Thank you so much to Rabba Sara Hurwitz and Yeshivat Maharat for the vision of creating the Kollel program and for making it possible for me to have this incredible opportunity.  Thank you Rabba Sara for being an inspiration for me.  I recall our conversation when I was considering entering the Kollel program. I was in a playground trying to watch my kids, and had to hang up and call you back three times. Nonetheless you were so supportive, encouraging, and kind.  Thank you for your guidance as I considered my next steps and for all you have done to bring us to this moment.  Through your pioneering and vision you have forever expanded the role for women in Orthodox Judaism, and my family and I are eternally grateful. 

Reb Jeff Fox, thank you so much for all that you have taught me over the past three years.  Thank you for supporting and guiding me through the Teshuva writing process.  Thank you for all of your quick and thoughtful replies all of the times I have asked you she’elot.  Thank you so much for zooming into my middle school classes, teaching them about pasak, and demonstrating for them how an open Orthodox rabbi thinks.  

Rav Avi Weiss– the other day when my daughters came home from school and asked me what a Gadol HaDor was and if they would ever meet one, I told them that they already did and he gave them fuzzy stickers that said Rav Avi loves me.  Your impact on our personal, spiritual, and communal lives is immeasurable and the gifts you have given us all are truly priceless.  Thank you for the beautiful way of life that you have nurtured within Orthodoxy and your example of courage and selflessness that this endeavor demanded.  Thank you for making our chatuna so meaningful and for welcoming me so warming into the rabbinic world, even before Maharat was an option.  Thank you for all of the guidance you have given Max and me during the years and thank you for giving our children those adorable stickers.

Thank you to Rabbi Yonatan Cohen, Dr. Frayda Gonsher Cohen, Nell Mahgel-Friedman and everyone in Congregation Beth Israel for all of your kindness and support.  My experiences at Beth Israel and Merkavah helped guide me toward Yeshivat Maharat.  

Thank you Rabbi Amy Wallk for all of your partnership, mentoring, and warmth both in MA and afterwards.  Thank you to everyone in the Springfield-Longmeadow community and at Congregation Bnai Torah for being such a welcoming home and for your example of clinging to Yiddishkeit with tenacity and resilience.

Thank you to everyone at Congregation Darchei Noam in MN for welcoming our family and supporting me throughout my time at Yeshivat Maharat.  Thank you for all of the enthusiastic questions you have asked me, all of the encouragement you have offered me,  and the way you have celebrated this experience. 

Thank you so much to my incredible in-laws, Linda and Jon Davis, for all of your love and support.  Thank you for schlepping all the way in to be here in person and for always being so encouraging and interested in this pursuit.

Thank you so much to my parents, Helene and Allan Lockspeiser, for always being there for me no matter what path or new endeavor I have pursued.  Thank you for your endless words of encouragement, for coming to all of my events and for your boundless enthusiasm.  Thank you for all of the incredible things you have done to make it possible for me to be a part of the Kollel program, just as you have done for other opportunities I have had in the past. Your love and support have made this all possible. 

Thank you to all of my siblings and siblings in-law for all of your support as I embarked on this novel journey!

Thank you to my incredible soulmate Rabbi Max Davis.  For years I have watched you in your rabbinate and have seen your moments of triumph, as well as your moments of struggle.  I have witnessed you officiating at weddings and Bar/Bat Mitzvot as you enhanced those moments of joy for others.  I have also watched as you visited the sick, buried the dead, and comforted those in mourning.  You have done all of this with deep sensitivity and care, and with immense humility.  I deeply admire you and have learned so much from you.  Thank you for the tremendous sacrifices you have made in order to make it possible for me to pursue this new path, and for your undying support. I could never have made it to the moment without you. 

Thank you to my incredible daughters Revaya, Hodaya, Tifferet and Kalaniya.   Thank your Revaya for being my chavruta, my best student ever and for always overflowing our cup with joy.  Thank you Hodaya for teaching me the parshiyot song, for doing frumba with me, and for always giving me reason to be grateful to Hashem.  Thank you Tifferet for doing a magic trick dvar Torah with me, for letting me play Chinese jumprope, and for always bringing beauty and Hashem’s glory into our lives.  Thank you Kalaniya for teaching me the middot song, for doing crazy lifts with me, and ensuring that we always have a reason to praise Hashem with all of our souls.