The office staff is very busy with all aspects of our move and dealing with items relating to a new building. We hope to be fully functional very soon and most certainly the new offices will be a much-improved version of the past few years. Thanks to everyone for your patience as we limited our available hours for regular business.

The Torah Processional Event was a highlight during this moving process and I would like to extend sincere gratitude to those who worked so hard to produce such a wonderful event. It was truly a memorable occasion in the history of KI and we look forward to a return visit from the many friends who attended.

Now that the end of the calendar year is looming, I would like to mention a few vehicles for philanthropic contributions that are currently available for the benefit of the Knesseth Israel Millenium Endowment Fund, which is managed by the Birmingham Jewish Foundation. KI is facing the upkeep of a new facility and we would be very grateful to be considered as a recipient for your year-end contributions, both for operating expenses as well as for our endowment.

A unique opportunity, which is available only till the end of 2007, is The Pension Protection Act of 2006. It creates an extraordinary opportunity to make tax-free charitable gifts from IRAs. To make sure that your gift will qualify for the tax-free treatment you must satisfy a few regulations:

• You must be 70½ years old or older
• The transfer from your IRA must go directly from your IRA to the Knesseth Israel Millenium Endowment Fund at the Birmingham Jewish Foundation
• The gift cannot exceed $100,000 in 2007
• The gift must be an outright gift, meaning that transfers of IRA gifts to donor advised funds, supporting organizations, charitable gift annuities, or charitable remainder trusts do not qualify. The gift is not eligible for an additional charitable income tax deduction.

Your generous gift will help ensure that KI receives much-needed support to continue providing services and programs for the Jewish Community of Birmingham for years to come. However, you only have until the end of 2007 to take advantage of this. For further information on how your IRA gift can help KI, please contact Sally Friedman at the Birmingham Jewish Foundation at 803-1519.

There is another unique way available to benefit not only the general Birmingham Jewish Community but also KI’s Endowment Fund with the same gift. “Our Next 100 Years” is a great opportunity to strengthen our future.Gifts, both current and deferred, may be made to the Birmingham Jewish Foundation for Knesseth Israel Congregation’s Millenium Endowment Fund. For further information call me at the office, 969-5913 or Sally Friedman at the Birmingham Jewish Foundation – phone 803-1519.

Thank you in anticipation for your continued support of our synagogue and its programs. May 2008 be a good year for all.

- Cynthia Tobias