This is of course, quite true and well meant. However, it is the kind of
statement that one expects from any outgoing official of any organization.
But what our President, who has served an unprecedented three year term,
neglected to say in his remarks was that his tenure was marked with some
special characteristics. It was a tenure in which all of the officers worked
harmoniously together. It was a tenure in which the economic welfare of the
Congregation was maintained with constant watch over its deficit so that it would not grow out of hand. It was a tenure marked by good humor,
optimism and faith. It was a tenure that reflected his warm and caring
personality and his devotion and commitment to the synagogue. Mitchell has served with wisdom, surety and grace, in spite of a busy schedule of business,
family and community involvement. He has always been available whenever anyone has needed his help or his advice. As most of you know, he is the first
President of the Congregation who grew up in this synagogue and celebrated his
Bar Mitzvah here at LJC. His parents, Erwin, of blessed memory, and Pearl
were among the Congregation's founding families. For me, it has been a
wonderful experience and a source of great personal satisfaction. All of us in
the Congregation wish that Hashem bless Mitchell and his beautiful wife,
Bonnie and their family with good health and much mazal.

In many previous columns I have pointed out that the synagogue is one of the
last bastions of commitment to Judaism left in our communities. I recently
read an article describing the downward turn of Jewish demography in the U.S.
and this observation included in its general description of Jewish life in all of its varied forms. Yet, like it or not, the synagogue remains one of the Jewish community's last lines of defense. Those who maintain that line of defense are to be honored and supported in all their endeavors. Therefore, I want to give a special thanks to some of the officers who will not be returning for the coming term. To Rickey Schwartz, who as Vice President of the School & Education Committee presided over the school's program and worked tirelessly on behalf of the education of our children, no public thanks is equal to the personal satisfaction that he must have felt. In a sense, he really co-parented with all of us, as we try to raise another generation. To Mitchell Sandler, Past President of the Congregation and Past Chairman of the Board of Directors, who had returned to serve as the Vice President of Public Relations, a special acknowledgment. We are very fortunate that so many of our past Presidents attend Executive sessions regularly. They bring with them a wealth of wisdom and devotion to the
synagogue. Mitchell has done that and will continue to do so.

To the new officers of the Congregation - to Philip Prale who will
preside over the School & Education; to Joshua Zavelovich, who will join, as he
has in the past, with Louie Reiff, as Membership Vice President; to Charles
Ungar, who has been publishing the Bulletin for the past few months and will
now be the Vice President of Public Relations, go our thanks for their
willingness to share the burdens of office. We wish them well, knowing that
they bring vast experience and dedication to their new offices.

A very special acknowledgment of thanks, a Hakarat Hatov - the recognition of
the,good that they have done and continue to do, must be extended to officers
of the Congregation who have faithfully and with devotion and integrity, served the shul over many years. Our good wishes and prayers on their
behalf go out to -

Ady Rodman and Michael Henner - House Vice Presidents Arnold Sklar and
Alan Lapping - Building Fund Vice Presidents Keith Esses - Ways & Means Vice
President Dr. Joseph Silberman - Worship Vice President Louis Reiff -
Membership Vice President Dr. Yitzchak Hoffman -Adult Education Vice
President Helaine Ellenby - Good & Welfare Vice President Sam Block -
Corresponding Secretary Jocelyn Verson - Recording Secretary Jack Marshak - Sergeant-at-Arms Harvey Redfern.

We owe much to Dr. Marc Feder, who with dignity, good cheer and wisdom
has been Chairman of the Board of Directors these past three years. Dr.
Feder lends his talents and energy to every worthwhile project.

To Martin Scharaga, our President-elect, who has served as CoChairman
of the Membership Committee and who has soothed many ruffled feathers with his smile and goodwill, we wish much success. We offer a special thanks to Lynn
and his children for sharing him with us.

On another note - a special thanks to our honorees for the Tribute Dinner,
Arnie and Joyce Sklar, who have been active members in the Congregation
for the past 35 years. Together, they instituted the Fine Arts Concert
Series that has won renown on the North Shore. This series, originally endowed
by Simon and Diane Zunamon (Diane has graciously continued to sponsor it
after the passing of her beloved husband) has not only been one of the
Congregation's major fund raising efforts but is eagerly awaited by the entire community for its outstanding artists and programs. The series has raised the level of cultural activity in the synagogue itself and in the community. Arnie & Joyce have been in the forefront of almost every activity in the Congregation. Arnie, a native of New York City, was born in Brooklyn and grew up in a lovely and lively Jewish neighborhood. His was a traditional family where music and a synagogue were an important part of their lives. He remembers going with his father to shul which was just two blocks away, listening on the first night of Yom Tov to the world renowned Cantor Moshe Kousivitsky and on the second night, to Moshe's equally renowned brother, David Kousivitsky. That experience, combining his loves of music and Yiddishkeit, has influenced his entire life. Arnie attended the University of Miami where he earned both his Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Music on graduating. He auditioned for and was accepted to the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Arnie has been a member of the Grant Park Festival Orchestra since 1966 and it's principal violist for 31 years; the Lyric Opera backstage orchestra; numerous other musical venues, as well as having been Orchestra Director at two suburban high schools, Hinsdale Central and Niles
North, for thirty years. It was in Cincinnati that he met Joyce Grika, who was
visiting her brother Larry, also a member the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.
Joyce grew up on the Southwest side of Chicago in an area called Lawn Manor.
Her family encouraged within her, a love of music and the arts, Judaism and
the Jewish community. Joyce took music lessons at Chicago Musical College
and DePaul University's Preparatory Department. At the University of
Michigan in Ann Arbor, she earned a Bachelor of Music degree with honors and later a Master of Music from Northwestern University. Their son David, an
Anesthesiologist at Rush Presbyterian - St. Luke's Medical Center in Chicago, grew up in the synagogue and is married to Carolyn Rhineglass. They live in Evanston/Skokie and have two adorable children, Shai Reuben and Elitsa
Mairav.

Arnie has been active on the board at L.J.C. in many capacities. He has
served as President of the Congregation, Chairman of its Board of
Directors and been involved both prior to his presidency and subsequent to it in
many shul programs and activities, as well as the daily minyan. He is most proud
of his involvement in three major projects: the installation of the stained glass windows in the Beit Midrash; the dedication of the individual
"Rising Stars" of the Eastern wall of the sanctuary (designed by artist Michael
Gore); as well as the major success of the Fine Arts Series these past 12
years. Joyce has been an active member of the Sisterhood, serving on its
Board of Directors and responsible for some major events as well as the
Oneg Shabbat Co-Chairman for many years. Both Arnie and Joyce are part of
our Shabbat family and Shabbat wouldn't be the same without them. Joyce and
Arnie are the Congregation's honorees at a special tribute dinner to be held
on Sunday, June 22, 2003 at the Doubletree North Shore. Let us all be there to
wish them Y'Yasher Koach for all of their efforts on behalf of our Congregation.