New Heights Capital Campaign: Stories From the Heart
When did you join BHS and what inspired you to do so?
We joined when our son Noah was about five years old. We were looking for a place to learn and get involved, experience the holidays, and we wanted Noah to start religious school.
My (Eve’s) Jewish learning curve really started at BHS. I didn’t go to Religious school growing up. Don’s father was a rabbi, so his experience with Jewish life and learning is completely different from my own.
How are you involved with BHS?
We’re involved in different ways and really enjoy it all. For the past few years, we have been playing music as part of the Shir Shabbats each month — I play the flute, and Don plays the clarinet. I sing with the choir. Don is on the security task force. I was part of the full-time cantor search committee, chaired the religious school committee for a few years, and ran the Purim Carnival! We’ve also volunteered at the Homeless Shelter, cooking and sleeping over.
What keeps you coming to BHS?
BHS is a huge source of Jewish connection, Jewish inspiration and Jewish learning for our family. I have developed a much more nuanced understanding of Judaism and what it means to me by being part of BHS. There are many ways to express your Jewish identity at our synagogue. It’s a very open, dynamic and responsive place that enables you to do that, regardless of where you’re at in your Jewish journey.
What compelled you to invest in the New Heights capital campaign?
We feel strongly that giving to this campaign is hugely important to support the growth and the health of Jewish life. Today, this is crucially important. BHS plays a central role in building and supporting our community locally as well as globally.
What aspects of the new building project most excite you?
Our congregation is lively, active and intellectually curious. The new space will give us more opportunities to express that energy. We need more space not only to accommodate the people, but the breadth of activities going on every day, multiple times a day.
What would you like to tell families or individuals thinking of giving to the New Heights capital campaign?
A contribution to BHS is a contribution to the continuity of Jewish life and culture. We need to be really thoughtful about how we give, and how we help make our synagogue and communal life more healthy and positive. A synagogue is the sum of its parts. The more we contribute, the better, stronger and more vibrant we become, as individuals, as a community and as a people.