Rabbi Lewis' Message
Kol Emeth has been a central part of my life and the life of my family for 37 years!! My wife Lorri and I arrived as a young couple in 1973. I retired to become rabbi emeritus four years ago, and it is from this perspective that I look back at this period to assess what this special community has been and what it might still become.
Our congregation is exceptional. Here wonderful people have gathered from around the world, contributing their experiences, their ideas, their skills, and even their melodies. We have all worked hard to shape a congregation that is traditional yet open to change, participatory, deeply caring about each other, Klal Yisrael, and the world, connected at the hip to the State of Israel, open to embrace new people, desirous of personal and communal growth, and eager to learn.
Lorri and I brought up our four children here. We have found wonderful friends here. We have found in Kol Emeth the kind of place where we would choose to pray, to learn, to act, and to find our community. And we hope to remain active and to contribute to the congregation for many years to come.
Rabbi Graff and I worked closely together for five years, and I know what a treasure she is for us. I have come very quickly to realize what a special man we have in Rabbi Booth, my successor. I feel very confident that our rabbis, working closely with very devoted lay leadership, will provide vision and exceptional leadership in the time to come.
I hope that you will find the same blessings at Kol Emeth that my family has found over these many years.