Parashat Shemot (jan 2026)

As we gather tonight, I want to begin with gratitude – for those of you who were able to attend the CCIJT last Sunday evening, you will recognize this beginning from the remarks that Rabbi Cohen made about how to start when connecting with whatever you reach for in times of need.

Each of you gives your time, your energy, and your heart to the Santa Ynez Valley Jewish Community, and the impact of that work is visible in ways both quiet and profound. Our community is stronger because of your leadership, and I want to thank you for showing up again and again with such dedication.

This week’s parasha, Shemot, is all about beginnings — the beginning of our people’s transformation. Shemot is the moment when the Israelites shift from being acted upon to becoming actors in their own future. The beginning of Moses’ calling, the beginning of a new chapter in Jewish life. Nothing changes all at once; it begins with small acts of courage, with people stepping forward, with a community deciding that it is ready to grow into something more. That is exactly what I see happening here.

Our Hanukkah celebrations were a perfect example. The public menorah lighting in the park was not just a beautiful moment — it was a statement. It was our community stepping into visibility with joy and confidence. And the fact that it showed up in the paper matters. It tells the wider Santa Ynez Valley that we are here, that Jewish life is vibrant here, and that we are proud to bring our light into shared public space. That kind of visibility doesn’t happen by accident; it happens because this board had the courage to approve it and the willingness to support it.

And then we carried that light with us into the Hanukkah party — a packed room full of warmth, laughter, music, and connection. Not only did we have children, but we also had teenagers. It was everything a community celebration should be. People felt welcomed, included, and uplifted. That, too, is the result of your work.

I also want to acknowledge the program we offered on Sunday - ‘Do You need to believe in Gd to be Jewish?’ Even with the rain pouring down, people came. They showed up ready to learn, ready to wrestle, ready to ask questions, and be in conversation. All of these things tell me something important: our community is hungry for thoughtful, substantive Jewish engagement. They want to explore big questions. They want to grow. And we are giving them opportunities to do exactly that.

So as we look ahead tonight at upcoming events and the work before us, I hope we carry the spirit of Shemot with us — the sense that we are at the beginning of something. We are shaping the next chapter of Jewish life in this valley. Every event we plan, every program we offer, every moment of connection we create is part of how we build a community that is visible, joyful, resilient, and deeply rooted.

Thank you for everything you’ve done to bring us to this moment, and for everything you will continue to do as we move forward together.