When I was a little girl, Friday night services were the heartbeat of my family’s week—rain or shine. We began with Shabbat dinner at home, dressed in our best, and made our way to the synagogue where the familiar warmth of community awaited us. We greeted beloved faces, wandered through the gift shop with curiosity, thumbed through the prayer book, and sang with full and joyful voices. After services, we never hurried home; there was always time for the oneg, a late-night ice cream stop, or a cozy family talent show or movie night. Being at our temple at least once a week was not simply a routine—it was the sacred center of our lives, shaping our family identity and deepening our sense of belonging.
Today, we live in a city that is not easily navigated and in a world that can feel fractured and uncertain. There are countless obstacles that make gathering routinely a challenge. And yet, when we choose to make Jewish life at Wise a priority—for ourselves, our extended families, and our children—we strengthen the very fabric of our People. Whether by attending school or adult learning, coming to Shabbat services, serving on committees, lending professional skills, participating in tikkun olam offerings, singing with the adult choir, greeting at services, traveling together to Israel or other Jewish sites, marking life cycle events or connecting pastorally with our clergy, placing the Temple at the heart of our lives has never been more vital to provide us with a foundation of strength, resilience, and continuity.
As the Psalmist teaches, “Hineh mah tov u’mah na’im, shevet achim gam yachad” —
הִנֵּה מַה־טּוֹב וּמַה־נָּעִים שֶׁבֶת אַחִים גַּם־יָחַד —
“How good and how pleasant it is to dwell together in unity.” Community is not merely comforting; it is holy. And joy and meaning are not incidental luxuries—they are essentials that we cultivate together.
This Thursday we gather for our Temple’s annual gala, The Blue and White Ball. The support offered through this evening sustains our sacred work—our worship, our education, our acts of compassion, and our shared future. But just as meaningful is the experience of coming together that I cherished weekly as a child: sharing a meal, dancing, celebrating, and embracing Jewish joy as one community. I hope you will join us in person; and if you cannot be with us, I hope you will lend your support from afar. We are, truly, nothing without one another. May we continue to create enduring memories, strengthen the bonds of our community, and find pride and purpose in our shared commitments. May this week bring blessing, light, and joy to us all.
Cantor Emma Lutz