be driven on Shabbat a way of continuing to be at Beth El each and every Shabbos.I will keep you posted on our progress but be assured we will do everything in our power to make this happen.

Finally I would like to wish our Confirmation class a mazel tov.Today’s teenagers have enormous competition for their time. It is wonderful to see how this special group and their parents have chosen to make their Jewish education a priority. Not only are our enrollment numbers growing but so are the number of students being confirmed and going to Israel. Next year’s Israel trip will see over twice the amount of kids as we had go this year. Seeing our retention rate increase is very gratifying and something we should all be very, very proud of.