Temple Reyim's Case For Fundraising Support
To download our case for support in .pdf form, please click here.With your dedication and passion, we withstood challenging times and are thriving once again. Our President Andy Offit and our Board of Trustees are unwaveringly dedicated to the success of our congregation, and our Rabbi is deeply focused on caring for our spiritual lives. We have grown by almost sixty new households, including dozens of young families. We have joined together with Kesher Newton to bring joyful, meaningful Hebrew School education back to Reyim, and added many new opportunities for learning, engagement, and community building. We now have an annual off-site intergenerational Shabbat retreat, new young family services and programs, a beautiful story-telling event, a greening initiative, enhanced outreach for compassionate care, a powerful multi-faith social action collaboration with local congregations, and we will be taking our first Reyim trip to Israel in the fall. Financially, we now operate within a lean and balanced budget. We have strengthened our community partnerships and become a central site for organizations such as the Synagogue Council of Massachusetts and Limmud Boston.
These accomplishments share one goal: strengthening our lives through the Jewish values of limmud (learning), mishpacha (family), re’ut (friendship), masoret (tradition), chesed (compassionate care), ruchaniyut (spiritual openness), areyvut (social responsibility), and kesher l’midinat Yisrael (relationship with the State of Israel.)
To build on these achievements and continue to thrive, we as a community must address five central issues:
1. Structurally, our roof is desperately in need of repair. We cannot postpone fixing the roof any longer; constant leaking has resulted in physical damage to our interior spaces, frequent flooding, and the possibility of mold infestation. By repairing our roof, we will protect and preserve our sacred internal space. As part of this capital investment, we will add solar panels to our roof, allowing us to become a significant community resource for solar energy. This solar project confirms our commitment to the health and sustainability of the earth, and is supported by many of our congregants. The long-term financial benefits in lower electric bills will also be significant.
2. Financially, we need to eliminate the Temple’s $700,000 debt and the $40,000 per year we now pay to service this obligation. This debt restricts our ability to fulfill many aspects of the Temple’s vision, and we cannot rely on our annual fundraising campaign to cover operating revenue shortfalls. Eliminating our debt will provide us with significant financial flexibility for generations.
3. Professionally, as we continue to grow, we may need another staff member to help fulfill our mission and program priorities. These priorities include ongoing young family engagement, education, volunteer coordination, and communications, among others. The specifics of this potential position will be determined by the Rabbi and a designated Temple committee, and will be funded, in part, though the savings garnered through debt elimination and growth in dues from new members.
4. Internally, because of the constant wear and tear on our facilities, our high traffic areas need a refresh, including new carpeting, fresh paint and updated bathroom fixtures.
5. Programmatically, we aspire to offer enhanced learning and community building opportunities to support our members’ desire to connect with each other and deepen our and our children’s Jewish lives. These will be pursued after we fulfill our capital and debt priorities. All decisions on these opportunities will be made by designated Temple committees.
1. Structurally, our roof is desperately in need of repair. We cannot postpone fixing the roof any longer; constant leaking has resulted in physical damage to our interior spaces, frequent flooding, and the possibility of mold infestation. By repairing our roof, we will protect and preserve our sacred internal space. As part of this capital investment, we will add solar panels to our roof, allowing us to become a significant community resource for solar energy. This solar project confirms our commitment to the health and sustainability of the earth, and is supported by many of our congregants. The long-term financial benefits in lower electric bills will also be significant.
2. Financially, we need to eliminate the Temple’s $700,000 debt and the $40,000 per year we now pay to service this obligation. This debt restricts our ability to fulfill many aspects of the Temple’s vision, and we cannot rely on our annual fundraising campaign to cover operating revenue shortfalls. Eliminating our debt will provide us with significant financial flexibility for generations.
3. Professionally, as we continue to grow, we may need another staff member to help fulfill our mission and program priorities. These priorities include ongoing young family engagement, education, volunteer coordination, and communications, among others. The specifics of this potential position will be determined by the Rabbi and a designated Temple committee, and will be funded, in part, though the savings garnered through debt elimination and growth in dues from new members.
4. Internally, because of the constant wear and tear on our facilities, our high traffic areas need a refresh, including new carpeting, fresh paint and updated bathroom fixtures.
5. Programmatically, we aspire to offer enhanced learning and community building opportunities to support our members’ desire to connect with each other and deepen our and our children’s Jewish lives. These will be pursued after we fulfill our capital and debt priorities. All decisions on these opportunities will be made by designated Temple committees.
To resource these priorities, President Andy Offit and our Board of Directors have unanimously voted to undertake a comprehensive fundraising campaign with a goal of at least $2 million. The Temple worked closely with the professional consultancy Copley Raff of Newton to test these key issues within our community. After a six-month campaign-planning study period that included two group visioning sessions, it was determined that the Temple could succeed in raising $2 million within an eighteen-month period to fund the campaign’s five stated priorities.
The Campaign for Reyim: Budgets, Timelines, and Oversight
Contributions for THE CAMPAIGN FOR REYIM will be raised from the congregation as well as local foundations and businesses. Our best estimates for the use of funds are:
The Campaign for Reyim: Budgets, Timelines, and Oversight
Contributions for THE CAMPAIGN FOR REYIM will be raised from the congregation as well as local foundations and businesses. Our best estimates for the use of funds are:
- Roof repair and solar initiative: $700,000
- Debt repayment: $700,000
- Interior refresh: $100,000
- Enhanced programming and financial reserves: $500,000
You Can Deeply Impact Our Community
A significant investment in Temple Reyim by our community is essential to fulfill our potential while staying true to our haimish culture and Jewish values. This can only be accomplished through contributions from families and businesses associated with Temple Reyim, as well as transformative gifts from those who are capable. Our board, President, Rabbi, and other key stakeholders have pledged unwavering support for this campaign and will provide the necessary leadership to make it successful. The Temple has also secured Lorraine Crowe, our trusted bookkeeper, as the internal coordinator for Campaign activities.
Contributions can be made using a variety of vehicles, including securities and estate gifts, over a three-year pledge period to encourage generous participation.
Thank you for your interest in this opportunity. We appreciate your willingness to accept a meeting with a member of the Campaign team when you are called upon to discuss your role and support of THE CAMPAIGN FOR REYIM.
