Allen Kamer Testimonial

ALLEN KAMER TESTIMONIAL

When Jodi Smith assigned me the task to thank Allen for his two years of service to Temple Sinai, needless to say I was most thankful for this opportunity to say a few words.  I have worked with Allen since the time that he took over the Renovation of this Sanctuary and I can tell you that Allen approached and took charge of projects, bringing his managerial and negotiating abilities, dealing with each issue so that Temple Sinai came out better and stronger.  Allen’s patience and his ability to listen to competing opinions, to issues as simple as to what color the chairs in the main sanctuary should be to setting the stage to change our Temple By-Laws to reflect changing needs of our membership, to chairing the most recent Rabbi Search Committee where he presided with sometime painful fairness so that we all came to consensus, to presiding over Board Meetings that allowed for productive equal debate by all, to giving us inspiration and enthusiasm during his Shabbat announcements.  This is what made Allen a truly great President.  Allen, fortunately for us, under your style of leadership you are leaving our Temple in good health after some difficult times.

I wanted to come up with two words that can describe Allen.  Some description thqa will always stay with our Temple Community.  I was driving a few weeks ago down Highland Avenue, listening to a program on NPR where Bill Russell was interviewed about his years with the Celtics and discussing his new book referencing Red Auerbach.  At one point he commented on the genius of Red Auerbach.  Here is what he said, “Besides being a great mathematician, the genius of Red Auerbach was that he was a visionary with common sense”  I immediately realized that this describes who Allen is!!  Wow this sounds like Allen Kamer, a visionary with common sense.  Because God knows this Temple needed common sense as we navigated through some choppy waves during the past two years.  But I can tell you that Allen is leaving his Presidency with the Temple more optimistic then ever.  He has opened our eyes to all the possibilities for growth, strength, innovation, camaraderie and maybe just thinking outside the box!

So Allen we are here to thank you for all you have done, I for one will miss working with you but I am sure that Stacey is more than happy to have you back.  To honor your past two years we would like to present you with a complete set of the Mishnah.  Now that you are turning over Temple Sinai to our next President and a new Administration we hope you have lots of free time to enjoy and study what it is here and maybe add just a little bit to your genius.

Thank You

Michael Lawee, Ritual Chair