By Rabbi Will Berkovitz, CEO “Each of us has a name given by God and given by our parents. Each of us has a name given by our stature and our smile…Each of us has a name given by the sea and given by our death.” – Zelda Michael* died at the end of December…
Writing Love Letters to Our Kids and Learning to Let Go
By Rabbi Will Berkovitz, CEO Our oldest son, Nativ, left for college last weekend. The house is quieter, somehow a bit bigger now. As a friend once shared, “The nights are long, but the years are short.” I feel that acutely today. I remember the day Nativ was born. The first words I said to…
Beyond a Grain of Sand
By Rabbi Will Berkovitz, CEO The first image from NASA’s new James Webb Space Telescope made me think of Bob Dylan. More precisely, it made me think of the lyrics to his song, “Every Grain of Sand,” which is like a prayer sung by a nail file. And then I thought of Psalm 147: “Who heals the…
The Stories We Tell
The Jewish tradition is built on passing along our collective memories. Our hard-learned values encoded in the stories we tell are just as important.
We Must Not Stand Idly By: JFS Statement on Buffalo
While we feel sorrow and anger, we must also continue to stand united in opposition to bigotry in all forms and in support of common-sense gun laws.
Making the Choice to Turn Towards and Not Away
We can never know what small kindness tips the scale towards hope and life for someone. And for that reason, what choice do we really have?
Walking the Path from Grief to Hope
Today’s societal anger and divisiveness may be what it looks like when we collectively try and bury the pain of loss rather than address it.
A Letter From the CEO: After Texas
We need to call this hatred what it is and call on those who are not Jewish to do the same. As history has taught us, we do not have a choice.
A statement on Colleyville from our CEO
As the assault on Congregation Beth Israel in Texas unfolds, we are once again left grappling with the reality of targeted hatred directed at Jews.
A November Message From Our CEO
Dear Friends, Our son Nativ turned 18 the other day. He was nine months old when we moved back to Seattle after I graduated from Rabbinic school. Nine years old when I started at JFS. I have a distinct memory of teaching him how to ride a bike. I was running beside him down our…
A Message From Our Acting CEO
Sharing that I work at JFS has led to unexpected and wonderful conversations with strangers and friends alike about their own connections to Judaism.
Echoes From the Canyon: A Message From Our CEO
I am more convinced than ever for the need to create more space for reflection and conversation—to understand the lived experiences that mold opinions.
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