Shaare Shalom Event - Full Coverage

Morning to everybody. >> Morning. >> It's the last Friday in deal. Everybody on a Friday in deal at least for the kids who have school. God bless. It's a sunny day. There's so much to do. But it's alul. And we know is the time to focus on what's important. The fact that we are here this morning is greatness in Hashem's eyes. The fact that our dear Leo opened up his home to have us. The fact that you have so many people on this table working behind the scenes, something unfathomable. They're not going to work. They're not spending time relaxing on the beach, going to the pool. They're worried about Hashem's home and they're putting all their energy into it. And it's impossible, as I said by our barbecue, for those who weren't there, it's impossible to drive on a road without the people who worked hard to pave the road beforehand for us to go smooth sailing. So, we thank you so much. By the way, last week we read in the para about the kosher animals. The sign for a kosher animal is split hooves and re- chewing its cud. And our rabbis tell us that's what a Jew is. Number one, we hold on to tradition. We're reweing. We're regoing over and connected to tradition. But we have to move forward with our two front legs. I give a woman's class besides the shalom women's class, a young newly married woman's class who they're going to join our women's classm. And we're giving it for years. It started off when they were about 18, 19. and I spoke by one of their friends weddings and they heard my speech so they decided rabbi let's make a class so we were giving a class every single week for years they were single and as they're going forward they're getting married having children and then corona came hashem should protect am is and we're still giving the class but instead of indoors, we're giving it outdoors. It wasn't such a beautiful backyard like this one, but it was beautiful. And the hostess who is newly married, she was married only about two weeks and she's already hosting a class in her home. She says, "Rabbi, you see that tree over there?" And I said, "Yes, it's a magnificent tree." She said, "That tree is a proof that dreams could come true." I said, "That's nice, but how does a tree tell me that dreams come true?" She said, "Rabbi, when I was in third grade, my father bought this deal home, and that was the most magnificent tree I saw in my life. What does a third grader know about nature, about trees?" But she said, "Dad, when I get married, I'm getting married under that tree." And the father tells her in third grade, "Li, you're getting married in a like everybody else." Fourth grade comes, they come for the summer. Dad, I'm getting married under that tree. And once again, the father says, "We don't get married in backyards. We don't get married under trees. We get married in a fifth grade, sixth grade, 10th grade, 11th grade, 12th grade." She goes to Israel one year and every year she tells her dad the same thing and every year her dad tells her the same thing. And she got engaged in the winter and her father booked Westel Shul. You're getting married in Westile. Everything's fine and dandy. But then we know what happened in March 2020. There's no parties in Schulles. She got married in her backyard and the tree was her hoopa because nothing stands in the way of a vision. Nothing stands in the way of a dream when it's a beautiful dream and a dream that you really want. Hashem will make it manifest. We all here have one dream. We have a dream as Amy is as a whole to make the nation a better nation to teach the people to teach the people how to act. But as a specific congregation, our is really the pinnacle of that neighborhood after Ocean Avenue. We are the shares, a borrowed phrase of that neighborhood. We are here on a mission to make sure the next generation has a beautiful synagogue, has a beautiful knice and that's everybody here's vision and that's our dream. We are at a moment in history that we never thought we would make. But guess what? The previous regime handed over the baton and they're trusting us because they saw our in inspiration. They saw how uh we dedicated and devoted we are and they knew that we could take that baton and not just stay status quo. We're here to dream. We're here to have visions and to manifest it and to take our synagogue not one level higher. We're going to take our synagogue bezund levels higher. But it can't be done by everyone just saying, "I'll worry about the other guy. Let him do it. I'll do my thing." Wrong. There's a question in this week's an obvious question. It says, "We know if there are two witnesses in Judaism." It's as if Hashem himself said that that's what it is. When two witnesses that are kosher testify, it's like a million people saying the same thing. You don't need more than two. So the question comes up, you're going to see in the hash tomorrow. What's with theim is a million. So why? The answer is because sometimes people think I'm just the third wheel. I'm not going to do anything. It's already established. There's already two witnesses. Who needs me? The Torah tells us if that's what you're thinking, you're wrong because the sha is right next to the shim. You have to be a part of it. And with teamwork, we can make the dream work. I said a story the other night. There was a beautiful hatal dinner and I gave a story that happened a couple of years ago. There was a huge business seminar and they were teaching people all about business, all about growth. And after so many speeches, they decided to take a break. But right before the break, the people in charge said, "Everyone here, we have an interesting preposition for you. We want everyone to start having arm wrestles, and whoever wins the most arm wrestles in this seminar will get a check for 10 grand under the table, under the radar, off the books. Ya Allah, the check is yours. And all the big guys that are working out, they're all excited. We're going to make this happen. We came for business. But yah, let me show them my power. Let me show them the tiger, as they say. And they're all having arm wrestles. And one guy's killing everyone. He has one, two, three, four. Some are winning two, three. One guy won 15 arm wrestles. He already in his mind is thinking what he's going to do with the 10 grand. He's so excited. I'm going to get 10 grand. I definitely won. And they announce afterwards, whoever thinks there's a wi they're a winner, please come up here. And he starts walking up. And you see two skinny, scrawny guys standing up on on stage also. And he's thinking to himself, they must be there to write the check. There's no way they're there because they want to arm wrestle. And he gets up there. They said, "How many did you get?" And he said, "I won 15 arm wrestles. Pay up." And they said, "We would like to pay you, but you're not the winner. You see these two guys, they have 150 wins each." He said, "That's impossible." He said, "That's not impossible." And everyone in the seminar is watching. They said, "We weren't trying. We just went one, one, one, one, one, one." Each guy won 150. So they got the 10 grand, they split it. That's teamwork. And they didn't even work hard. We are here right now on a mission from Hashem to add more to in the world to add more to in the neighborhood. Sometimes you drive by at night and it's a ghost town. And our new regime and everyone together, we're adding more to learning at night. If you don't have Torah in a synagogue as much as you should, then there's no Torah is the greatest. First thing we said right after we said, "We're taking the baton. We're going to add more Torah. We're going to get Yeshiva guys to come in the evenings and learn. If this guy's a beginner, if this person is advanced, whatever it might be." And we have a woman's class that there are men here that their women come to the class without fail. They host the class in their home. She makes a good kayak, by the way. And the women's class teaches Torah and the women won't miss it. They have they bring their children with them. They bring their uh grandmas with them and they come and the Torah is flourishing. All this we have dreams, but dreams don't manifest without us putting in our effort. And as they say in many fundraisers, we believe it or not already have all the funds needed for our mission. The only problem is it's in your pockets. We got to make it happen. Hashem, we have to do our thing. And there's so many names that I want to mention. And Hashem is mentioning everybody's name here. But there were people for the past few weeks, like I said, not going to work, going all day long, going to the shul, throwing out the Japanese from World War II that don't even know the war's over, hiding in that basement. We're taking that and we're going to turn it into a pentagon of the neighborhood with Torah learning with Torah teaching the children's program, the adults program and Hashem is going to look and say, "Wow, that regime beautifully took it to another level." We thank all those in charge. We thank all those working hard. We take thank all those that participate. And don't underestimate the power of what you could do for Hashem's children. Keep up the excellent work and thank you for allowing me to be part of such a beautiful, beautiful venture and mission with bringing the Mashiach even closer. Shabbat shalom. [Applause] >> Rabbi, um the program uh the program for the for the rest of the morning is uh nothing happening. >> God bless you. I'm not ready. >> We'll wait. >> I thought you coming to hug me. >> Um, now there's a few. So, as you guys know that there is a new uh group. There have been new committees formed. Um, nothing's final with regards to any contribute towards the holidays or the building committee. Anything that you want to do, we're going to talk about. Well, I'm not actually speaking yet. Um before um I did prepare a few remarks but I think there's a few other people that just wanted to say something brief. Albert, Victor, Nissim, anybody um want to volunteer? >> Victor. >> No Victor. >> I just want to say thank you Rabbi. Thank you for the good words. We're trying the the committee really trying to work hard and the focus and the vision they want to take it from from a level to another level. We are passing we are going through a gray area now. The gray area is we want to we want to have the biggest dream but it doesn't go straight. You can't build the biggest dream right away. So we need to go through a gray area where we need everybody maybe money and enjoy the classes. We're going to start classes like Rabbi said. I don't want anyone to get the wrong idea. They just give a watch. >> They have you said they already these people are generous and everybody generous. They're going to see their fruits coming out of their money. It's not just throw money. I want to use their money. I know everybody work hard for their money and it's kesh to them. But for us, it's going to be kesh kashim. Their money will be kesh kesim. We're going to be very careful spending, very careful uh investing in the right places. That's all what I want to say. But uh more importantly, we focusing on the young. On the young. This is really important for us, the young. We spoke, we keep speaking about the young, the young, but really that's where it's going to be. And also, we care about the old little older. We care about all of them. [Laughter] >> No, we love him. I told him will grow. We're going to make Shalom of Miami. He's going to be the head of item. to watch the >> love you. I mean, we're trying to do our best and we will do our best to make it really the dream of the community like the rabbi said. But said, why why you making now something if we're going to be mashia? So my vision is to this sh all the sh is going to go to right all shul is going to go to mashia all the sh but I want to take the sh I want to have it first class VIP when mashia comes so it needs a lot of work the main thing is the time the money is not going to matter in mashia time but the time the spending hours with Torah that's what matters so we want to take it to VIP in your with your help with everybody's help will do we'll do permission. Amen. >> Thank you. I'll try >> guys. If you don't know, Victor took on the role of treasurer of the He's been working non-stop and so for the treasurer to say that the money is not uh you know, not number one, it shows it shows where our head is and I appreciate that, >> right? Um Joe Schmer and Albert Sai have been working tirelessly for years on the on the youth program. Um, and uh, why don't I let Albert just give a quick update on what's going on? >> I don't have any. >> I don't have any updates. >> Um, so me and Joe Schmer have been working already two, three years on the kids program. Um, so right now we're in a trans transition form. We just hired a great young rabbi that came very very very highly re recommended from Magen David and other rabbis. So hopefully we should have that. Um we're going to build and expand our Hazanut program. We're going to build and expand our Torah reading program. Right now we have 10 kids that read every week. Um so we're going to build on that. We're going to start night programs again with the rabbi uh with dinner kids. Um, we're also going to have younger kids program. So, we have we're going to cater from the five-year-olds all the way to the 20 year olds. Um, each group is going to have their own rabbi. They're going to have their own classes that to attract them. Um, so again, we just want you to come bring your kids. We're going to take care of them. And, uh, from here, we're just gonna keep going. Sky's is the limit. >> Thank you. Um, so I prepared I prepared to talk a little bit about the vision and the future to be a little bit more specific. We've been talking to everybody and anybody that would talk to us about ideas. Um, so I was kind of saving that for last. So, um, does anybody else have anything to say? Nim or uh, Right. Does anybody have any specific questions? We'll have Q&A after, but does anybody anybody have any specific questions or something that you want us to address? >> No. Okay. So let me go ahead. Okay. So um so basically I prepared a few remarks when we when we speak to people about the transition and the change that was coming. Um the first reaction we got from people generally was that you know a little bit of disbelief that after 29 years right that there's going to be a complete and not just a marginal change. Um and there was a lot of skepticism and a lot of people told us that we're wasting our time. Um but what was really beautiful is as soon as people came to the realization or came to the belief that there's real opportunities for the younger guys to get involved in the shul. You see, I'm talking to people in Shoul and Deal and everywhere. You see the change in their complexion. You see the change in the look in their eyes. They become excited and all they want to do is give advice and in a good way. I mean that in a positive way. Everybody wants to help. Everyone says whatever you need, let me know. So, we sent a questionnaire around. We wanted to hear from people. What is what should the vision shool be? What does the shul mean to you? What should it mean to the area and the neighborhood? Um, we got a, you know, we got about 10 to 15 very, very thoughtful responses. And one of the main reasons for having this breakfast today and the reason why I was very excited and and and open to hosting it is because um, we have now the raw material, we have the ideas, we have the people, we have the energy, and as soon as we go back to Brooklyn this weekend, right away, the ball's going to start rolling. And it's so so important for us to have that momentum. It would be normal if we made a mistake here and there, if we slipped a little bit. But the most important thing is we want to maintain that belief that people have in us, that everyone wants to stay with us, that people want to feel that positive energy. Most importantly, that everybody's rooting for us. So I prepared two quick things I wanted to to talk about. number one are what I think becomes the vision of the shul and as a member of the shul sitting here today you have a VIP status of if you think that we missed anything or we should be adding anything talk to anybody on the board or the new committees um first of all I just want to talk about what I think the strengths are because it's sorry not the strengths the challenges because we ask people for honestly what are the challenges of the shaw It's no secret that we took over at a time of financial instability. We took over at a time where there have been multiple breakoffs where the reputation of the shul hasn't been I think what it was in its glory days right before before the breakaway started happening. Um and you know our membership has been dipping a little bit. The learning programs have been cut right but those are challenges. is the good news is something that I've learned from coaching in business is that the first thing to think about is that a challenge is always the raw material for the solution. The challenge isn't a challenge in of itself. The challenge is the path in which we're going to grow. So, what we're going to do is we're going to lean into our strengths. We have the most warm and beloved and loving rabbi in the community on our side. We have an incredible location and building. He's done. Uh we have an incredible location. Everyone the first thing everyone says to us is look at the real estate that you have 100 by 100 on one of the top corners in the community and again an incredible Hakaratov to Joey and Allan and Joe Schmer and Victor and all the guys that made that happen over the last 30 years and the founders who are not here and Mr. Scaba of course um but the people who really paved the way like the rabbi said these are the strengths that we're going to build on. We stand on the shoulder of giants. The rabbi said that we um that they paved the road and now we're going to drive on it. I mean, we really are sitting on 29 years of Joey Torman's blood, sweat, and tears. And we could only have the most hakarat possible for him. Um, another strength we have is the loyalty. Yes, people left, but the people that stayed stayed. They're loyal. Yes, their friends left and they chose to stay anyway. That's a sense of loyalty. We really have a lot to build on. And the opportunity here is clear. opportunity that the that the community is going to continue growing. The area is going to continue attracting young people. And I always thought it was only young people, but now I'm hearing that those young people's parents want to live near them and are also moving to the area. God bless there is plenty of room for multiple shooles in the community. One thing I think about is with all unfortunately the negative feeling or reputation that happened with the breakoffs. If you're on Ocean Parkway, you could go to Shahition in the morning and by Mansor in the afternoon, you could go to Ben on Sunday and you could go to SLC on Tuesday. No one's going to be, oh my god, he went into that shul and then he went into this other shel. That's not how it is. You have a lot of shs. You go where you feel comfortable. And we want Shalom, like the rabbi said, to be the shion of the neighborhood, to be the bet of the neighborhood. We have the property, we have the people, and the growth is going to come to us, right? I heard of a concept of a lighthouse versus a tugboat, right? A tugboat sits in the harbor and has to go out and pull each boat in one at a time, right? When you're in maybe a difficult situation, you might feel like a tugboat, but a lighthouse stays still and attracts everybody to it, right? Shalom is going to be the lighthouse of the area. Um, so in summary before I close the four bullet points that we, you know, as a representative of the new committee, um, number one, we are going to lean into our strengths that I just laid out and we're going to rebuild the membership. Number two, we are going to rebuild the learning and the classes for every single age group. We're going to invest in it. We're not going to shut it down. Number three, shalom is the k of like I said, everything that happened up until now is in the past and it's gone. As I say, bury the hatchet. And it is important to be said for whoever doesn't know that the leaders of the other shul down the block made this happen. They put their money, they put their time, they use their connections, and they said, "We want you to be successful. We want you to succeed and we're here to do anything that we can to help you. So, we are now shalom in in in its fullest sense. Number four is financial responsibility and transparency. That was one of the feedback that came in over and over again. People said we don't know what's going on with the money, you don't spend responsibly, etc. So, we are going we have a commitment of financial responsibility and seriousness about that. Now, I'd like to close with um something that hit me this week uh in the sometimes, you know, you could read something a thousand times and you don't with with permission of the rabbi to uh say a word of Torah. >> I need a speech for tomorrow anyway. >> Okay. So, this is this is serious. I was you know, we pray all the time, but sometimes you know what what you when your eyes are looking for something, you're more likely to see it. So in the right we say and we list all these characteristics or traits of Hashem right we say right he's great and holy is in charge of all the wars we say all these things about Hashem and then there's a very curious or unique two lines right after that it says he plants and he causes salvation to grow. Now, none of the other ones in that group are related to each other. Right? Right. All they're not seemingly related to each other. But these two, he plants one thing and something else grows. And this is how Hashem runs around. This is how Hashem operates, right? And we're in a moment right now where Why wouldn't we follow the model and the recipe that Hashem uses to run the world? Shalom is in need of a Yeshua right now. We need to dig out of financial difficulty. We need to convince people to come back. We need a Yeshua. But also, who in their personal life also doesn't need a Yeshua? Whether it's someone with a health problem or someone that they love or a financial problem or relationship problems with their kids or whatever it is, everybody needs a Yeshua somewhere in their life. And the sh needs a Yeshua. And what's the what is the seed that we're going to plant in order for that Yeshua to sprout? That's we always hear around the holiday times that does this does that. We are here today to try to help the shul dig out of some of the debt that we're in so that we can start from the holidays strong and build and invest and grow. And the purpose of the that we give is not just for the shul but it's for us too. It's so that we can all participate in the Yeshua so that we can all benefit. If we do Hashem's work, Hashem will do our work. And I noticed something else when I was looking at this one more quick line that about planting. We say he says um if you plant with tears, you're going to harvest with great joy. As an investment guy, I think it's also a good idea to tell you to invest to buy when the opportunity is great. And this is that moment right now. It's a difficult time. But we're going to plant those seeds of Saddaka and we will all be maybe in six months, maybe in one year from now, but see the growth of the Torah that we do of people coming back to the community of uh you know of us being able to operate the SHU without fear of paying the bills and making payroll and you know juggling bank accounts from day to day. Again, those times are behind us and I really thank every one of you for being here and anything that you can do to help us big or small. We really appreciate it. Thank you very much. [Applause] >> Sorry. Just >> Thank you. >> Like I said, so many people doing so many things, but Leo moved to East. God bless. Usually when a person feels like they were able to get closer to the ocean parkway heare area so they say why would I go to shalom when I could go to the other sh Imagine someone working 24/7 after they already move they come every morning they come for classes because he's an investment man and he knows where true merchandise is and he knows where the future is and he knows that we're going to beem the greatest bull market ever. We thank Leo for all his hard work. Good things always. By the way, with all those parables that could take off next week, you give the opening sermon to you to everyone and keep up the excellent work and make it happen. >> Anybody want to speak or ask questions or discuss anything? >> A very diverse group and all with the same mission and it really gives me a lot of confidence going into the years to come. um that the really does have a bright future. So, thank you very much, guys. >> Thank you. >> I also want to say one thing, our neighborhood's only first minan, given all of the breakoffs that are there, the only first minyan that I know of is in our shul. Um so, I think that we need to continue to invest in it just like we're investing in the children's program and in the main minan and everything else that we have. Um it's important that we keep that in mind and we help grow it. I just want to say first of all thank you >> crazy amount of time to uh make things happen literally they can go for days I don't know how they do it uh you know everybody sending emails at crazy hours I don't know how they run their businesses so we're very thankful to for all of you uh when we say you know the rabbi said uh you know about the of the neighborhood rabbi it's not from Avenue. It's more like from East 14th to Norstrand and now people are way past Norstrand. So you got really uh a big crowd over there and it's not only because it's the only shul over there because people do want to come. Uh to the point of I want you to really think about this. If someone told you today or you have the opportunity to be a founder of today, if I had the opportunity today to put money and they say, "Wow, this guy was one of the main guys who helped bring the shul together." Would I do it? But I had a question. I mean, you look at today, it's learning all day long. It's 247. There's 100 kids, maybe more than 100 kids every night learning weddings, learning. So, if I had that opportunity today, of course, I would say, of course, I want to donate to that cause. This is your opportunity. The opportunity you you were coming in on ground zero of whatever the older committee built for us. We have an amazing piece of real estate that's irreplaceable, but it's really you have the opportunity to be part of a we have a kids program. To Albert's point, you know, I I woke I'm only new in the area. I'm three years in the area, so I don't have the history that a lot of you have, but I walk into the kids minan and you have the entire Torah read by 8 to 12 year olds. It it's I I can't understand it. I walk in and I'm like, "Wow, this is amazing. I've never seen such a kids minan ever. Most struggle to get people. We have the people. We have the kids." And that's why we have a bright future. Uh I need to add one more thing is we need each one of you and each one of us in shalom to step out of our comfort zone to donate to the shul. And I'll tell you what I mean will all make so much money and you'll have so much that each one of you could just write a check to build the new >> but with seeing where everybody is. I think if you're a guy who could donate 36,000 please donate 52. If you're an 18, go to 26. If you're five, go to 10. Everybody needs to do the extra step because this is a real opportunity to build something amazing, to build the heart of Madison area and to really be part of something that's going to be there. So please step out of your comfort zone a little bit. Push yourself to give. You know, ask uh after you give here, go ask your partner, go ask your boss, go ask your friend. We really need the money and it's only going to a good cause. The committee is uh committing to transparency, which is amazing. So you know where every dollar is going. Uh please step out of your comfort zone, donate to the shul. Uh and again thank you Rabbi and thank you for the committee. >> I just wanted to tell that you were there best work and we all thank you for it and your input and your Torah and your time and your effort. I really give you a lot of respect. >> Thank you >> and thank you for helping all of us take over and guide us in the right direction. And we just >> he still works every day with us. >> I know he still works. I just want to give him a personal thank you. >> You know, thank you and my pleasure. >> When you do it for in a synagogue and to it becomes very easy. Put Walmart on hold. Take care of the collections. It works. Trust me when I tell you that. And I also want to let you know that we really really the past committee really really really really worked very very hard to get to where the shul is now and due to some unfortunate situations over the past few years. Pardon my language it happens but >> time to move on. >> I got nervous. It's time to move on. And I realized that and I also realized that I could never, it's not never, but step away from the shul because for some reason the shul is like a magnet. I'm always connected. >> Even though I moved out of the neighborhood, I'm actually >> going anywhere >> closer to Leo here now. >> We'll walk together. >> I'll do my best to come by every now and then. Other shs are pulling me aside. They need this. They need help. all this and all that. I never knew I was so popular. >> We love you more. We love you more. >> But I'm here to help and uh and that's all I have to say right now. So, continue. Thank you. Thank you for having me and I appreciate the uh the kind words. >> You're our guiding light. We're standing on the shoulders of giants. and standing on them. Young and uh that was your dream. I remember all about >> it's all about the changing of the gods at this point. >> You know, we did it. >> We've seen it all. >> I tell you, we've seen here. We've seen it all. If >> I tell you just a little story of uh what happened to me and Joey, I don't know amount of years ago. I was actually uh going to the Giant game with my brother-in-law and uh Hashemi got the call that his wife was uh you know in labor and I got these two tickets and I got a bag full of deli and we were going into the Giant game and we're going to roll. All of a sudden I didn't want to go alone. I turned back, dropped my brother-in-law off. I went back home and I was watching the Giant game on TV. There was a phone call. Joey Torman, "What are you doing, Allan?" I go, "Sitting here with a bag of deli watching the Giant game." Goes, "What are you doing?" "I'm painting the shoe." I go, "You're painting the shoe." He goes, "I need help." I said, "Okay, I'll be right over." And he goes, "Bring the deli." go. We're eating the deli. We're brushing the poles and the this and the that. All of a sudden, we hear three or four people next door talking. When I buy this house, we're going to do this and we're going to do that, but there's a shoe next door. Don't worry, we'll put a fence. We'll have our privacy. All this and all that. We were listening to this. Joey and I were like, "We can't let it happen." We found out who's representing them. We got in the car. Small Alfa Romeo graduate. Joey's face was above the uh above the windshield. We're driving out all around Brooklyn to Ms. Rahi Real Estate to find the broker. But before that, Joey went to get a check. We found the G. She was in the middle of showing another house in the area and he said, "Next door to shalom, we want it now." >> And he wrote out a check. Goes, "No, but I promise this that. It's a synagogue. We want it." And that's how we bought Next Door. Wow. >> So that's one of the million stories I could sit and share. >> So when people say we never really did things and we this and you're that, you hear all kinds of negative nonsense. The truth is, we really, really, really, really worked hard to build that corner. We never got to that next step, but I'm hoping now with the new juice and the new this and the new that and everything, you should be very successful. >> Building a company, your kids, right? The dad built a company 40, 30, 40, $50 million. And then the kids come to take it to the $200 million. And without that foundation that you guys, there's that we can build on the shame. With everybody's help, we're going to take it to the $200 million company. >> Amanda, >> can I say something a minute? >> I want to say something to Leo for opening up his house. Rabbi Shelby, I'm just here not as a member of Shares Shalom, but as a innocent bystander helping with the media a little bit, I feel I should speak and say for two minutes as a member of Sharetion, the name the word came up a few times. Listen, we are in in an expansion phase, but if anybody's interested in donating or pledging anything, please see me. We just bought five houses in the last two years. We have a lot going on. But that's all putting all kidding aside. Um, two points I want to mention that you guys touched on. I've been blessed to have experience in a in a sh committee for the last 20 years. And the only thing I want to add that you guys touch, I just elaborate on two things. Number one is the youth. The barometer of any successful shul is the youth. You see kids running around. You see kids involved that whether they're eating candy, sitting with their father. That is really how you can use a measuring stick for a shul. People don't really realize that the youth means you have it tomorrow. You know that everybody else means you have it today. So do not do not neglect the youth. Keep building pro. I've been the chairman in for the youth program for many years. Just keep building, keep giving, keeping them happy. Every kid needs his own way to be happy in shul. But I heard that a few times. Do not neglect that point that the youth are the most important thing. keep adding space for the youth. That's what's going to help you go to the next level. The second thing I want to say is when I first got involved, I have an uncle, you actually an uncle you and I share um that came to me and said, "You want to be on a committee? Committee is a joke. Everybody who's on a committee is worthless. They become uh uh angry, bitter people." I said, "Okay, so what am I doing? What did you do for 40 years?" He goes, "I'm going to give you a little piece of advice. The way to succeed in a sho or a school or in a in a in an enterprise of nonprofit, you have to make the institution bigger than yourself. This is not about you as an individual. It's not about you as an ind him, her, anybody. You have to realize that you are part of a you are a a puzzle piece of a greater cause. You are really just one piece of a much bigger picture. You guys are here representing Shaesh Shalom. You're not here representing individuals. Not everything is going to go your way. You're not going to always get the title you want. You're not going to always get the recognition you want, the appreciation you want. You have to know you're gonna get get hits along the way. But you have to know that you know what? I'm gonna take the hits. I'm gonna persevere because you know what? This is for the future. This is not about my ego. This is really about the community, the neighborhood, and everybody around me. So, if you stay that course and you stay Shamayim, I really believe like Sha Moamelik says, you will be successful. There's going to be hurdles, there's going to be struggles, but if you stay that course, stay focused, you put your ego aside, and you realize that all of you are here representing a banner called the the of Shalom, you will be successful. >> Thank you. as a