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Letter from Meera Kamegai to congregants of Temple Beth Am, May 9, 2007

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    o TEMPLE BETH AM ?House o f The People ? May 9, 2007 Dear Congregants: Twenty seven years ago, Rabbi Mel Hecht founded Temple Beth Am, at first operating out of casinos and UNLV. Then our land in Summerlin was purchased and portables were moved into place. In 2001, new construction was started to create the current campus which included a preschool and an adult daycare center. The Rabbi?s dream was to create a community facility that served the entire family from youth to seniors. However, Temple Beth Am has struggled for a number of years due to a lack of professional management in an organization that was growing fast, resulting in financial difficulties. Fifteen years ago, a group of Temple Beth Am congregants left the congregation to start another, which they named Adat Ari El. After renting a small facility, they were just at the point that they were ready to begin construction of a building of their own. In a remarkable stroke o f luck, Adat Ari El became aware of our difficulties and proposed a consolidation and reunification of our two organizations. This consolidation is extremely advantageous for both of our synagogues. Preliminary steps towards consolidation were made on Monday, May 7th. The final paperwork is now in the hands of attorneys for both Temple Beth Am and Adat Ari El, Temple Beth Am and Adat Ari El will cease independent operations, and a new congregation will be formed with a new name. Rabbi Hecht is retiring leaving us his legacy of our beautiful temple. We will be welcoming, as one congregation, Rabbi Kenneth Segel, who will be joining us on July 1st. Rabbi Hecht will complete the Bar and Bat Mitzvahs scheduled before July 1st. The Shenker Academy and Beth Am Lied Adult Day Care Center will continue as before with exciting new changes and innovations planned for the near future. Our financial difficulties have kept our attention away from offering the events that bring us together socially and spiritually. This will all change as our new enlarged congregation will be infused with energy. We hope you will participate on committees and the Sisterhood and Brotherhood. We look forward with great anticipation to a new day and a re-energized community for us all. Sincerely, Meera Kamegai, Ph.D. President 9001 Hillpointe Road ? Las Vegas, Nevada 89134 ? (702)254-5110