April 3, 2026
The power of the Jewish people lies in our ability to tell stories. The stories shared throughout the generations have brought us insight and wisdom. They have told of our hardships and our resilience. In the times of Torah, we learned of the flawed nature of the individuals we read about each week. The Talmud and the Midrash added stories of practical wisdom to our canon. Later, the Hasidic masters brought a deeper sense of spirituality as they sat on Shabbat afternoons and shared their soulfulness with all who gathered around their rebbes’ tables.
For the last two nights, we have gathered around our tables to tell the quintessential Jewish story. Our Exodus from Egypt reminds us of the tremendous hardships we faced, the signs God sent to reveal divine power, the experience of being seen as other, the joy we felt in our freedom, and the responsibility we accepted when God revealed Torah to us. In many ways, this story spirals throughout history, as its themes reemerge again and again, offering us lessons through the echoes of time. As a Jewish people, we are reminded of how we stand up to Pharaoh in every generation. The story reminds us of the moment we became a people and realized our responsibility toward one another, as our journey through the wilderness required us to care for every tribe and every member of the community. Through all of this, we learned who we are—a people who recognize that kol Yisrael arevim zeh bazeh, all Israel is responsible for one another, and that the cry “Let my people go” is both a particular and universal call to freedom.
I have been thinking about these themes recently as I consider how our Beth Tikvah story fits within the larger framework of our people’s story. Just a few weeks ago, our membership inched past the 500-household mark. It is a number we have not surpassed since the late aughts, and it is something to celebrate. Since I arrived at Beth Tikvah, I have striven to serve our members to the best of my ability, trusting that the rest would fall into place. I have learned along the way not to focus on membership totals, as they are not something I can control. As a clergy and staff team, in partnership with the Board of Trustees, we work hard to create meaningful experiences for our members—experiences where you can find Jewish joy, be touched by Torah, and use its lessons to impact the world around us.
Our Beth Tikvah story is one that embraces Jewish life in all that it offers. Throughout our nearly 65 years, Jewish life in Northwest Columbus has been centered at Beth Tikvah. Living on this side of the city offers incredible opportunities to create meaningful moments of blessing—through learning, connecting to the Jewish people, engaging with Israel, and working to heal the brokenness that exists around us. We are a people-centered organization that strives to bring Torah into the world around us. We have faced hardships and challenges along the way, but Torah has always helped us bring light into the darkest spaces we encounter.
All of us share this sacred journey together. We are a caring community that celebrates the gifts of every soul. As we concluded the reading of the Book of Exodus a couple of weeks ago, we once again read how the Israelites were incredibly generous with the gifts they brought to build the Tabernacle. I am grateful to each one of you, our members. You bring the unique gifts of your souls, and through those gifts, you help make Congregation Beth Tikvah the sacred community we aspire to be. As we stand on the shoulders of those who came before us, may we continue to write this sacred story together.
Shabbat Shalom and Mo’adim L’simcha,
Rabbi Rick Kellner