Dear Friends,

As our annual tribute approaches this year, I am so grateful to call Ansche Chesed, my synagogue home.  
 
At our tribute events, we share heartfelt speeches and a fun celebration to express our deep regard for the individuals we honor, each of whom are true Ansche Chesed, people of generosity and lovingkindness. Our honorees are the very best of who we are, and who we aspire to become. 
  
Please join me on May 15, in person at Ansche Chesed! to celebrate our community and our honorees. Please purchase tickets to our communal celebration, and support Ansche Chesed by taking out an ad in our journal. This is a great way to show your love for our community and your appreciation for some wonderful people: 
 
Scott and Sara Harris are true "bonay Yerushalayim" - builders of Jerusalem, as they have both played key roles in the physical and communal building of Ansche Chesed. Scott serves as chair of the Rav Chesed building committee, and has dedicated endless time, effort and vision to the renewal of our space. Sara serves as chair of our membership committee, and welcomes each new member to our synagogue with her signature grace, thoughtfulness and warm spirit. 

Judy Margolin and Seth Schwartz are leaders and communal connectors in all that they do. With great generosity and commitment to a rich life of mitzvot, they exemplify how to lead through their actions. Judy has served AC as a board member, and both are wise baalei mitzvah and intrinsic members of Minyan M'at.   
 
Mark Paul served for three years as an extraordinary president of our community, whose enthusiasm, friendship and dedication enriched AC in so many ways. Mark led Ansche Chesed during a time of great upheaval, including the first year of the pandemic, and during our building renovations. Yet despite these challenges and continuous "pivots" - he led through a lens of creating "joyful Judaism" each step of the way.  
 
Thank you, Mark, Scott and Sara, Judy and Seth, for your inspiring leadership. 
  
And thank you, dear friends, for your reliable support in building a community of kindness - where Jews engage in study that stretches the mind, ritual that moves the heart, and caring deeds that improve the world. 
  
Looking forward to celebrating together soon, 
  
Rabbi Yael Hammerman