February 4, 2026

Members since 1978, Karen and Steve Heiser have watched their children grow up at Beth Tikvah, participating in youth programs and developing strong Jewish identities rooted in compassion and civic responsibility.

Now, with the creation of their Teen Allies for Justice Endowment through the Beth Tikvah Legacy Program, the Heiser’s are supporting the next generation of Jewish leaders.

“For both of us, social justice has been a passion since adolescence,” Karen explained. For Steve, the connection between Jewish values and this work is deeply personal. “One of the things I love about Judaism is how it looks at the world,” he said. “Tikkun Olam [repairing the world] has always been one of my guideposts.”

From witnessing racial injustice as a high school senior in Columbus to mentoring medical professionals on equity and advocacy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Karen has spent decades helping others use their voices to create change. “Everyone knows the value of advocacy, but not everyone knows how to be a strong advocate,” she said. “Whatever your passion is, you need to learn about that issue and have the skillset to enable your voice to be heard.”

The Teen Allies for Justice Endowment is meant to support programming that provides Beth Tikvah teens with both educational grounding and real-life practice in advocacy through mentorship, community engagement, and skill-building opportunities.

“Think about how powerful it is for an 18-year-old to start advocating for older adults in their community,” Karen shared. “I have faith in the teens and youth who want to be involved. If we give them the tools, they will exceed our wildest expectations.”

The Heiser’s hope the initiative fosters a culture of leadership that is both diverse and authentic. “We would be most proud if it looks different year to year,” Karen said, reflecting on the lasting impact they envision. “That means we’re finding people who are passionate and understand that there isn’t one cookie-cutter way.”

The fund also allows Beth Tikvah to dream bigger, offering seed money for innovative ideas that might otherwise be financially out of reach. “We hope to encourage innovation and risk-taking,” Karen shared. “Here’s a little bit of money that’s not part of the regular budget, and you can try something. If it works, terrific. If it doesn’t work, we’ll still learn from it.”

As humble as they are visionary, Steve and Karen are excited to watch the impact unfold. Their hope is that the Teen Allies for Justice Endowment not only equips teens with skills to advocate for justice but also inspires them to take initiative, try new things, and lead in ways that are authentic to them. The Heisers are helping Beth Tikvah build a future shaped by empowered young voices and compassionate action.

Written by Hannah Karr

Director of Marketing & Community Engagement at Congregation Beth Tikvah

Featuring Milly

Milly has lived a life shaped by observations gathered over decades about people, justice, and the ways we choose to move through the world. Her story is one of attention, and of a steady commitment to noticing what matters.

That commitment to noticing has consequences. “All of these people are my brothers and sisters,” she said. “That’s what makes it so hard.” Living through the present moment feels heavy for her, not because injustice is new, but because it is all too familiar. She has been paying attention for most of her life. “I’m 86 years old and still swimming in the swamp,” she said. “It’s hard.”

That awareness began early. At eight years old, Milly was taken to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore for treatment related to hearing loss caused by childhood illness. Even then, she noticed what others might have learned to ignore. “I saw the signs on the restrooms and the drinking fountains that said, ‘white only,’” she recalled with a shaky voice and tears in her eyes. “And I just said, that’s not fair.” She did not say it aloud at the time, but the moment stayed with her. “I have been ‘othered’ because of my disability and when I saw that other people were not being treated fairly, it mattered.”

Milly went on to study science and law, earning a doctorate in biochemistry and a law degree, and clerking in federal court. She speaks of her family’s immigrant roots with both pride and clarity. “All four of my grandparents were immigrants,” she said. “On my father’s side from Lithuania, on my mother’s side from what is now Ukraine.” Their success did not distance her from the struggles of others; it deepened her sense of responsibility.

Movement has also shaped her life, not as competition, but as connection. She bicycled through Southeast Ohio and parts of Appalachia, stopping to talk with people in their yards and forming friendships that have lasted decades. “I still have friends that I made by stopping in their yards and talking to them.” Over time, those rides broadened her perspective. “My interest expanded from racial justice to economic justice,” she explained.

Family, for Milly, has never been limited by blood or structure. “I just go through the world collecting people.” She speaks of children, grandchildren, former spouses, in-laws, and friends with the same care and affection. “When I say I find joy in family, it’s both the immediate family and the very extended family.” That way of living came naturally. “It wasn’t something that somebody taught me,” she said. “It was how I felt.”

Judaism lives in her not as doctrine, but as ethical grounding. “The high point is always Mi Shebeirach,” she shared. “Help me find the courage, not the strength, but the courage, to make my life a blessing.” That line continues to guide her. She gives generously to causes rooted in justice, immigration support, and local care, seeking ways to show acceptance to people across her community.

Milly names her imperfections, impatience, and regrets honestly. She accepts loss. She adapts. When bicycling became unsafe, she delighted in hiking at the Scioto River and learned to row. When crowds became challenging, she found other ways to show up. “I’m able. I’m blessed with the full use of my mind and body at this age.”

Her life, like a carob tree, has grown slowly and deliberately. The seeds she has planted through courage, attention, and care continue to nourish others. She moves through the world the same way she once moved through Southeast Ohio on her bicycle: paying attention and stopping when something matters, willing to linger. Milly has always understood that change happens in small, human moments. She may not sit in the shade of all she has planted, but the fruit is already there.

** the name of this person has been changed to keep their identity anonymous

Milly was interviewed on January 8, 2026 by Rabbi Rick Kellner and Hannah Karr

Written by Hannah Karr

Director of Marketing & Community Engagement

Congregation Beth Tikvah

February 3, 2026

Some love stories are marked by anniversaries, milestones, and photographs. Erin and Patrick can trace theirs by something a little more unexpected: the Columbus Souper Bowl Cook-Off at Congregation Beth Tikvah.

Their first Souper Bowl was 11 years ago, on their third date in 2015. “We thought it was such a fun and unique event,” Erin shared. What they didn’t know then was that the Souper Bowl would quietly become a yearly marker of their life together. Their engagement year. Their newlywed year. The year their child was born. And now, as a family of five, the Souper Bowl is still there—waiting, warm, and familiar.

“Over the years we seemed to mark our life milestones at the Souper Bowl,” Erin said. “Now we come for the community spirit, the memories, and of course, the great food.”

When asked how the Souper Bowl has changed over the years, their answer was simple and powerful: it hasn’t. “It’s a classic community event, one that sparks nostalgia even if it’s your first time attending.” In a world that feels constantly in motion, that consistency matters.

That’s the magic of the Souper Bowl. Walk into the building and you’re greeted by warmth, not just from simmering soups, but from people. Folks of all ages gather around tables, while “official-looking people in aprons bustle around making magic happen,” Erin joked. It’s joyful, welcoming, and unmistakably Beth Tikvah. (Pro tip from a seasoned attendee: arrive early because parking and seats fill up fast!)

The annual Souper Bowl isn’t just about trying delicious soups; it’s about what you are supporting by attending. All proceeds benefit the Beth Tikvah Jewish Camp Fund, which has raised over $143,000 and sent more than 265 children to Jewish summer camp over the past 17 years.

“Camp is such a powerfully formative experience for any young person,” Erin reflected. “Connecting more kids with positive camp experiences can only bring more goodness to the world.”

And then there are the moments that turn into stories retold year after year. Erin and Patrick still laugh thinking about their first Souper Bowl, when a “wonderfully goofy giant ladle trophy” was presented to the winning soup. And they haven’t forgotten the Hungarian goulash from years ago either. “I still dream about it,” Erin said. “It got my vote, hands down.”

On Saturday, February 7, 2026 starting at 5:00 PM, the 18th Annual Columbus Souper Bowl Cook-Off returns, and Erin and Patrick’s story is just one of many woven into this beloved tradition. Whether it’s your first Souper Bowl or your 18th, whether you come for the soup, the cause, or the sense of belonging, you’ll be part of something bigger: a community that shows up, year after year, to nourish both body and soul.

Tickets are now on sale. Come hungry. Come early. And who knows, this might just become part of your story too.

Written by Hannah Karr, Director of Marketing & Community Engagement at Congregation Beth Tikvah