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Dear Shaarei Kodesh Shavuot Participants and ‘Faculty’,
As I reflect on our extraordinary Tikkun Leil Shavuot at Congregation Shaarei Kodesh—Atid: The Future is Now—my heart is filled with deep gratitude and admiration for each of you. Yet again, we were the only non-Orthodox synagogue in South Florida to lead a full Tikkun Leil Shavuot, from sundown to sunrise!
Our evening together was a profound tapestry of Torah, creativity, and sacred learning, made possible through your wisdom, passion, and generosity of spirit.
To Nan Berkowitz and all the helpers - thank you for putting together a delicious dairy feast for our community, and keeping us fed all night long! We are so grateful for all your work behind the scenes which made our Shavuot possible.
To Alex Kassander – Thank you for leading our teens in a lively discussion about AI and Judaism using our Kulam curriculum through Moving Traditions. They were so engaged and said it was awesome!
To Rabbi Mikie Goldstein – Your presence as our Scholar-in-Residence added incredible depth and dignity to our evening. Your teachings challenged us to think critically about the evolving future of Jewish identity, and we are better for it. Thank you for bringing Torah from Zion to us!
To Shayna Skarf – Thank you for guiding us with mindful movement and chair yoga. Your sessions reminded us that Torah is not just an intellectual pursuit, but something to be embodied—something we can breathe into and stretch with.
To Jess Fele – Your personal reflection on March of the Living helped us hear the voices of the past echo into our present. You reminded us that revelation can come from memory, from footsteps retraced, and from bearing witness. You had everyone captivated by your incredible storytelling.
To Karen Katz – Your session on Jewish environmental ethics brought Tikkun Olam to the forefront of our consciousness, especially as we confront the realities of climate change. You reminded us that our sacred responsibility extends beyond ourselves, into the world we inhabit.
To Rabbi Nachshon Carmi – Your creative and passionate teaching on Messianic visions was both joyful and profound. And of course, thank you for leading us in spirited Israeli dancing, injecting energy and simchah into the late hours.
To Seth and Sapphira Edgarde – Your exploration of Jewish mysticism and the Hebrew printing press opened a window into a lesser-known corner of our tradition, revealing how past technologies reshaped sacred transmission. It was a fantastic trip back in time to Safed in the 16th century!
To Geil Bilu – Thank you for sharing the curious and delightful origin story of Trope Trainer. Your session showed us how retro-tech can be sacred tech, and how innovation often begins with holy curiosity. Maybe AI will discover the secret to the creators formula!
To Jackie Klein – Your unique fusion of Jewish text and science fiction encouraged us to dream. You opened up a space where imagination and midrash intertwine, and where tomorrow’s Torah may already be written in the future with Captain Jean-Luc Picard. May we boldly go where no Jew has gone before!
To Matt Weiss, thank you for the always excellent pita chips and burekas and for reading the Ten Commandments on no sleep like a pro!
To Cantor Hadash, thank you for leading us beautifully during the 'late' minyan on Monday and Tuesday.
Thank you to our sponsors for the evening: Carol & Jeff Simon, Matt & Patty Weiss, Jackie Klein, and our donors: Rabbi Cantor Marsha Dubrow & David Rosenberg and Harvey Lefkowitz.
Finally, to everyone who stayed awake and stayed open—thank you. Your presence created a vessel for learning, a community of seekers, and a night where the gates of heaven and Torah were open for us all!
May we continue to learn from one another, to teach boldly, and to build the future of Judaism—together.
B’Shalom,
Rabbi David Baum
Click here to view our final agenda for the evening
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