Rabbi Philip Weintraub
Congregation Agudas Israel 5/6/15
Looking around this room, I see many familiar faces, whether from personal relationships or from seeing your names in the newspapers. (For those of you who do not know me, my name is Rabbi Philip Weintraub and for the last few years I have had the privilege of serving Congregation Agudas Israel, here in this fine city, Newburgh.) I am proud to stand here today, in this incredible Newburgh Armory Unity Center, with the Orange County Citizens Foundation celebrating the 2015 Ruth and James Ottaway Medal Recipient, Jim Smith. He along with so many of the people in this room do so much good for our Orange County community, and no matter our faith, religion, or belief, we all share the desire to improve our surroundings.
I would like to offer a brief prayer.
Ribono Shel Olam, Master of the Universe, Heavenly Parent, please watch over all of us in this room. May the food we eat remind us of the gift of our lives. May this evening inspire us to further good works in our community. The opening of Bereshit, the book of Genesis, reminds us that we were all created b’tzelem Elokim, in the image of GD. Each day let us remember this as a blessing and as a command. Let us demand of ourselves the strength to find the good in EVERY person we meet, whether they are standing at a corner asking for $1 or sitting at a beautiful dinner asking for thousands! May we look at our community and not just pray for a time of peace between all citizens, but actively work towards it. Most of all, let us have an attitude of gratitude. Let us be thankful for all that has been given to us, all we have worked for, all we have earned, and recognize that everything we do, everything we have achieved is a partnership. May this partnership with Gd, with our community, with the people at these tables continue to expand, continue to grow and most importantly, continue to improve our holy world. Amen
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