Annual Fund 5786

ANNUAL FUND 5786

Read below to learn more about why a successful Annual Fund is so important at TBE.

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Dear Fellow Members,

As the year draws to a close, we reflect on the powerful sense of connection we felt during the High Holy Days - seeing so many families come together in our sanctuary reminded us that Temple Beth El continues to serve as a center of Jewish life and learning, a spiritual home, and a pillar of strength for our community. In this season of gratitude and generosity, we ask for your year-end support of Annual Fund 5786, which provides the foundation for TBE’s financial stability and ensures our congregation remains strong, vibrant, and secure.

Unlike many other religious and cultural institutions, synagogues are financially independent. Most rely on a combination of membership dues, philanthropy, and the income of large endowments built over generations. Our congregation’s modest $3.5 million endowment is not large enough to create meaningful investment income, leaving us dependent on dues and donations to balance the budget each year. 

To this end, the Annual Fund is indispensable to our success. It fuels the programs and services that bring Jewish life to our community, supports members who could not otherwise participate in our synagogue, and allows us to respond to urgent needs in real time. Until we embark on a campaign to strengthen our endowment, growing the Annual Fund is the only way to keep dues and tuition increases in line with inflation and avoid unsustainable reliance on savings.

This financial reality intersects with an urgent cultural one. The ADL’s 2024 Audit reported the highest number of antisemitic incidents in 46 years - a nearly 900% increase from a decade ago. New York, our home, saw more incidents than any other state. In such a climate, the security, vitality, and visibility of Temple Beth El are not just important, they are essential. Our clergy and staff continue to educate and support children and adults alike in this precarious moment. 

This moment calls us to act with vision and resolve. Building a stronger culture of giving by growing the Annual Fund and strengthening our endowment will build on the success of our first 75 years and ensure TBE’s stability for another 75. With your support, Temple Beth El will:

• Continue to lead in Northern Westchester as a visible and safe home for Jewish life and learning.
• Confront antisemitism through education, advocacy, and engagement.
• Expand programming that deepens Jewish identity and strengthens communal bonds.

As a loyal supporter, your gift to the 5786 Annual Fund is vital. We respectfully ask you to make your gift or pledge of today. Your gift is vital not only because it sustains TBE, but because it also creates a groundswell of giving that signals our community’s strength and unity.

Momentum is essential to balancing our budget and achieving our $500,000 goal. Together, we will protect our community, confront today’s challenges, and ensure that Jewish life not only endures, but thrives.

On behalf of TBE’s Development Committee, Clergy and staff, we are deeply grateful for your support at this pivotal moment.

Sincerely,                                        
Vanessa Baker and Amanda Garfinkle
Co-Chairs, TBE Development Committee

P.S. If not now, when? Give today and stand with our community!