A warm, creative, and engaging rabbi.

Belonging is one of the essential feelings that we as human beings need, we need connection, we need to feel like we belong to a group, and we need to feel certain of our place in the world. Sukkat Shalom has been a place of belonging for many of you throughout the years. And I pray that we continue on that path, with a new openness and willingness to ask questions, to embrace all the facets of our identities within this community, and strive for all stakeholders to truly feel like they belong, because they, you, and we do belong here. As we are more disconnected as a society than ever before, to know that we have the ability to offer that sense of belonging to those seeking a Jewish community is an amazing opportunity. I’m not suggesting this is a new idea, per se, but I see this as our way forward. To double down on our deep roots of openness, to start new conversations around identity, to truly see each other, and to forge a deep sense of belonging.

We all have our scars, both physical and emotional. Each of us carries our own burdens. As a rabbi, I regularly hear stories of brokenness in our community. Whether it be divorce, illness, death, addiction, mental health, family estrangement, or a host of other issues or challenges, we all lead complicated lives. And I hear it all. I have the honor of spending time with families in moments of great grief and pain and immense joy and celebration, and often it’s a mixture of both at once. On our joyous occasions, we feel great longing for our family members who didn’t live to see this beautiful moment. And in our times of sorrow, we find a reason to smile over the simplest memory. We are all imperfect, searching for meaning, hope, and connection in our lives. The emotional and physical wounds that we carry are a heavy burden, representing the overwhelming weightiness of the human condition. We are all broken.

That is a recurring theme this season in the wisdom from the long-married couples peppered throughout season two of Indian Matchmaking. Many of the couples in the series speak of their shared growth, not only growing together as a couple over the years, but each individual growing because of their partner’s encouragement and love, which many identify as the key to their successful relationship. So too, have we grown together over the years, and I am grateful for the opportunity to continue to grow with you as your rabbi. Each of us as individuals and collectively, our community has grown in number and spirit. For that, I… we… should offer thanks.