> In a congregation with hundreds of people, you'd think we'd pray just like everyone else. Well I'm here along with schzfty to prove that false. I would like to welcome everyone to this years schzfty yom kippur creative service. I'm David Albert, schzfty's religious and cultural vice president. Along with schzfty, veronica, and rabbi Simon, we have  worked hard in making this service possible. The theme of this service, visions of our jewish future, is particually meaningful to me.
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> I seem to sense an awakening in myself about issues around me that never much mattered before.  As a kid, I never quite realized how my generation, the kids my age, will grow up and eventually be the leaders of this country.  I remember getting up early one morning to see Al Gore and Joe Lieberman speak off Columbia Ave. for the 2000 election. And again, up at the crack of dawn to see when Kerry came through town in 2004.  Now in 2008, it is Obama and Biden, and now I'm positive that my parents have conveyed to me the important message that change is inevitable and that I should be as active as I possibly can in my countries political and social persona.
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> I was on the floor at the Ice Forum—just 10 feet away from Barack Obama when he spoke there.  Somehow, looking up at this very educated, well spoken man, I could not help but think about how far we have come as a nation.  In 2000, a Jewish man could have become Vice President of the United States.  This year, no matter which way the polls go, either a Black man will be President or we will have the first woman Vice President. That made me think. How different will our lives, our culture, our beliefs be? When I was in confirmation class rabbi Birnholz asked my class a strange question which to my standards seemed fine and by the look on my peers faces seemed totally ok with them. Then rabbi birnholz decided to play devils advocate with us. He asked us to consider how our parents would answer the question. The class fell silent and immediatly we knew what eachother were thinking. Rabbi birnholz made us realize that discrimination is still a very real problem and helped us recognize the accepting nature of todays youth.   Even though I cannot vote, I am looking forward to a Jewish future that includes more opportunities for all people, and as Martin Luther King Jr once said, “one day WE WILL live in a nation where people will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”







d you say something like, "In Confirmation class Rabbi Birnholz asked us questions that helped us to see the change in acceptance from generation to generation.  If our generation is more accepting of differences than the last one, does that mean that future generations will be even more accepting?  Discrimination is still a real problem, but I am looking forward to a Jewish future...

Go from there and see how it goes.  If you can send me something tonight, I can still get it in to thHere's the direction I would head in -

I have attended events with presidential candidates for each of the past three elections, but never before has it meant so much to me.  My generation is so excited about this election, and now I'm positive that my parents have conveyed to me the important message that change is inevitable and that I should be as active as I possibly can in my country’s political and social persona.

Looking at the past 3 presidential elections, I cannot help but think about how far we have come as a nation.  In 2000, a Jewish man could have become Vice President of the United States.  This year, no matter which way the polls go, either a Black man will be President or we will have the first woman Vice President.

As far as Rabbi's question,  coule printer tomorrow.  Otherwise you'll just read it Thursday,

Rabbi Simon