Dear Community,

What an uplifting and inspiring time we shared together over Pesach. It was truly special to gather at shul and celebrate a beautiful communal Seder, the largest turnout we’ve seen in years. The warmth, energy, and sense of togetherness were deeply felt by all who attended.

As we now move forward from Pesach, we carry its message of freedom with us into the rest of the year. But what does that freedom really mean?

This idea is reflected in the upcoming parsha, Shmini. After the immense effort and dedication that went into building the Mishkan, the Jewish people reached a powerful moment, the Divine Presence came to dwell among them. It was a reward that followed hard work, commitment, and unity.

This teaches us an important lesson about true freedom. Jewish freedom is not simply the ability to do whatever we feel or to act on impulse. Rather, it is the freedom to live with purpose, to express our deepest values and align our lives with G-dly ideals.

As a community, we’ve just experienced something meaningful together. Now is the time to carry that inspiration forward, into our homes, our relationships, and our daily actions.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Zalman and Esty