The Power of Community
Our daughter Adina wed Moshe in January in Jerusalem. We wanted to celebrate in Stamford when they are both here for Passover to say “ Thank You!: for the role of our community in shaping who she is today. My remarks follow below and serve as a testament and love letter to the power of community.
I am speaking on behalf of Diane and me.
We are so happy to celebrate with you today and are grateful to Hashem for enabling us to rejoice together. The Agudath Sholom community is our extended family. Although the wedding was in Israel in January, the proximity of the upcoming holiday of Pesach is the perfect expression of the reason that Diane and I felt it was so important to share the simcha of Adina and Moshe with each of you.
More than any other holiday, Pesach affords us the opportunity to explore and reconnect to our foundations as a nation. The prime mitzvah is to remember our roots and give gratitude to God and our ancestors without whom we would not be here today.
Adina’s roots are in the Stamford Jewish community and most notably Agudath Sholom and Bi Cultural Hebrew Academy. In particular, one of the hallmarks of Agudath Sholom is our diversity. We welcome everyone regardless of background, knowledge or religious practice. We are eternally grateful that Adina was raised in such an environment. The greatness of the Jewish people emerges when we are one and understand that we can learn from everyone.
Thank you for helping make Adina who she is today. Both she and Moshe, whose family also embodies this value, will God willing build a home that is truly open, seeing the positive and possibilities in the totality of the Jewish people and beyond. God willing, your bayit in Israel, will draw on your roots in our family and community to foster greater unity and love within the Jewish people and the world.
Also, we are thrilled that Adina and Moshe are building their home in Israel. Standing underneath the Chuppah in the hills of Yerushalayim was a dream come true. Adina’s decision to make aliyah and our other daughters as well is in no small part due to the impact of Agudath Sholom and BCHA. The friendships forged with Banot Sherut Leumi and Shlichim from BCHA, the experiences at AIPAC and the avira of Zionism and love of Israel shaped Adina’s decision to embark on Sherut after her gap year and return to Israel after Stern.
Today is about taking a moment to recognize the blessings of our shul and school. Our children are the products of not only our family but our community. Thank you to all of you for helping make Stamford such a special place. God willing, we will continue to nourish these values of unity amidst diversity and love of Israel for generations to come.
Adina and Moshe, Mazal Tov from all of us. Your match is truly Divine and we are so happy for both of you! Moshe - we love having you as part of the family and as another son. We pray that Hashem showers you with much joy, growth, and so many revealed brachot as you build a home in Israel. May we all share many smachot together God willing soon here and in Israel in the years ahead!