January 1, 2026

When the stillness of winter brings a snowy blanket that covers hard-packed soil, I find myself thinking of the trees. Though their skeletal branches pierce the cold air at this time of year, I always imagine that trees continue to grow even now. While deciduous trees enter a state of dormancy above ground during the winter months, their roots continue to grow beneath the surface. They absorb nutrients from the ground and store them for spring growth.

We, too, experience growth throughout our lives, at every stage and in every season. Much like a tree’s roots soaking up nutrients, we take in experiences that nurture our souls. Every experience impacts us; we reflect on the moments that shape us into who we become. We are guided by memories, shaped by values, and formed by the people we encounter. Throughout life’s stages, we plant seeds in the ground that help others grow.

As we reflect on growth, we are reminded of a famous story from the Talmud, Tractate Ta’anit. Honi, known as the Circle Maker, is walking along the road when he encounters a man planting a carob tree. He asks the man, “How long will it take for this tree to bear fruit?” The man replies, “Seventy years.” “Will you live to see this tree bear fruit?” Honi wonders. With wisdom, the man responds, “Just as my ancestors planted for me, I plant for those who come after me.” Honi then sits by the side of the road and falls asleep. When he awakens, he sees a man gathering fruit from the carob tree. Honi asks, “Are you the one who planted this tree?” The man answers, “It was my grandfather who planted this tree.” In that moment, Honi realizes he has slept for seventy years.

The fruit that grows from the trees of our lives has far-reaching effects that nurture others. We leave legacies that shape the next generation. Our stories are more than stories; they are the seeds that sustain the legacies we create in the world.

With this in mind, we are excited to launch a new project at Congregation Beth Tikvah. We call it The Carob Tree Project. Congregation Beth Tikvah is built on the stories of our members. Through this project, Hannah Karr, our Director of Marketing and Community Engagement, and I look forward to meeting with members to learn more about their stories, the values that have guided their lives, and the experiences that have shaped who they are.

In our January issue of Tikvah Topics, you will find the first installment of The Carob Tree. Last month, we met with longtime Beth Tikvah member Dawn Heyman. We spoke about joyful moments in her life, the challenges she faced, her connection to Judaism and Jewish life, and the lessons that have guided her. Her stories are both fruit and seeds that nurture us and help us grow. It is our hope that, as this project continues, we can be like Honi—reaping the fruits and seeds of the many members of our community who have incredible stories to share.

Rabbi Rick Kellner

December 26, 2025

It is hard to believe that we have arrived at the last Shabbat of the year. It has been a long year—one that saw the release of all the living hostages, yet was marred by far too many Jews losing their lives in acts of terror simply because they were Jewish. At Congregation Beth Tikvah, Rabbi Karen Martin joined our community as Assistant Rabbi and has already touched the lives of many members through her wisdom and commitment to community building. We also celebrated with Morissa Freiberg-Vance as she married her beloved George.

As the year draws to a close, I wanted to reflect on the five most important Jewish books I read this past year. Perhaps, in the quiet remaining days of winter break, you might choose to pick one up. These books are listed in no particular order.

The Triumph of Life by Rabbi Yitz Greenberg

In a world filled with such darkness, we often wonder where God’s presence can be found. Rabbi Greenberg takes readers on a deep dive into some of Judaism’s most profound questions. As a post-Holocaust theologian, Greenberg—like many—wrestles with the question of where God was during the Holocaust. In exploring this question, we are reminded of the many miracles God performed throughout Jewish history. It might seem, then, that God could perform such miracles today. Greenberg teaches that we are now living in a third era of God’s presence. He reminds us that the covenant has two parts: God’s promise to us through divine teaching, and our fulfillment of mitzvot. Through the performance of mitzvot, he explains, we take on the responsibility of bringing God’s presence to life on earth. In a post-Holocaust world, where memories of depravity still shape our souls, it is the light of mitzvot that helps us encounter God’s light.

The Gates of Gaza by Amir Tibon

Amir Tibon lived on Kibbutz Nir Oz with his family. As a journalist, he and his wife wanted to give their young daughters a quieter life, far from the noise and chaos of Tel Aviv. Tibon tells the harrowing story of his family’s survival on October 7. Through the power of the pen, he weaves the events of that day together with the history of the kibbutz and the Gaza Envelope region. His writing carries readers through the battle and the tragedy that unfolded. We also learn about Noam Tibon, Amir’s father and a retired IDF general, who drove down from Tel Aviv with his handgun to rescue his son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughters. Throughout the ordeal, Noam kept telling his young grandchildren, “Saba will come.” Somehow, those words helped keep them quiet through a day filled with terror.

Ghosts of a Holy War by Yardena Schwartz

An August day was a highlight for our community as we welcomed author Yardena Schwartz to teach us about her book. Inspired by the letters of a young man who was murdered in the Hebron Massacre of 1929, Schwartz traces the history of the Arab-Israeli conflict back to that pivotal moment. Through in-depth research and compelling storytelling, she follows the conflict from the Hebron Massacre through October 7. Her work is guided by on-the-ground interviews, as well as thorough research into Israeli history. Anyone seeking to better understand the roots and complexity of the conflict should read this book.

As a Jew by Sarah Hurwitz

Having read Sarah Hurwitz’s first book Here All Along earlier this year (this book gets an honorable mention!), I became very excited when I learned a second book was on its way. Hurwitz helps readers navigate the ways external forces have shaped who we are as Jews. Her book invites us to reclaim our story and our identity. As we continue to face darkness, Hurwitz teaches that pride in our story is possible and that there is no need to hide within the shadows. Throughout Jewish history—whether during the Inquisition, the Enlightenment, or the Holocaust—Jews were often forced to conceal their Judaism. In some instances, depraved forces not only demanded silence, but also took lives. Hurwitz helps us rediscover Jewish pride and Jewish joy.

Hostage by Eli Sharabi

Eli Sharabi was taken hostage on October 7. While in captivity, he held on to the hope that he would see his family again. What he did not know was that his wife and daughters were murdered on October 7, and that his brother was also murdered while in captivity. Sharabi’s story is one of hope and resilience. When reflecting on the Jewish story, it is often said that in every generation a new enemy rises up to destroy us. While that is certainly part of our history, we are also reminded that we are the never-dying people. Despite everything, we have survived. Sharabi’s harrowing account of his time in captivity reminds us that it is possible to find something to be grateful for each day, even in the darkness of the tunnels of Gaza. He also reminds us of our extraordinary resilience. Sharabi’s story is our Jewish story.

Next up on my list:

1. Heart of a Stranger by Rabbi Angela Buchdahl
2. A Call at 4 AM by Amit Segal
3. While Israel Slept by Yaakov Katz
4. Antisemitism: An American Tradition by Pamela Nadell

I hope these remaining days of 2025 are filled with blessing. May the new year ahead bring more light to the world. 

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Rick Kellner

December 19, 2025

Happy Hanukkah! With each candle we light this year, there has been an added measure of fortitude as the electric menorah shines brightly in our window. We have been blessed to share the holiday with non-Jewish friends and neighbors, taking time to teach about the meaning of the ritual and the story of the holiday.

This week, images have circulated of now-deceased hostages lighting a paper cup menorah, alongside images of the menorah being lit in the Westerbork concentration camp. The six hostages—Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Carmel Gat, Eden Yerushalmi, Almog Sarusi, Ori Danino, and Alex Lubanov—lit a menorah in the tunnels of Gaza. Both scenes represent acts of defiance and a willingness to quite literally keep the flame alive.

As these images become part of the fabric of our Jewish tapestry, they remind us of the warmth and resilience that have sustained us for centuries. In every generation, someone has risen to harm us. Hanukkah is part of that story, as the Seleucid Greeks sought to strip us of our faith and identity. But Hanukkah also reminds us of survival across the annals of history. After thousands of years, we are still lighting the hanukkiah and telling the story.

Hanukkah began with the senseless murder of 15 Jews on Bondi Beach in Australia. As I have learned throughout the week, the Australian Jewish community—numbering approximately 117,000 people, roughly the same size as the Jewish community of Ohio—is strong and mighty. The Australian Jewish community has more Jewish day school students per capita than any other diaspora country in the world. Many are descendants of Holocaust survivors, as Australia is home to the largest population of Holocaust survivors outside of Israel. Many who fled Europe came to Australia because it was as far away from Europe as they could get.

The Australian Jewish community is proudly Zionist, with Zionism deeply infused into Jewish life there. Sunday’s attack was not only the worst antisemitic attack against Jews in Australia, but also the worst terrorist attack in the country’s history. Unlike the United States, Australia is not known for gun violence and has some of the strictest gun possession laws in the world. In recent years, the Australian Jewish community has been the target of numerous antisemitic attacks. These attacks have included graffiti in synagogues, arson attacks on a kosher deli, and a rampage in a Jewish community in which 10 cars were vandalized, including one that was set on fire. Worshippers have been threatened, among other incidents. You can see a timeline of attacks in Time Magazine. Many in the community feared that something like this could happen.

The attack on Bondi Beach happened as more than a thousand Jews gathered to light the first candle. This is yet another attack on a Jewish holiday, robbing us of our joy. It is becoming clearer to me that many people around the world just cannot fully understand how such an attack affects Jewish communities on the other side of the world. We feel it deeply.

As I think about rising antisemitism and the fears so many of us are experiencing, I think about the need for multifaceted responses. On Tuesday, I was asked what I do for a living. I shared that I am a rabbi, wondering what response might follow. “Oh, I am sorry, for what happened in Australia, it must be so hard. I’m not religious, but everyone should be free to celebrate their religion.” Fear might have suggested a different response, but this interaction was a reminder that there are good and kind people who understand what it means to be human.

Antisemitism is not a problem for Jews to fight alone. “If not me, then who?” Who? The answer must be our allies. Our well-being should matter to our friends and neighbors. Yehuda Kurtzer, President of the Hartman Institute, writes about antisemitism as an American problem. He notes that the American Jewish community is currently spending $800 million annually on security. Consider what could happen if we took all those resources and invested them into Jewish summer camp, travel to Israel, or Jewish identity building.

Kurtzer reflects on the current state of the American political apparatus, which is experiencing a “deterioration of political norms, a collapse of bipartisan commitment to Jewish interests, and growing hostility from both the right and the left toward pluralism and other key elements of the framework of liberal democracy that helped American Jews thrive…” With these factors at play, it is more important than ever to take up the cause of allyship, so that our interfaith partners can help protect Jewish communities and reckon with the history of creating environments that are hostile to Jews.

I continue to feel the blessing of our Worthington interfaith partners who, time and again, reach out with care and concern. Their support has included donations to help offset security expenses, as well as shared learning experiences. Fighting antisemitism should not be a core part of Jewish identity. That identity should be built on Jewish pride, Jewish joy, Jewish values, a commitment to Jewish peoplehood, a love for Israel, Torah, and a connection to God. Combating antisemitism must be part of a larger interfaith effort—one in which people stand up and say, “We will not allow our Jewish neighbors to cower in fear. We will stand with them, and we will do our part to turn the tides of history.” I stand ready to work with anyone and everyone who wishes to examine the roots of antisemitism, why it grows, and how it impacts the flourishing of our precious democracy.

Hanukkah is the celebration of religious freedom and the kindling of Jewish pride. It also reminds us of those who risk their lives to save others. On this Shabbat, we are deeply grateful to Ahmed al Ahmed who single-handedly neutralized one of the shooters. Amid all this sadness, his brave act offers hope. As the candles are lit tonight, another 15 candles are kindled in memory of: Matilda, age 10; Rabbi Eli Schlanger; Dan Elkayam; Alexander Kleytman; Boris and Sofia Gurman; Peter Meagher; Reuven Morrison; Rabbi Yaakov Levitan; Tibor Weitzen; Marika Pogany; Edith Brutman; Boris Tetleroyd; and Adam Smyth. They were hunted because they were Jews. You can learn their stories here. May their memories be for a blessing.

Shabbat Shalom and Happy Hanukkah,

Rabbi Rick Kellner