I chose to make a Legacy gift because I believe deeply in the continuity of Jewish life here in the Greater Hartford area. I grew up in the Deep South, where Jewish communities were small, often fragile, and very few in number. As a child, I knew what it felt like to love Judaism fiercely while also worrying that it might not last—wondering whether the next generation would have a minyan, a teacher, a place to gather. That experience shaped me. It made me cherish every expression of Jewish life: every song, every class, every holiday table, every act of care and community.

Here, in this synagogue, I see something precious and strong: a community that nurtures belonging, curiosity, resilience, and joy. A community where children grow up knowing Judaism is not something they hold alone, but something held and shared together.

Judaism teaches us to plant seeds for trees under whose shade we may never sit. My Legacy gift is a seed. It is a promise that Jewish life will continue to grow here—vibrant, welcoming, courageous—long after my time has ended.

I am giving forward what was once given to me: possibility, presence, and the enduring beauty of a Jewish home.

With Blessings,
Rabbi B