This is one of a series of articles I wrote for the monthly Bulletin of Peninsula Temple Sholom in Burlingame, Calif.
The Torah is big on counting. Members of tribes, size of armies, measurements of the Ark of the Covenant. The fourth book of the Torah, B’midbar (also known as Numbers) starts out with a census. We continue counting things today, like the 613 mitzvot (or commandments). A Passover seder is filled with counting, counting, and more counting, culminating in the song Echad Mi Yodea – Who Knows One?
Echad mi yode’a?
Echad ani yode’a.
Echad Elokeinu shebashamaim uva’aretz.
Who knows one?
I know one.
One is our God, in heaven and on earth.
Although Passover is coming up soon, let’s not think about matzah and maror until the end of this article. Before that, let’s take a look at some of the vital statistics behind Peninsula Temple Sholom – statistics that the Board of Trustees and professional staff think about and talk about every month.
Our Preschool, 2013-2014 School Year
12 – Children in our Toddler class
48 – Children in our Two’s classes (Ducks, Lambs, Bunnies, Turtles)
39 – Children in our Three’s classes (Bears, Kangaroos, Owls)
55 – Children in our Pre-K and Transitional-K classes (Lions, Frogs, Giraffes, Monkeys)
154 – Total children in the Preschool
20 – Teachers in the Preschool
Our Religious School, 2013-2014 School Year
14 – Students in Kindergarten
28 – Students in 1st Grade
21 – Students in 2nd Grade
26 – Students in 3rd Grade
28 – Students in 4th Grade
49 – Students in 5th Grade
35 – Students in 6th Grade
33 – Students in 7th Grade
31 – Students in 8th Grade
22 – Students in 9th Grade
19 – Students in Confirmation Class
9 – Confirmation students who went to Israel
309 – Total students in the Religious School
15 – Teachers in the Religious School
19 – Madrichim (teen teaching assistants) in the Religious School
78% – P ost-B’nai Mitzvah Religious School Retention Rate at PTS
50% – The national average for post-B’nai Mitzvah retention
Lifecycle Events, Calendar Year 2013
44 – Children who became Bar/Bat Mitzvah
3 – Conversions
7 – Weddings
14 – Babies named
25 – Funerals
50+ – Hospital visits by clergy
Our Members, Fiscal Year 2013-2014
20 – PTSers who attended the 2013 URJ Biennial
733 – Households in our congregation at the beginning of the fiscal year
22 – New households who joined the congregation
24 – Households who left the congregation, due to death, moving, disaffiliation, or joining another congregation
731 – Households in our congregation as of mid-February 2014
1,302 – Adults in those households
881 – Children in those households
2,183 – Our congregation size – i.e., members
Our Budget, Fiscal Year 2013-2014
$3,225,000 – Our annual operating budget
38.1% – Percentage that comes from membership commitments
48.5% – Percentage that comes from Preschool and Religious School tuition and fees
6.6% – Percentage that comes from the High Holy Day appeal
6.8% – Percentage from other sources
Speaking of Passover
It’s time to make plans! Peninsula Temple Sholom will host our traditional second night Community Passover Seder on Tuesday evening, April 15. Carole and I look forward to seeing you there.
What about the first night of Passover on Monday, April 14? Many in our congregation will observe the seder with their families, of course. If you don’t have extended family in the Bay Area or want a different experience this year, please join us at the 35th Annual First Night Community Seder at the San Francisco JCC, led by Rabbi Batshir Torchio. The seder features a kosher meal with chicken, matzo ball soup, and more. (There are gluten-free and vegetarian options, too.) Carole and I will be attending. Please join us!