As we reach the midpoint of summer, we have much to celebrate! Over 1,000 people attended Splash & Serve, the official opening of the Rochelle and Stanley Ferdman Aquatic Center with the Lisa and Sandy Gottesman Pool and the Hurt Family Tennis Center. These two important elements of the Generations project add to the already completed Zeifman Family Early Childhood Program refresh in the fall 2020 and Epstein Family Community Hall / Gloria & Harvey Evans Performance Center refresh in May. This past month, we broke ground on the Krasoff Family Jewish Family Service Building. Bringing Shalom Austin Jewish Family Service (JFS) on campus will signifi­cantly increase our ability to comprehensively provide wellness and dignity for those who participates on the campus. And finally, we are excited for the grand opening of the new Dell Jewish Community Center building in the winter.

When we embarked on the vision of the Generations project, it was to inspire new ways for individuals, couples and families to engage in meaningful relationships with others and strengthen our community. The completed elements of this project have already shown how this is coming to fruition, creating a newly enhanced multi-gen­erational experience for all who participate on campus.

We also celebrated the kickoff of our largest JCamps season in Shalom Austin history. By the end of the summer, over 730 unique campers will have participated in our school-age programs.

As we approach the High Holy Day season and fall, I look forward to seeing our community in person at the congregations on campus. The campus provides an amazing ecosystem of Jewish life, between the congrega­tions, day schools and Shalom Austin, creating infectious energy that touches everyone.

Finally, as fall approaches, Mosaic, our signature Women’s Philanthropy gathering and fundraising event, makes a comeback! Mazel tov to Jennifer Greenblum, our Woman of Valor recipient, for this well-deserved honor.

As we complete summer and approach the beginning of 5783, may this year be filled with joy, happiness, meaning and blessings.

Shanah Tovah,

Rabbi Daniel A. Septimus

Read the July 2022 Jewish Outlook