Good evening and Gut Yuntuf.

On behalf of Foundation Board and its new Executive Director, Janet Schwab, I want to bring you up to date on the progress made by the Temple Foundation during the past year and ask you to pledge a contribution to the Foundation for the coming year or from your estate in the future.

First I must tell you, I’m standing here at the bema, looking at myself and quite frankly, laughing at the fact that it is me who is addressing our wonderful congregation of approximately 350 families.

Let me first suggest that you and I and all sitting here, and those who subscribe to the platforms of the Reform, Reconstructionist, Conservative, Renewal, Humanistic movements and of course all Jewish secularists are FREE JEWS – That is free from the dominion of Halachic religion, free from an exclusive religious interpretation of mitzvot, from a religious interpretation of Jewish celebration, traditions, and culture, Jews FREE of one inflexible view of the Bible and post-biblical literature.

The Julian Bond event was a huge success. Here is his speech, reprinted for your perusal.

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Equality New Mexico
April 14, 2007
Copyright 2007 by Julian Bond

This event is presented by Sante Fe's Human Rights Alliance with sponsorship by Temple Beth Shalom. Co-hosts include the local NAACP Branch, the New Mexico Holocaust and Intolerance Museum, and Equality New Mexico.

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I fell like I'm in the midst of the coalition of conscience!