Friends,
During Yom Kippur, we practice hakarat ha’cheit – an honest naming of our missteps from the past year, in hopes that by acknowledging them, we can ask forgiveness and move forward. Now that Yom Kippur is behind us, we turn to hakarat ha’tov – naming the good that fills our lives, which is all too easy to gloss over in the daily busy-ness of living. So, please indulge me as I name some of what was so good about the past two weeks:
First and foremost, I am filled with deep gratitude for our incredible staff who make everything we do possible.
Tracy Horwitz leads our children’s programs with such heart and attention to the needs of students. Together, she and Bonnie Ziff, along with our incredible STISY teen leaders, offered a warm, meaningful way for our students to connect to the themes of the holy days and to one another. Mindy Schreff, Jennie Rubin, and Lauren Byers lent their support to these programs as well, and Adam Baranker led creative, engaging programs for our middle and high school students. Jewel Scott-Jones and Gloria Roman help to keep everything running smoothly in our schools so that we can focus on the holidays.
Beth Blackman, Alicia Karlberg, Jodi Rotondo, and Karen Patton (and Bonnie, again!) handle the enormous logistical lift of the holidays with grace, kindness, and careful attention to every detail, allowing all of us to simply enjoy being together, knowing that we are well taken care of. Shawn Fogel leads our children’s and family services with a sense of joy and warmth, and keeps our youngest temple members (and their parents) singing and laughing.
Chris Joy and Ryan Jacobsen (and Shawn, again!) are our tech gurus who ensure that those who weren’t able to come in person to services can still feel connected to their TSTI family via our livestream.
Our custodial team, Maria Camero, Jesse Moore, Maxwell Park, Daniela Ureña, Carolina Santos, Rosa Santos, Diana Morocho, and Kiya Mengesha, along with our Security Team, are the reason that TSTI feels like home. They care for us and for our building with their hearts and hands, and work so hard to make sure that TSTI is safe, comfortable, accommodating, and welcoming.
Peter Candela shares his musical brilliance with us throughout the year, but his work with our clergy team, choir, and band during the holy days is a particular labor of love.
Our volunteer leaders who helped usher, staff the will-call table, support our youth programming, and lead our afternoon sessions on Yom Kippur help to make us all feel comfortable and uplifted. Special thanks to Temple President Heather Brochin for her partnership in leading our community.
And of course, our exceptional clergy team: Cantor Moses, Student Cantor Weiner, and Student Rabbi Tropp who pour every ounce of themselves into shaping our worship experiences to be engaging, thought-provoking, and inspiring. Sharing the bimah with these consummate professionals is an absolute honor—that we also have fun together is just the icing on the [honey] cake.
Finally, my deepest thanks to all of you, this amazing TSTI family. I truly believe that the feeling in the room on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur was a glimpse of all that is to come for us in the year ahead: people connecting with one another, engaging with Jewish tradition in both familiar and new ways, and a palpable sense of joy and excitement about all that we can build together.
Personally, I am so grateful for your open-hearted welcome of me in my new role as your Senior Rabbi. As tiring as this season is, I am also feeling inspired, embraced, and supported by this incredible community. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.
With hope for abundant joy for all of us in the year ahead –
With wishes for a peaceful Shabbat –
From my family to yours –
Rabbi Klein