Elul 5785

 

Dear KAT Members,

 

We hope that everyone had an enjoyable and meaningful summer!  As we enter Elul, it is time to arrange your KAT Annual Membership, as well as your seating for the upcoming Yamim Nora’im.

 

As in previous years, this past year has been full of both the classic community events of our warm, vibrant and supportive community along with some newer initiatives. The programs span inspirational shiurim and tefillot, social gatherings of all sorts for all ages during the week and on shabbat and chagim, a range of milestone events for community members, and continued tireless efforts of the chessed committee who supports our KAT family through any need. 

 

We have tremendous gratitude to each and every person who took some role in making all of the above – and much more – happen, as well as to those who are involved in the everyday behind the scenes running and maintenance of the shul. The involvement of each and every one of our members is key to the continued strength of our community in general, and especially during what has been and continues to be a tremendously challenging time for עם ישראל as a whole.  

 

And in that context, here’s the membership drive for the coming year:

 

Each year, KAT depends on raising NIS 150,000 annually through the membership drive and from Yamim Nora’im seating. This amount funds the basic upkeep of the shul (payroll, insurance, utilities and minimal building maintenance).  We fund additional shul activities and special expenses from the proceeds received from the KAT simcha hall. 

 

In order to accommodate rising expenses and a wish to provide stellar community programming, the prices for membership dues and seating have risen slightly compared to previous years. Membership can be paid in installments of up to 12 payments.

 

NIS donations to KAT are tax deductible under ‘Seif 46’.

​

Annual Membership Dues

 

• NIS 2,140 per family

 

• NIS 1,400 per family that has completed or is making ongoing Building Fund contributions (See here for information about the KAT Building Fund)

 

• Free for newcomers to the neighborhood, new olim and anyone under 30

 

In KAT, no membership request is turned down for reasons of financial hardship. If you wish to discuss this in strict confidence, please reach out to either myself (michael20687@gmail.com), the KAT Gizbar Yair Blumenfeld (gizbar@ahavat-tzion.com) or any other member of the KAT Vaad (Abi Blackman, Michal Gordon, Gabrielle Hodes, Medinah Korn, Gedalya Shindler, and Tali Slifkin).   

 

Yamim Nora’im Seating

 

A few important points:

 

• Membership dues do not include Yamim Nora’im seats, which must be requested and purchased separately from membership dues. 

• In order to purchase seats for Yamim Nora’im you must be a Shul member. 

• Non members will be able to purchase upon availability a few days before Rosh Hashanah/Yom Kippur.

• Seats will be allocated according to demand and a prioritization scale. The KAT Yamim Nora’im Seating Committee works extremely hard to ensure transparency and the fair allocation of seats. Unfortunately, not all seating requests can be accommodated, and we respectfully ask that you take this into account when communicating with the committee, and that a spirit of ‘hakarat hatov’ is maintained.

 

All instructions and pricing for membership dues and Yamim Nora’im seating are detailed below. 

 

Please ensure that both your KAT membership dues and Yamim Nora’im Seating fees are paid by Friday, Elul 12 / September 5.

 

In the meantime, on behalf of the KAT Vaad and Finance Team, we wish you all a Ketiva V'Chatima Tova, for an upcoming year filled with good health, happiness and success.

 

B’vracha

 

Michael Ackerman 

on behalf of the KAT Vaad