Julie Sapper’s Legacy at Beth Tikvah
For nearly two decades, music at Congregation Beth Tikvah has been a vessel for deep human connection. Through joy and grief, celebration and uncertainty, Julie Sapper has been guiding the voice of the community. Now, as Beth Tikvah prepares to say goodbye to its longtime Director of Musical Programming after nearly 20 years, congregants across generations are reflecting on a legacy that extends far beyond the bimah.
Julie first came to Beth Tikvah in 2007, teaching music in the religious school after moving to Columbus from Baltimore. What began in the classroom soon grew into a role that would help define the congregation’s musical and spiritual identity. Over time, she shaped a culture in which music was not something performed for the community, but something created with it.
“I never looked at myself as a performer,” Julie said in a recent interview. “I just looked at myself as the conduit…trying to express and reach a spiritual level through participating musically.” That philosophy—centered on participation, inclusion, and care—was foundational to the musical transformation that has unfolded during her time at Beth Tikvah.
Senior rabbi at Beth Tikvah, Rabbi Rick Kellner, has worked closely with Julie for many years and describes her as a true partner in shaping meaningful and memorable prayer. “Whether it was experimentation with adult choral music, instrumental groups, or seeking out new music to fit the moment, Julie has done so much to create meaning and memory,” Kellner said. “Her passion for music is as great as her dedication to people.”
Some of their most joyful work together took place during Shabbat family services. “Not only would we sing together, but we laughed together,” Kellner reflected. “It was our joyful presence that made the services so meaningful for all who attended.”
That collaborative, relationship-driven approach is echoed by Stu Zweben, a longtime Beth Tikvah member, past Ritual Committee chair, and passionate advocate for congregational music. Over the years, the two developed thoughtful dialogue around services, musical themes, and innovative approaches.
“She’s intentional,” Zweben said. “And she’s compassionate; she’s giving of herself. We’ve really been blessed to have her.” Zweben noted that Julie not only welcomed feedback but actively sought it out, creating a culture of trust and shared ownership. “We didn’t always agree,” he said, “but we understood where each other were coming from, and it was all professional. We developed a really nice relationship.”
That sense of relationship-building is echoed by Dora Sterling, another longtime member who has watched Julie’s work unfold across generations. For Sterling, Julie’s gift lies in her ability to bring music into the body and spirit, not just the ear. “She brings all the senses to music,” Sterling said. “It’s about having fun—singing, clapping, stomping, and turning around—because you can wiggle when you listen to music.”
Sterling described witnessing Julie use music in moments of profound vulnerability, including playing for congregants in times of illness and life transitions. “She can take music and bring it to another dimension,” she said. “That’s her gift. It’s not commonplace.” Sterling also emphasized that Julie’s focus was never on herself. “It was never about attention. She meets your needs with her music. That’s an incredible gift.”
While Julie’s impact on adult worship is widely felt, perhaps nowhere is her influence more enduring than among the young people she has taught and encouraged over the years. Sophie Noble, now a college student, credits Julie with helping shape both her connection to Beth Tikvah and her sense of self. “Beth Tikvah’s musical atmosphere, which she was a key part of nurturing, has always been one of the elements that tightly knitted me into the community,” Noble said.
Noble remembers joining Beth Tikvah later than many of her peers but finding belonging through music. “Julie has always been dedicated to creating opportunities for kids,” she said, recalling singing at services as a fifth grader and later joining Shir Chadash, the teen vocal ensemble. “Participating in Shir Chadash has been very significant for me, giving me community, responsibility, fun, and a way to give back to the temple,” Noble said. Even after leaving for college, she and Julie remain in touch. “I am glad for the chance to know Julie beyond her work at the temple.”
For Emma Webb, another former student now involved in music as an adult, Julie’s influence runs just as deep. “Julie is a shining light in Beth Tikvah!” Webb said. “Her creativity, kindness, and friendship to me over the years have been sincerely life changing. She is one of the most talented people I’ve ever met.”
Julie herself speaks most passionately about watching students grow—sometimes stepping away from music and later returning to it. “When you’ve taught this long,” she said, “you know that they’re going to grow up and this will be a part of them and their memory. To know that you may have lit a spark…that’s a humbling experience.”
That spark has carried Beth Tikvah through moments of both joy and challenge, including the COVID-19 pandemic. Julie recalls those years as emotionally difficult but creatively powerful. “We were still in community even though we weren’t face to face,” she said, describing streamed services, prerecorded choir pieces, and the innovative ways music stayed alive when the sanctuary was empty.
As she prepares to retire, Julie speaks with the emotion of someone leaving a place that has been more than a job. “I’m going to miss being in the sanctuary,” she said. “Playing the piano. Connecting on the bimah.”
Still, she looks forward to a new chapter filled with family, travel, and creative freedom. “I have the energy,” she said, reflecting on the possibilities ahead.
Beth Tikvah will formally celebrate Julie’s retirement on Friday, May 29, 2026, but her presence will continue to be felt in familiar melodies, in the young voices raised with confidence, and in a community that learned how to sing together.
As Sterling put it, “She made it look so easy, people overlooked the fact that they were given a gift.”
Now, as Julie enters her next chapter, the congregation sings its gratitude back to her.
Written by Hannah Karr, Director of Marketing & Community Engagement