Rabbi Karen's May 2026 Message
May 1, 2026
Dear Friends,
This month offers three meaningful opportunities to celebrate and
strengthen our community. Please attend and be a part of these special
events.
We begin on May 15 with Sisterhood Shabbat, a special Shabbat in which
the women of Sisterhood lead the Kabbalat Shabbat Service. Jewish
tradition teaches that the strength of the B’nai Yisrael, our people, has
always been shaped by women of courage and faith; from Miriam’s song at
the sea to the countless women across generations who have nurtured
Jewish life in homes, communities, and sacred spaces. We are deeply
grateful for the women of our congregation whose generosity, creativity,
and commitment continue to help our community flourish.
We then gather on May 17 for our Congregational Meeting, an important
moment in the life of our synagogue. These gatherings remind us that
sacred community is not only built through prayer and study, but also
through shared responsibility, thoughtful conversation, and collective vision.
Coming together to both reflect back and look ahead is itself an act of
covenant, a way of affirming that each voice matters in shaping our future.
Later this month, we prepare for Shavuot, the festival of revelation, when
we once again stand together at Sinai. Shavuot reminds us that Torah was
not given to individuals in isolation, but to an entire people gathered as one.
Each year, we are invited to hear those words anew, to discover fresh
meaning in ancient wisdom, and to recommit ourselves to lives of learning,
purpose, and spiritual growth.
These moments of honoring commitment, shaping our future together, and
gathering to receive Torah all point to the same enduring truth: holiness is
found in community.
May this month bring each of us opportunities to show up for one another,
to listen deeply, and to continue building a congregation where every voice
is valued and every presence matters.
Wishing you a month of blessing, connection, and inspiration,
L’hitraot,
Rabbi Karen Tashman
