Celebrating Ten Years at Beth Am
This month marks our gala celebrating my ten years here at Beth Am. When I first heard that this was in the plans, obviously I was humbled and excited. It is very rare when anyone ever has the chance to stop and think about what has happened over the last ten years with all of the people you love, work with, support, and who support you. To have this honor is something that I cherish and value with all my heart.
Before we moved to Miami, I had dreams of my children becoming great tennis players and golfers. I told them as young Jewish athletes, they were unlikely to make it in basketball. However, wanting to be like every other Beth Am kid we met, they wanted to try their luck at Beth Am basketball. I remember going to those games in the old gym when they were in the second and fourth grade running around back and forth with all the other young children. Occasionally, after their games, high school students would come and play and I remember thinking how they looked like giants compared to our kids. Today when I walk in the gym, it is my own children who look like giants and the second and fourth graders who look so tiny in comparison. Over the last ten years, I watched my children grow up here at Beth Am. As I grew as a rabbi, we grew as a family. And each year has truly been a blessing.
There are too many wonderful aspects of this congregation to list in such a short space. I have been blessed with incredible people to work with, lay leaders that take my breath away every day, and a congregation that is more like a family. Yet, of all of the wonderful components of our community, of all the gears and levers that operate our large and growing village, there is one thing that I never take for granted, and that inspires me everyday. And that is our ability to dream of what could be, and then make it happen.
I knew coming to Beth Am that it was a place that took risks. Rabbi Baumgard’sz”l, visionary leadership and willingness to take risks set a foundation for Beth Am that set it on a course for great things from the outset. Over the last ten years I believe that he would be proud of what we have accomplished. And I believe he would be even more proud that not only are we not resting on our laurels, we are dreaming even more boldly for the next ten years. As one recently retired cruise company executive once said to me, “what’s next?”
There is so much more to come that I believe will take Beth Am to places never before thought conceivable. To a certain extent, we have already taken steps in that direction. In the coming months and years I am excited to share our vision for our future with you. In the meantime though, I am thankful to you for allowing me to serve our community and the Jewish people with joy and excitement. And I am so incredibly humbled and thankful for allowing me to feel, for at least one weekend, like “The Boss!” This is something that I will cherish forever.
L’shalom,
Rabbi Jeremy Barras