Rabbi's Week in Review Blog

Amid the challenges and darkness of a pandemic, and the ongoing threats to our democracy, we got a bit of welcome light this past week in our Congregation Kol Ami family. We held our annual Shabbat Chanukah service on Friday night, a tradition at Kol Ami since my first year serving the congregation in 2011. Both our family program and our service facilitated connection for our community — a much-needed time when we can’t see one another in person.

It was great to have Roberta Solomon with us from Portland, Oregon. Roberta, even from far away, continues to be a bright light. Many of our Chanukah traditions at Kol Ami were started by Roberta.

Also a source of light was when Micah Van Zelfden/Aharon and Terry Smith/Moshe Akiva went to the mikvah and officially became part of Klal Yisrael, the Jewish people. They have been a part of our community so long that I cannot remember when they were not part of our community. But this rite of passage has great meaning and gives light and strength to our community.  

On this Chag Urim, this Festival of Lights that is our Chanukah celebration, let us continue to find ways to bring light into the darkness of this winter season when days are short, and bring light and hope into dark times.