You may have heard the story about an elderly Jewish gentleman, Moise, whose doctors had told him that unfortunately he had only a few days left on this earth. I have tried to be a good Jew and a good person my whole life. I have never asked you for anything, but I would die happy if I could win the lottery. I have never won anything in my whole life, and my will leaves everything to charity, so please grant me this one wish. Maybe I was not clear, I don't have to be the grand prize winner.
Second place is fine.
I won't ask for anything else. The Temple does not belong to the Lay Leadership or to the staff, it belongs to you and me, all of us, and we need your involvement to help to make it even better than it is. May your coming year be sweet with the joy of maintaining your Jewish connection as part of our wonderful Temple. See you at a Shabbat service, L' Shanah Tovah. Since our lives as American Jewish women are a reflection of most of the 20th century, just being a part of this archival effort has reinforced our belief in our Jewish heritage and the importance of its continuity.