Welcome Incoming President Richard Siegel
Richard Siegel, Incoming President, 2023-2025
A message from Richard Siegel
President, Temple Beth Am
[email protected]
It is with great honor and humility that I write to you today as the new president of our beloved Temple Beth Am. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve our community and look forward to working with our amazing clergy, incredible staff, committed lay leaders, and each of you as we embark on this journey together.
My TBAM journey began over two decades ago when my wife Jackie and I “popped into” TBAM during a house-hunting trip to find a preschool for our daughters Allison and Abby (then one and three years old). Fast forward 21 years, and while it would be a challenge to find a structure that still exists on campus from that day, what we fell in love with during that visit very much still exists—a warm, caring, and committed community that loves and respects our people, our faith, and each other.
As we embark on a new (Temple fiscal) year, I want to take a moment to express my deep admiration and appreciation for the leadership of my predecessor, friend, and confidant, David Young, who worked tirelessly to build and strengthen our congregation. With his guidance and leadership, our congregation has grown and flourished, and I am excited to continue his legacy in hopes of taking our community to new heights.
Our congregation is a place where people of diverse backgrounds and beliefs come together to learn, pray, and grow in our Jewish traditions. It is a place where we find support and comfort in times of joy and sorrow and celebrate the milestones of our lives. As we move forward together, I am committed to fostering a welcoming, inclusive, and supportive community for all members. Of course, this will not be a solo effort! We are blessed to have Shelley Jacoby as Executive Vice President, Jason Haim as Treasurer, and a team of lay leaders whose commitment to our community inspires us all. Most importantly, our lofty goals would not be achievable without a clergy and professional staff that is second to none. I believe an integral part of my presidency is empowering them and staying out of their way!
One of my priorities as president will be to ensure that our congregation remains a vibrant and thriving center of Jewish life. This means we must continue to provide meaningful and inspiring worship experiences, educational programs that engage and challenge us, and opportunities for social action and tikkun olam. I believe that our congregation has been, and will continue to be, a powerful force for good in the world, and I am eager to work with our community to continue to make that vision a reality. As we look to the future, many exciting opportunities and challenges are ahead. We live in a rapidly changing world, and our congregation must be nimble and adaptive in order to meet the needs of our members and the wider community. I believe that we are up to this task and that together we can build a congregation that is both deeply rooted in our traditions and responsive to the needs of the modern world.
In the coming weeks and months, I look forward to meeting with many of you to hear your thoughts and ideas about how we can continue to grow and evolve as a congregation. I encourage you to reach out to me with any questions, concerns, or suggestions that you may have. Together, we can build a stronger and more vibrant community that truly reflects our shared values and beliefs. In closing, I want to express my gratitude for the trust that you have placed in me as your new president. I am honored to serve our congregation and look forward to the journey ahead. Let us go forward together with a sense of purpose, optimism, and determination to build a community that is worthy of our highest aspirations.
Rich