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Executive Director - December 2018

Recently, I was accidentally locked out of my house.  The automatic garage door wasn’t working (I assume it was a dead battery in my remote) and I didn’t have the key to the front door because… well, I never go in through the front door! So here I am in my car, with a trunk full of groceries wondering how the heck will I get into my house. No one was home, so calling my husband would serve no purpose other than to have him chastise me for not carrying a key to the house.  Been there, done that. Oh well.

Then I thought that many of our members and congregants might soon be feeling “out in the cold” due to all of the security changes we are making to the building.  Yes, it is for everyone’s safety, but the conundrum is how do we make the synagogue warm and welcoming while ensuring the safety of everyone?  I have no doubt that some of you will have feelings of anger and frustration as we navigate the various biometrics and codes to enter the building and wings.  Not everyone will have access to every entrance and every wing door.  It’s a sophisticated process and entry system and although it is our goal to make it as easy as possible, I know there will be bumps in the road.  There will be times when a congregant is “locked out” due to a glitch or due to the fact that we haven’t obtained their biometrics (fingerprint).

Our goal is to make sure every congregant has access into the building for services.  Entry into the rug wing for individuals attending regular meetings will also be granted a special code or access.  I believe there will be different codes for different needs as well.  Our Mah Jong ladies will be provided access Monday nights from 7 – 11pm, but the code they are given will not work any other time of the week.  That’s how sophisticated this system is! Again, there will be glitches as there are with any new installation and system.  However armed with the knowledge that this is being provided for and paid by a government security grant meant to help institutions secure themselves from evil intent, I think we can muster up some patience.

Another new-fangled thing EBJC has is a data base called ShulCloud.  This replaces Chaverware which was proving to be quite problematic.  The really good thing about ShulCloud is that (when launched completely), each and every member will have access into the system to update their personal information, pay bills, sign up for events, etc.  We will ask you to please make sure your address, email, cell numbers are correct.  Adding your date of birth will provide us with the ability to know when to offer you Senior Membership rates. Updating or entering the date you joined EBJC will enable us to recognize you at our Anniversary Shabbat. We’d love to recognize your birthdays (without acknowledging the year), and anniversaries if we actually have them.

So, a lot is going on at EBJC.  This is our 60th year celebration.  EBJC was incorporated February 1959 by families that wanted a Jewish presence in East Brunswick.  They worked hard, raised money and built the first wing (the original sanctuary that is now the Beit Midrash) in 1962. 

But let’s get back to how I got into the house.  I used the “jiggle” method.  I took the batteries in the remote control thingy and just rotated them, and then I sort of “jiggled” them in the remote.  I closed it up, pressed it and voila!  The garage door opened! I guess I forced the last bit of “juice” out of those batteries!  I carried the groceries into the house, put them away, got two new AA batteries, put them into the remote and no one was the wiser!  By the way… if you’re reading this…don’t tell my husband I don’t carry a key to the house.  I’ll eventually remember to put it on my key chain.

Happy and Healthy Chanukah to all, filled with latke’s, gelt (real and chocolate) joy, and family,

Ellen

 

Thu, March 28 2024 18 Adar II 5784