Words from our Congregation President, Ricki Bauman
November, 2025
Most of you should know the Yiddish word, “tsuris”. My understanding of the word is troubles of one kind or another. It doesn’t have the same heaviness as the word “shonda”, a very bad or evil thing — but both words indicate things that make everyday life more difficult. Whether you are a new congregant or a founding member, when life is difficult, hard, or tragic, there is usually someone you know at Beth Israel that will lend an ear, lend a hand, or help you find assistance in one way or another.
And that is why I say that we are a family — the Beth Israel family. Some of us have afflictions: sickness and disease, physical infirmity, memory loss, loss of a spouse, sibling or child, divorce or separation — and we can continue with many specific examples of these. But in these times of trouble, you can usually find solace from the Beth Israel family.
Having been divorced just before the High Holy Days, life was doubly difficult for me — I even asked the Board of Directors to cut me some slack in September as, at that time, I didn’t know for sure when the decree would come through, would I have to sell my house and move; lots of uncertainty, lots of decisions, financial issues as well as anger and sadness.
Many times I just didn’t want to talk about it or go into any detail — but there were times that I did — and my friends here at Beth Israel listened, didn’t criticize, didn’t tell me what to do — but listened — and offered to help. And that was really enough.
And there were things that I couldn’t do — call or visit friends in rehab or in the hospital as well as social things or even some deadlines. But, you know what, life goes on. When I knew that I was going to remain in the home as sole owner, I replaced my living room and bedroom furniture (that moved out of state) with some new things and some old (but new to me) things — and many things that I didn’t want went to our charity, the Nearly New Shop, with more donations being assembled.
The uncontested divorce was not something that I was looking for, but it came and now it is past. And for those that offered to help, for those that listened or for those that were kind — thank you. This is the real meaning of a kehillah, a community. And that is beyond measure.
