Dear JCOGS family,
Fall of 2019, I arrived at the first conference of the Clergy Leadership Incubator (CLI), a program designed to develop the leadership of pulpit rabbis. As I cautiously walked into this new room of rabbinic veteran mentors and newer rabbis, the flip chart in the front of the room read: “Nothing has to happen; anything can happen.”
During this two and a half year fellowship, we would learn about visionary and adaptive leadership, alignment with mission, and most of all, innovation. Not words that often float in the Beit Midrash/Study Hall of rabbinical schools, but words no less important to building Jewish community.
JCOGS is an innovative spiritual community, from its founding until today. Once a scrappy innovative startup, JCOGS is now a vibrant, innovative community centre, with programs that emanate from our diverse and talented membership. Like our new housing task force, our green team, the 30+ members studying the Hartman curriculum on Zoom, and the upcoming interfaith winter holiday display on the village green in downtown Stowe plus a new large Hanukkiyah/Menorah at JCOGS.
But today, I want to highlight one such innovative program. Last year, JCOGS launched the Warm Toes Fund because socks and underwear are often missing from clothing donations. Bombas socks gave us 1000 pairs of socks, which we distributed to schools and human services organizations, like Lamoille Community House and Capstone Community Action. We also raised money, $2500 of which has been used to purchase socks and underwear for those in need in our area.
This Giving Tuesday, we're replenishing our Warm Toes Fund so that we can continue to warm the toes of our community members throughout the next year. A donor has pledged a dollar-for-dollar match to help make sure we can keep this tikkun olam alive. Watch upcoming weekly newsletters and emails to learn more, or just go ahead and join me in donating
here.
Finally, I will be away from the office for an extended Thanksgiving break starting tomorrow/Wednesday until November 29. For pastoral needs, please reach out to Rabbi Jan at rabbijan@ruachhamaqom.org or 802-356-1668. For all other needs, please contact the office at jcogs@jcogs.org or 802-253-1800.
Can’t wait to be back to celebrate Hanukkah with you!
Rabbi David
