Membership Renewal

May 24, 2023

Dear Members of the Beth El Family,

As we recently shared in a series of in-person and digital Town Hall presentations, our synagogue is experiencing an exciting period of growth and transformation. Membership has grown by 20% and religious school enrollment has increased by almost 60% over the last 5 years. This is partly thanks to a migration northward from major metros to our south in recent years, but it is also because we have worked diligently to ensure that we are a community in which a wide diversity of Jews can see themselves reflected. As we prepare to begin a new membership year on July 1, we look forward to finding even more ways to welcome folks into our space with projects like Shalom Community Park, and to get out in the community with Tikkun Olam initiatives like Shine a Light and beloved programs like Spirits and Spirits.

Also at these recent Town Hall meetings, we discussed some of the financial challenges that our synagogue is facing, and how we can work together as a community to ensure that TBE can continue to be a thriving center for Jewish life in Southern Maine for years to come. From those conversations, we learned that members appreciate transparency, value our commitment to being a community that is accessible to all, and want to see us continue to grow! If you were not able to attend a meeting or speak with a board member directly and would like to learn more about these important conversations, you can view a recording of the presentation below, or view the slide deck here.

In response to the input we received, we have set the suggested voluntary annual contribution figure at $2,323 for the coming year. This level of support will enable us to reduce reliance on the endowment and support its growth, maintain our building, compensate staff at market rates, create a cash reserve fund, and sustain our current operations. We understand that some members will not be able to contribute at that level, and it is our hope that other members will consider becoming a Community Level Supporter by contributing beyond that amount. This way, we can ensure that TBE can continue to be the vibrant home for Jewish life that we all know and love, while maintaining our commitment to welcoming all.

Please reach out if you have any questions at all, or just want to connect! Thank you for choosing to belong to Temple Beth El, and for being part of the collective effort required to sustain our synagogue.

Warm regards,