Rabbi's Message  

“A school should be the most beautiful place in every town and village – so beautiful that the punishment for undutiful children should be that they would be debarred from going to school the following day.” - Oscar Wilde 

As we approach the end of the school year, it is appropriate to contemplate the above quote from Oscar Wilde. Whether it be Elementary or High School, Religious School or University, it is hoped that they be places where the enjoyment of learning is a source of inspiration to future growth.

We hope that is the case with our students who are completing another year of education.

We want to make special mention of Melissa Pielet who will be confirmed on May 17, 18 and 19. Melissa will participate in Friday night and Shabbat morning services, with her Power Point presentation on "Jews Across the Continents" on Sunday morning.

We would also like to congratulate our College graduates.

Adina Mann
John Peskind
Nathan Raymond

As an adjunct to the commencement speeches that our graduates will hear, let me add the following:

In a chapter entitled “Things That Cannot Be Hurried” in Sidney Greenberg’s book Say Yes To Life, he relates the following:

“A candidate for the police force was asked this question: “If you were alone in a police car and were pursued by a gang of desperate criminals in another doing sixty miles an hour along a lonely road, what would you do?”

Without a moment’s hesitation the candidate replied: “Seventy.”

Often we try to get through our studies quickly. We want to move on to the next stage. But Greenberg makes the point that with most things in life there are things that cannot be hurried. He concludes with the suggestion that we would do well to repeat regularly a prayer written by O. L. Crain.

Remind me each day that the race is not always to the swift
And that there is more to life than increasing its speed….
Slow me down, God, and inspire me to send my roots deep into
The soil of life’s enduring values,
That I may grow toward the stars of my greater destiny.

Mazel Tov to the confirmand and graduates' families. We look forward to future milestones and nachas from them all in their future accomplishments.

Looking forward to seeing you there. 

RABBI Shmuel Mann