KHN Annual Meeting & Beyond

Todah Rabah.

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Hello, Friends and Co-Congregants,

I don’t have words to encompass the import and challenge facing all of us--in our congregation, King County and the world beyond--in this moment in time. We used the word “extraordinary” back when the pandemic first started, and things just keep getting more and more extraordinary .

I do know that I can turn to all of you and the wisdom of our People for comfort, solace and courage.

Today I am thinking of the passage in Pirkei Avot that says, “You are not obligated to finish the task, but neither can you desist from it.” We are as close as we have ever been in my lifetime to completing a task of Tikkun Olam, of actually healing something broken and jagged in this world.

I am so glad that KHN has turned out to demand justice for George Floyd and fundamental change to structures of racism that lock us in cycles of harm. I know people are excited and confused and weary and committed to this work, thank you!

It can seem odd to take a break from mourning and marching to talk about the fiduciary details at KHN, but I believe that tending to these details are mitzvahs that contribute to a resilient congregation. Please read the information below and join us for the Annual Meeting and beyond…

Yours in the journey,

Jennifer Stewart

Shammes Committee President

Coming up this Sunday June 14 ^th at 4pm is our Annual Meeting . Each year in June we gather to reflect on the past fiscal year and plan for the fiscal year ahead. FY20 has thrown us endless curve balls, but we will persevere and convene our annual meeting online in order to vote on both the Slate of Nominees for our open Board positions and the proposed FY21 budget, as well as express our appreciation for our outgoing Shammes members.

To prepare for the meeting, members please find the full slate of nominees and the Proposed FY21 Budget by clicking here and entering breath#.

The President, Rabbi and Treasurer reports will be emailed out in advance of the meeting—look for those towards the end of the week.

AND we are holding a Q&A session from 2:30-3:30 June 14 ^th with Board Treasurer Dave Schor and myself, to give time for folks to ask questions about the proposed budget or anything else as it pertains to the annual meeting.

Celebrate & Reflect

with Rabbi Zari

As we move forward in saying goodbye to Rabbi Zari and transitioning to the next chapter in our congregation’s life, we invite you to join in a Havdalah service with Kol HaNeshamah on Saturday August 29th at 8pm. Together, as we’ve done so many times before, we will share music, prayers, a few reflections, and the beautiful ritual of Havdalah. Then we will say our goodbyes and send each other off into whatever the future holds.

Rabbi would love for congregants to share your responses to one or more of these prompts:

One moment or experience at KHN that was particularly meaningful to me/my family over these last 10 years was…

Something I learned about Judaism/Jewish life that has been meaningful for me during this time is…

One way my identity/experience as a Jew or part of a Jewish family has grown/changed over these past 10 years as a result of my involvement with KHN is…

Please email your responses(and/or pictures if you so choose) to Nanette Goss at nang@comcast.net . The team planning our congregational celebration for Rabbi will be putting together a physical book of reflections to give to her.

Rabbi Zari would also love to meet (virtually, or in person when possible) with any KHN members before she leaves to honor time and experiences shared and bring closure to the relationships. Please contact Rabbi at rabbi@khnseattle.org to set up a time.

Rabbinic Search 5781

We will be announcing our Rabbinic Search Committee in mid-July, followed quickly by a timeline and milestones for this committee with the goal of a permanent rabbi starting in July 2021.

Many of you have already indicated an interest in serving on the Rabbinic Search Committee. It is incredibly heartening to see so many people excited about shaping the future of rabbinic leadership here at KHN. The search committee will be made up of 10 congregants who will represent diverse aspects of KHN’s mixed multitude.

If you are interested in being a part of this process, or would like to recommend someone, please contact me at president@khnseattle.org or give me a call or text at 206-790-9406.

"Without Torah, there is no flour."

Pledge Contributions & FY2020-2021

These are trying and changing times and we recognize that many households at KHN are facing hardships during the COVID crisis. Kol HaNeshamah is committed to an open tent. While we hope every member household will continue to prioritize their support for KHN by making the most generous pledge contribution possible given their financial situation, it is paramount that each member know their place in this community is secure even when finances are not.

This July, KHN will NOT be assessing an automatic increase in pledge contributions as we have in the past.

If we hear nothing from a member household, we will assume their pledge commitment for FY21 (July 2020-June 2120) will remain the same as in FY20 (July 2019-June 2020).

If you decide to decrease or increase your FY21 pledge, make a pause in your pledge payments, or restructure your pledge contribution schedule, simply let us know and we will make sure that our records reflect that change.

If you are worried, please let us know! If you have additional resources to share at this time, please let us know. Reach out to me at president@khnseattle.org , or Connie Burk, Acting Executive Director, at execdir@khnseattle.org .

Congregants pool our resources—our ruach, our skills and talents, and our dollars—to build and sustain a vibrant congregation that can weather the inevitable storms of life together. We will continue to do that in the coming year. To paraphrase a bit, How beautiful—sturdy with strong stakes—are your open tents, O Israel!

P.S.

Build courage and connection with a special KHN Social Justice Havdalah service led by Geoff Greenlee & Rabbi Zari.

8:00pm Saturday June 13th

Meeting ID: 948 8005 0073

Password: CHAI

AND

Join us for the June 27th WIN meal service ! This KHN tradition is a touchstone of KHN service, a gateway for food justice work, and a great way for the entire family to be of service together.