TY Transition: Thank you, Ronni Guttin

Parashat B'hukotai                  Torah Reading:  Leviticus 26:3-27:34

This week's parashah/Torah portion is B'hukotai, the last portion in the book of Vayikra/Leviticus.  It is this final section of Leviticus that we read on Shabbat morning.
      Congregations that meet for minchah on Shabbat afternoon also read from the Torah . . . and the Torah reading for Shabbat afternoon is the next portion of Torah, not a repetition of what was read in the morning.
So, on this particular Shabbat we are taking leave of Vayikra/Leviticus and moving forward to Bamidbar/Numbers.
      Just as we begin and end chapters and books of Torah, we as individuals and as a community end chapters and books and begin new chapters and books.
      No congregation knows that better than ours!
Over the course of the next few days, Torat Yisrael is saying a formal "Thank You" to our Education Director, Ronni Guttin.  Ronni has served as our Education Director for a few short years . . . and has taught the children in our congregation for decades.  There are many chapters and books to be appreciated recounting all that Ronni has taught our children and our adults; all the warmth and encouragement Ronni has showered on the students in our education programs; all the guidance, wisdom and support Ronni has provided the members of our faculty; all the warmth and sensitivity with which Ronni has supported our school parents.  For me, Ronni has been a wise, creative and collaborative professional partner.
      If you are not busy with other commitments on Sunday morning, come to our school year closing program for the Lawrence G. and Frederic G. Cohen Religious School at 9 am at our school venue at The Village Lower School (2220 South County Trail, East Greenwich).  There you will have the opportunity to express your thanks to Ronni personally and enjoy our students shine at the end of the academic year.
      You are also invited to share your favorite Ronni story or express your thanks to Ronni on line on our Torat Yisrael website.  Click here to write a few words to or about Ronni! 
      I don't know about you, but I am always reading at least two books at the same time.  It's not a matter of closing one book and opening another, but rather enjoying a few books simultaneously.
That is how we at Torat Yisrael will both watch Ronni move on to greater commitments at Camp JORI and embrace our new Education Director, Donna Tarutz.  We will enjoy a bit of overlap in the last chapter of our school's journey with Ronni Guttin and the first chapter of our school's journey with Donna Tarutz.  We will begin to write the newest chapters in our Torat Yisrael education programs over the next few months as Ronni Guttin, Donna Tarutz and I plan a smooth and fruitful and invigorating transition in school leadership.