CBI Blogs

Congregation Beth Israel has been such a blessing to me, but not in the traditional sense when one thinks of a place of worship.

Last summer, I was experiencing big change in my life, and I am not someone who enjoys change in the least. The wonderful, small, holistic orthodontic office I had worked at for 10 years was closing due to the dentist’s sudden battle with an autoimmune disorder. She and I became very close in those years, and I had come to know the families that visited our office well. I truly enjoyed my job- one of my favorite parts of being at the front desk was chatting with parents and kids when they arrived for their monthly appointments. You can really get to know a lot about people, even during a quick interaction. Also, the flexibility it offered while having elementary-aged children was something I never took for granted. We had to transition our patients to another office, and there was much uncertainty and sadness in those last few months I worked there as the sole employee. On top of that, our family dog (who was our first baby in our minds) passed away suddenly, leaving our family feeling empty and heartbroken. I had no idea what I wanted to do next. I did know that I did not want to go back to teaching, and I felt very anxious about what the future would hold. Despite having faith (no pun intended) that things would work out, and that this was a “new beginning”, the anxiety and sadness I felt took a toll on my physical and mental health.

I applied to the CBI receptionist position on a whim. The hours listed in the job description matched the needs of my family, and, as I mentioned, I enjoyed the personal connections that came with a front desk role. But I had never stepped foot in a synagogue and knew very little about the Jewish faith. I was raised in the Austin area, and my kids were born at the hospital across the street, but somehow, I did not know CBI existed! I was intrigued and excited to learn more.

Turns out, that whim was a great decision. When I started here, I was met with kind, helpful people who were always willing to answer my questions and help me learn about Judaism. The staff here are some of the nicest people I’ve met! I’m constantly learning new things, not just about the Jewish faith, but the incredible amount of care and work that goes into making a synagogue operate. As the first point of contact for many folks looking to find a home synagogue, I hope I display the same kindness and warmness I feel here, not just from the staff, but also from the congregants I have met when they pop in for various activities and meetings. It is a responsibility I hold in high regard.

On a side note, last summer, when I was very new here, Aaron had staff join him on his CBI podcast, and when it was my turn to be the guest, he unexpectedly shot me the dreaded question, “what’s a fun fact about you?” In that moment, I had a hard time thinking of anything fun or interesting about me- all that went out the window after having kids. Kidding… sort of. Well, after some thought, I would like to share a fun fact about me: If you have ever been to Times Square in NYC, you most likely saw the massive Father Francis Duffy statue, sculpted by Charles Keck, located at Broadway & 46th St. There are many of Charles’s sculptures and monuments across the country, but his Francis Duffy Statue is viewed by hundreds of thousands of people who visit Times Square daily. I happened to be one of those visitors in my early 20’s, and upon doing a little research and speaking with some relatives, I discovered that Charles Keck, great American sculptor, is my great, great uncle!

Please come on in, stop by the front desk, and tell me fun facts about yourself, Judaism, or anything at all! Much of the joy I get from this job is making those small connections with folks who are members, looking to become members, or just visiting. While I’m still learning and may not have all the answers, I wish to be a blessing to CBI as it has been a blessing to me.

Kol Tuv,

Faith Henry (receptionist@bethisrael.org)

CBI Receptionist and small talk enthusiast