Brenda Freedman’s AGM President’s Address 2015

Friends, it seems quite unbelievable that it is 6 years since I began my term as President. When Robbie phoned me that morning, I was truly speechless.

What an enormous honour! Why me? Of all the religious, intellectual and accomplished members how had my name entered the ring?

And as he talked to me about the role, a short poem popped into my head:

“Come to the edge, ooo I might fall,
Come to the edge, it’s too high
Come to the edge
And they pushed
And she flew”

So Robbie coaxed me and I accepted. I think I have learnt to fly.

However, soon after my acceptance the anxiety set in. What exactly IS the role of a President? I felt way out of my knowledge zone. I talked to my predecessor, the wise, calm, wonderful Jeffery and bless him, he tried to help me and so the my qualms, ending by him saying “we all do it our own way”

So I HAVE done it my way.

First and foremost I have tried to be available. To be a sounding board to Clergy team, to the lay leadership and to congregants, whilst always keeping my distance from day-to-day issues. In this way hopefully to be useful should there be any specific challenges which need assistance in being resolved. To be the friendly, caring, concerned face of Alyth. To hold some of the history of Alyth, so easily lost with the constant change of lay-leadership and lastly to be an ambassador for Alyth, for the Reform Movement and in the wider world.

When I joined Alyth in 1982 both Alyth, and Brenda, were very different. I was recovering from losing both my parents within a couple of years. I hid myself in the far corner when the Synagogue was in its old configuration, with the old chairs! Where, as I learned later, sat the more senior valued members of the community.

It was Phil Rosen ZL, who, in those early years encouraged and then coerced me to join council. Eventually I agreed and became a ‘newby’ on Council, when Peter Galgut was Chairman. It took me some time to get the feel of Council, but I stuck it out, eventually going on Exec and more.

I’ve worked out that since joining Council way back when, I have probably attended around 250 Council and Exec meetings, give or take one or two.

To sum up my wonderful years as an involved Alyth member in a few words will be difficult, so much has changed. Suffice to say that refreshing the building, which happen in my years as Chairman, was the forerunner for the many changes that have taken us to where we are today.

To have been part of the emergence of this new dynamic Alyth has been, as if, to watch a butterfly emerge from its chrysalis. Changes that were made, to both the building and more importantly to the sanctuary, have underlined and fostered a whole new attitude. We now have a dedicated Clergy team, a younger forward looking lay-leadership, a truly professional staff team and now, a wonderful new website!

I feel I am stepping down at the junction of another new era, which will be heralded by yet another building project.

So, to my successor.

There can’t be many in the community to whom Peter needs an introduction. He has been part of the Alyth scene for many many years. He has been Chairman, Warden, is presently Chair of Avodah. He has helped many with their genealogical searches and is presently and quietly a warden at the Kollot minyan. Peter is a private man who enjoys and makes time to study and he has a wide ranging knowledge.

With Peter as President there will be a steady hand at the helm. He is a voice of reason and wisdom, also wise enough to have chosen a generous wife who has agreed to lend part of him to us for the next few years.

So I retire with equanimity knowing that in your new President, Peter Backman you will be in very safe hands.

Finally, to Council: a much quoted few words from of Rabbi Tarfon “the time is short, the work is great the workers are sluggish but don’t worry it is not your duty to finish the work, but neither are you free to neglect it”. Best of luck to the new Council.

And now, I have to find other things to do with my time on a Tuesday evening!

So it is just left to me to say how very proud I have been to have been entrusted with role of President and how much I have enjoyed and been delighted to watch this community thrive and grow.

I have been given so much love and respect, it has been very humbling. THANK YOU to everyone who has made my term so special. I say au revoir from THIS podium, but in no way is it goodbye!