I admired tap dance my entire life—the precision, the rhythm, the confidence of it. But I didn’t actually put on a pair of tap shoes until the summer of 2017, when I nervously signed up for my first class. Although it was labeled “beginner,” many of the dancers had been tapping for years. I was completely lost. The combinations moved quickly, and the instructor used terms I was completely unfamiliar with – shuffle, flap, maxi ford, cramp roll, paradiddle, time step, drawbacks – it was a foreign language.
But I stayed. I practiced. I listened more carefully. Slowly, the steps began to make sense. Today I take both beginner and intermediate classes and even participate in recitals—something I never would have imagined when I first shuffled uncertainly across the floor.
What I have learned from tap is that no one dances alone. You rely on teachers who guide you, experienced dancers who model the steps, and an ensemble that keeps the rhythm steady. If you miss a beat, the group helps you find your way back.
That lesson has shaped how I think about my role as president of Congregation B’nai Israel.
When our family joined in 2001, I was asked to serve on the religious school board. Later, I was asked to chair it. Over time, my involvement deepened—committee by committee, responsibility by responsibility—until the day I was called to serve as president.
Like that first tap class, there are parts of this role I had no prior experience with: finances, facilities, staffing, long-range planning. At times, I am learning new steps in real time.
But just as in tap, I am surrounded by an extraordinary ensemble. Our clergy and professional staff, our dedicated board members, committee chairs, and volunteers—and the many congregants who step up in large and small ways—create the rhythm of this congregation. You organize programs, teach our children, care for one another, steward our resources, and fill our sanctuary with life. So many of you actively support both our synagogue and me personally with your wisdom, generosity, and steady presence.
Our upcoming gala is a perfect example of that ensemble spirit. We will be honoring Mariela and Ariel Dybner, Laurie and Kenny Kavowras, and Lisa and Zach Ontell—individuals who have given their time, energy, and heart to this congregation in ways that strengthen our collective rhythm. Like strong dancers in the front line, they help set the pace and inspire the rest of us to step up and step in. Please join me in celebrating these worthy couples on Sunday, March 8.
Community, like tap, is not about one person making the loudest sound. It is about listening, responding, and trusting one another. It is about finding our shared beat and having the courage to
step onto the floor together.
I am deeply grateful to be dancing this dance with all of you.
