Leadership

Have you ever wondered how Judaism, Thanksgiving, and family values intersect in our culturaland religious lives? Judaism is centered on the belief in one God and following the teachings found in the Torah.Jewish traditions and values emphasize community, education, and ethical living. Key practicesinclude observing the Sabbath, dietary laws, and celebrating holidays like Passover, RoshHashanah, … Read more

Dear Congregation, As we approach the High Holidays, a time of reflection, renewal, and celebration, I wanted to take amoment to share my heartfelt thoughts with you. The High Holidays invite us to look inward, to seekforgiveness, and to renew our commitment to our values and our community. And for many of us ourthoughts may … Read more

Dear Congregation, As the summer of 2024, with its humidity, slowly gives way to a more comfortable air mass, slightly fewer hours of daylight and a not-yet-visible suggestion in the trees that leaves are about to discolor and drop, there is no mistaking what time it is on the Jewish calendar. But it needn’t be … Read more

How can Chanukah help us find Hope and Unity? How can we deal with the Emotional Impact of conflict and war? A message from the President.

As the echoes of the High Holidays begin to fade, it’s essential to find ways to maintain this sense of spiritual connection and community that was vibrant during this special time. The journey of faith and community does not end with Yom Kippur; it continues, and it’s up to all of us to keep the … Read more

As I sit down to write a column for the September issue of the Voice, I am thinking ahead to Rosh Hashanah and what it means. Rosh Hashanah, as we all know, is the Jewish New Year, the beginning of the month of Tishrei. On this holiday we imagine Hashem is reviewing the behavior of … Read more

As we look forward to warm summer days, I’m reminded that our biggest fundraiser of the year has just kicked off. That is the Cadillac of Raffles. I strongly encourage everyone to purchase a minimum of one ticket. If a ticket has not been sent to you, don’t worry, you can still get in on … Read more

Most of you have now heard that Cantor Fair will no longer be serving Ahavas Israel, and we just wanted to share a few thoughts on his departure. Our original contract with Temple Emanuel to provide cantorial services gave us Cantor Fair for four hours a week of his time. This equated to about two … Read more

In March, the Jewish Community Legacy Project had its first meeting for presidents of small congregations, which are defined as those made up of 130 or fewer member units. We met on Zoom for a discussion on the various challenges facing congregations.  The topic of Engagement was discussed, which seems to be a very common … Read more

My family moved to Grand Rapids in 1973 when my husband accepted a position as a pathologist at St. Mary’s Hospital, and we became members of Ahavas Israel. I have been a member of the Wednesday morning minyan for over forty years and a regular at Shabbat services. I’ve been active at Ahavas Israel in … Read more