September 17, 2025
Dear Congregation Beth Israel,
As we prepare to welcome the New Year together on Monday evening, I am filled with excitement and gratitude. The High Holy Days are always a highlight of my year, not only because of their depth and meaning, but because of the way our whole community comes together to make them special.
I look forward to sharing the bimah once again with Andrea Shupack and our wonderful musicians, whose voices and melodies lift us into the spirit of the season. I am grateful for all of our Torah and Haftarah chanters, our shofar sounders, and the many volunteers whose dedication ensures that our services are rich, beautiful, and accessible to all. Behind the scenes, so many hands are working to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere—ushers, our A/V team, office staff, childcare providers, and security personnel who help us feel safe as we gather. These efforts are a true expression of what it means to be a sacred community.
On my part, I am eager to share my Torah with you this year through sermons, teachings, and moments of reflection that I hope will spark connection and meaning. The High Holy Days invite us into both the personal and the communal: to take stock of our own lives, and also to stand together as a congregation, supporting one another in the work of renewal.
Our tradition calls these days yamim nora’im (Days of Awe). They remind us to pause, to notice what truly matters, and to begin again with hope and intention. For me, that awe is always magnified when I look out and see all of you gathered, including multi-generational families, long-time members, and those who are new to our community—all joining voices in prayer and song.
On behalf of my family, I wish you all a Shanah Tovah U’metukah, a sweet, healthy, and meaningful year ahead.
B’shalom,
Rabbi Joshua Samuels
