Showing Up: A Season of Renewal at Beth Israel

Dear Friends of Temple Beth Israel,

May has arrived — and with it, longer days, blooming gardens, and that unmistakable feeling that the universe is nudging us to open the windows (both literally and metaphorically). Here in the Jewish calendar, we find ourselves in the heart of the Omer, counting our way from liberation toward revelation. It turns out that counting your blessings and counting the Omer go beautifully hand in hand.

I'll be honest — when I agreed to write this letter, I promised myself I would keep it brief. Then I sat down, thought about everything happening in our community, and, well… here we are. My family assures me this is a character trait, not a flaw. I'm choosing to believe them.

Spring has always been the season of renewal, and that feels especially true at Beth Israel this year. Over the past several months, I have watched our community do something remarkable: we have shown up — for each other, for our traditions, and for the future we are building together. Whether it was filling the seats at our Passover seder, volunteering at the food pantry drive, or simply being the friendly face in the hallway on a Friday night, every one of you contributes something irreplaceable to this kehillah.

Our tradition teaches that each person contains an entire world. Standing in our sanctuary on Shabbat, looking out at a room full of entire worlds, I am reminded why this work — all of it, from the solemn to the joyful — matters so deeply.

I also want to take a moment to recognize and thank the dozens of volunteers who make every program possible. You are the secret ingredient in everything we do, and I am grateful beyond what a newsletter letter can adequately express — though, as established above, I am not above trying.

As we move through Iyar and toward Sivan, I wish you a month of warmth, connection, and just enough spring cleaning to feel virtuous — but not so much that it interferes with a good Shabbat nap. May this season of renewal bring fresh energy to each of us and to the community we love.

B'vracha — with blessings,