Tribute to President Ron Simon

by Emily Jennewein, Incoming President

May 19, 2011 -- The board and staff of Congregation Beth Israel thank Ron Simon for the wisdom and intelligence he brought to the leadership of our synagogue over the past two years.

As president, Ron set an outstanding example for us all. He brought his significant talents and experience to the leadership of every aspect of our congregation.  For 37 years, Ron has been an active member of Beth Israel.

Ron Simon

Watching Ron guide board meetings has been to learn from a true mensch, someone who cares deeply about Beth Israel and what’s best for our synagogue.  He approaches every challenge with wisdom and patience, and with his eye on the big picture.

I’d like to repeat those words: wisdom and patience. Ron has brought to the leadership of our congregation the wisdom to set important goals and the patience to focus and achieve them.

Of course, Ron brought a successful financial executive’s perspective to the temple’s financial challenges. During the past two years he has strengthened the financial foundation of our synagogue, laying the groundwork for the 150th anniversary endowment campaign. He has personally cultivated generous endowment gifts.

If you ask Ron why he has loved being president -- as you know he clearly has from that certain smile you can count on always to be on his face -- he would tell you that the best part has been the opportunity to work closely with Rabbi Berk, Lesley Mills, and all the people of Beth Israel, and to move the temple forward. 

To know Ron well is to know that the single goal that’s most important to Ron for Beth Israel’s future, is that we advance one of the Five Big Ideas identified in last fall’s Strategic Visioning process – and that is to make Beth Israel a second home to our future: the congregation’s youth.

And that may be why Ron seemed, to me, to enjoy most of all the opportunity to set an outstanding example for his grandchildren. Ron and Anne’s three children became b’nai mitzvah and were married at Beth Israel, and his seven grandchildren all received their Jewish names in our congregation.

Surely one of the happiest point of the last two years was watching Ron beam with pride at his four granddaughters -- all lined up in the front row at the Civic Theatre -- for services last Rosh Hashanah morning, and watching them gaze back at him with keen interest and pride.

Ron, we are immensely grateful for all the wisdom you have given Beth Israel.