“the shul is NOT dead. not even close”
You (and the other YIBE members) are right. I should should not make statements without taking the time to see what is going on right now. Perhaps BE was one way back in the days of the Trustees patroling the aisles, but now things are at a turning point.
Sometime between now an Channukah, I’ll (B”E) daven there to see what you see.
Who knows? Some of the old timers might even remember me.