This is an exciting time in my professional life. I am thrilled to be celebrating twenty years in the cantorate and twenty years at Temple Beth Am. I don't know a great deal about what is being planned for the big weekend (people around here have been very secretive), but I am looking forward to sharing this milestone with the congregation that has been my home for the entirety of my marriage and the entirety of my professional life! In 1988, I turned 30, got married, graduated and was invested from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion and moved to Massachusetts. It was a year of great change and great anticipation. In 2008, I have turned 50, celebrated my 20th wedding anniversary to my husband, Gene, and am also celebrating twenty years at Temple Beth Am (not to mention also witnessing the Bat Mitzvah of my daughter this year as well!) It is a year of joyous milestones and sweet remembrances.

I am also embarking on a new venture in my career. As you have probably read elsewhere in this issue in the letter from Cantor Greenwald, the president of the ACC (American Conference Of Cantors), I have been chosen to represent the Reform cantorate on a national level. I am both honored and humbled by this appointment, but I am also aware that it will be a challenge to take on the responsibilities of this new position and still fulfill all my obligations to Temple Beth Am. I will need to do some more travel and there are times when I will need to be out of town to meet with the leaders of our movement in New York, Chicago, Tampa, Los Angeles and New Orleans.

I believe that I am up for the challenge and I would like to reassure you that Temple Beth Am will continue to be my first priority. I will not miss any Bar or Bat Mitzvah service, and it is rare that I will not be here on a Friday night. I will also be here to take care of the life cycle events of our members. When I do need to miss a class or a meeting during the week, I will make sure that there is appropriate coverage in my absence. Please know that although I will be busy, I am not too busy to tend to the needs of our members.

As we begin this new year together, I look forward to the privilege of sharing many more moments in your lives and having you all share in the moments with my family as well. May we go from strength to strength and may we all help to strengthen each other.