Fireworks, Brisket and Belonging

July is here — the summer sun is blazing, the A/C is working overtime, and the United States is turning 250 years old. Yes, America is officially a quarter of a millennium! As my father would have said, "Not bad for a country that started with a bunch of people arguing about taxes."

I've been thinking a great deal about what this milestone means for us as Jews and as Americans. And the more I think about it, the more I realize: we have a lot in common with the founders of this nation. They were working from an ancient text with lofty ideals and trying to make it work in the real world. Sound familiar?

This July, as fireworks light the sky and we pass the potato salad (brisket optional, but encouraged), let us celebrate together — as proud Americans and as proud members of Temple Beth Israel.

As we head into the heat of summer, remember: our synagogue is more than a building — it is a community. It is a place where America's promise of belonging actually comes true every Friday night when we gather together.

May your July be full of joy, your barbecues be blessed, and your opinions on the Constitution be at least as spirited as your opinions on the High Holiday seating chart.

With warm wishes for a happy, healthy, and very festive summer