Monthly Update
Oct-Nov, 2003 Chag Sameach to you all – This past year beat the world’s and the shul’s record for the most B’nai Mitzvah in a year. This year has many fewer and should make our lives a bit more manageable. A couple of important items – 1. I have heard from several of you that your partners on any Shabbat are not appearing – I’m not sure if this is due to the considerable switching that goes on after I’ve released the schedule, or just because your forget. When you don’t come, you place the burden of the entire day on the other gabbai. If you’re lucky, there’s no B’nai Mitzvah – however, with the size of our congregation increasing it’s more and more difficult to do it alone. I ask you please to figure out a system that works for you, and keep track of when you’re supposed to be working. Put the dates in your calendar – hang them on your bulletin boards – set your Palms to remind yourself – Whatever you have to do to remember….. When you make a change w/ someone, please send an official change notice to this email group – so everyone knows. I will also ask you to call me if your partner doesn’t show up – so I can keep tabs on where the problems are. 2. Thank you Marilyn for doing the High Holiday ushers once again – you’re getting to be a real pro at this and you do such a great job. Thank you so much. 3. At the end of October Shabbat services will start later once again – back to 9:30. The six month evaluation of the earlier time was pretty negative. The length of the service is under better control so services shouldn’t end later than 12:15. I’ll let you know the date of the change when I find out. 4. Apparently there have been times on a Shabbat when there is a B’nai Mitzvah when the number of requests for aliyot by congregants is more than the number available, and this has caused some discontent among some. A new practice will be instituted by the office – if someone calls to request an aliyah on a B’nai Mitzvah day they will be told that there is a chance that there may not be enough aliyot available, and they will be offered other options such as a morning minyon. Emma will document on the request form that she has told them that information. This is a rare occurrence, but if it comes up, as it did this past Shabbat, assign the aliyot based on the priority list in the gabbai manual (in the box) and let the Rabbi know that you have requests that could not be accommodated. He will work out another way to honor the person if possible. 5. We have 2 chaggim this month that are not Shabbats – Sukkot 2 and Simchat Torah – I have assigned only 1 gabbai on those dates because the attendance is lower and that way no one has to work more than once during the month. (Please don’t forget if one of those days is yours!!!). Then we have a 5 Shabbat month in November – so no time off in these two months – sorry!! Any questions – let me know. Have a happy and a healthy new year – I just realized this is my 8th season of doing this schedule – I’m finally getting the hang of it. Margot November 9, 2003 Dec - Jan Hi Gang – not much news this month – The official starting time of services right now is 9:30 am, and supposedly they will be over by 12:15. I also read recently that there is a new minyon once a month being held in the Beit Midrash – the full Torah portion will be read and it will last no more than 2 ½ hours. From what I understand it will be a more “little kid crawling around and playing” friendly service. That’s all I know about it. Now that the holidays are over, we are able to have people off each month again. So for December, Rochelle, Lynn and Marilyn are off, and in January (5 Shabbat’s), Jacquie is off. I try to rotate that so everyone has a week off every few months. Margot
