Feb 26th 2010, 00:00

Last Saturday night, I was honored to receive the Temple Beth Tikvah Man of the Year award at a regional dinner along with 18 other honorees.  I am so grateful that we had four full tables of TBT members, the most of any congregation.  Below are my remarks from that evening:
 
It is with great pride that I stand here today.  First, let me congratulate the other Men of the Year being honored tonight and all those prior year honorees listed in the program.  I am particularly proud and honored to be the first of two congregational rabbis to be given this honor by his own congregation.  Temple Beth Tikvah is not just “my” congregation, as most rabbis say, but for me, it really is my congregation, like yours is for you.  It is where I share my triumphs and tragedies, where I pray and raise my children.  It is not just a place where I happen to work; it is where I happen to live my life and share it with others.
         I am a dues-paying and active member of our temple’s Men’s Club because it is one more way I can support our congregation and strengthen our Jewish community.  I know that most congregational rabbis are not members nor involved in temple auxiliaries, but I choose differently because of my role models whom I follow and the role model I try to be for those who will follow me.
         I have been involved in synagogue life since I was 12 years old when I first started working at Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills where I grew up.  There, I was heavily influenced by the rabbis, cantors, and educators, and a deep sense of commitment to the synagogue and Judaism was implanted within me.  I vividly recall the many men and women who devoted themselves wholeheartedly to the temple, giving their time, their energy, and their financial resources to provide for the current and future generations.  There was no doubt in my mind that I would follow in their footsteps when I was older.
         So, now I am a husband and father (of four beautiful children), and I am the man that youngsters look up to, to guide them and be a role model for them.  I take this responsibility seriously and fulfill my proper role not for any accolades which I greatly appreciate, but because it is the right thing to do and because I know by doing so, I am making proud all those who came before me.  I only hope that future generations will look back upon us and be as grateful as I am for my parents’ and grandparents’ generations.
         That is why it is so important to me that our congregation and Men’s Club remain strong and active.  We have a wonderful, friendly, collegial, and supportive group of men who are there for each other, for our temple families and kids, and for our community.  When there is a need, together we respond.  When there is a simcha, together we celebrate.  When there is a loss, together we mourn.
         I want to thank the many members of Temple Beth Tikvah, and the Men’s Club in particular, who came tonight to honor me.  You are my friends in addition to my congregants.  I am honored to be part of your lives and to share so much of my life with you.  I am especially grateful to my fellow Men’s Club members who live a life of example for others, and who give so much of themselves to our congregation and community.
         I thank my father, whose memory I carry with me every day, and my mentors from Temple Emanuel whose work I try to emulate.  I also want to thank my mother who could not be with me tonight for all her support and love.
         I want to thank my wife, Laura, who allows me to bring my work home and my home to work.  For us, our home lives and our Temple lives and interchangeable.  I know that being married to a rabbi comes with great rewards, but like all professions, it also comes with great challenges and sacrifice at times.  Thanks, honey, for being my partner and for your love and devotion to our family.
         Finally, thank you to the MRJ and to all of you for being here to share this night with all of us.
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         Tonight at 7:30 PM is our Men’s Club Shabbat service where I will again be presented with my award.  Again, thank you to my fellow Men’s Club members and to everyone at TBT.  The service will be carried live over the Internet at www.templebethtikvah.com (click on Live Services).  Tomorrow, Torah Study and religious school at 9:00 AM and our Shabbat morning service at 10:00 AM.  Tomorrow night, join us at 5:00 PM for our annual Purim Family Service with Megillah reading!  Come in costume to cheer Esther and Mordechai and to boo Haman.  Following the service, we will have a FREE spaghetti dinner, Havdallah, and a family dance. RSVP for the spaghetti dinner is a MUST.