Congregation Emanu-El of Westchester

06/17/2026

Rabbi Goldsmith's Message:

A huge tree fell a few years ago and blocked the trail around Sheldrake Lake in New Rochelle. Two massive trunks lay across the path. Yofi, our dog, and I would use one trunk as a kind of ramp to climb onto the larger one. Then we would jump down about four feet to the trail on the other side. I was lucky enough to be spry enough for the gymnastics, and Yofi seemed to love it. See the obstacle. Climb over it.

Clearly, though, not everyone who used the trail could manage those acrobatics. Over time, people wore a new path around the fallen tree: up the hill, above the trunks, and back down to the trail. No jumping required.

The last time Yofi and I walked there, it had just rained. Not wanting to risk a fall on the slippery wood, I took the new path for the first time and found myself grateful for the safe passage.

I am keenly aware that on the trail of life, trees inevitably fall and block our well-worn paths. Those trees may be illness or injury, broken relationships or financial setbacks, or any number of challenges that arise over time. At first, we try to push through, determined to keep doing what we have always done. Yet, over time, we discover new paths, new routes that help us adapt and continue our journey safely.

And much like the trail beside Sheldrake Lake, those new paths are often created by others - people who have walked the way before us or who lovingly walk beside us now.

May our paths be smooth and filled with joy. And when trees fall, may we have the wisdom to accept the helping hands that reach out to us and the courage to follow the new paths that appear before us.

06/12/2026

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06/10/2026

Rabbi Goldsmith's Message:

Our goal is to make it look easy, natural, seamless. A service, a lifecycle event, a program, a film night - we want everyone to feel as though these things simply happen through some combination of intention, goodwill, Jewish tradition, and perhaps a touch of Divine intervention. But, of course, that could not be further from the truth. We have an outstanding administrative and facilities staff at the temple who work tirelessly behind the scenes. And next week, we will say goodbye to one of the stars of that staff: Victoria Simmonds.

Vic has been with us for the last four years supporting our Religious School and b'nei mitzvah programs. She assigns b'nei mitzvah dates, coordinates countless communications, registers new students, and handles too many other tasks to count. Vic makes it all look easy. I assure you, it is not.

Take B'nei Mitzvah Boot Camp. This past year, we had 28 students and 35 boot camp sessions. Between our cantors teaching Torah and our tutors teaching prayer, there were 1,330 meetings. Vic scheduled every one of them. She also schedules all of my meetings - family meetings, rehearsals, and speech writing - another 196 meetings. Then, when a student calls in sick, has a lacrosse championship game, or goes out of town for a family simcha, Vic reschedules that student and juggles everything else to ensure that 1,526 meetings go off without a hitch. (By the way, please do NOT check my math on this!)

As wonderful as Vic is at being organized and efficient, she is an even more wonderful person. She is endlessly patient. She cares deeply about every student. She understands the myriad situations that arise for students and families and works tirelessly to accommodate them. She is fun and funny, gracious and kind. We will miss her deeply and wish her nothing but the very best as she moves on to new adventures.

06/05/2026

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06/03/2026

Message from Rabbi Goldsmith:

I just finished three exhilarating days with over 2,000 Jewish advocates from around the world at AJC’s Global Forum in Washington, DC. In plenary sessions, we heard from heads of state, foreign ministers, Jewish leaders, inspiring philanthropists, and college students on the front lines of the fight against antisemitism. In breakout sessions, we engaged with experts on topics ranging from AI and Israel to the future of Jewish life in Europe and Jewish voices in the entertainment industry.

The Global Forum was inspiring and energizing, but it was also an important reminder that Judaism is not a cloistered religion of rituals and prayers (though we certainly love rituals and prayers!). Judaism is a moral message that we, as Jews, are called to bring into the world to help make society better for everyone.

To that end, I want to echo UJA’s slogan for this year’s primaries: “June is the new November.” Since most general election races in New York are not especially competitive, the real opportunity to shape who represents us in Albany and Washington comes during the primaries on June 23rd. Advocacy matters, but voting is where each of us gets a direct voice in shaping a society that reflects our shared values.

A few important reminders:
• If you will be away this summer, you can still request an absentee ballot.
• Make a plan now for when and how you will vote.
• Double-check (https://voterlookup.elections.ny.gov/) your voter registration and confirm whether there is a primary in your district.
• Encourage friends and family members to make a plan as well.

Key dates:
• Absentee ballot request deadline: June 13
• Early voting: June 13 - June 21
• Primary Election Day: June 23

Helpful resources:
• Register to vote (https://citizenparticipation.westchestercountyny.gov/register-to-vote)
• Request an absentee ballot (https://elections.ny.gov/request-ballot)

05/29/2026

05/28/2026

Message from Rabbi Goldsmith:

"I was with God as a confidant, a source of delight every day, playing before God at all times." - Proverbs 8:30

For all the seriousness in Jewish life, our tradition also teaches the power of play. Today our staff went to Day Camp for Jewish Professionals for a day of team building and play. Together with 215 other Jewish professionals from around the area, we enjoyed nature walks and pickle ball, climbing walls and chocolate tasting, and, of course, a mini-Color War to end the day. It was a joy to be together, to be with other dedicated Jewish professionals from synagogues and JCCs, service organizations and UJA.

If you've got a 20 or 30 something in your life, tell them to check out Trybal which not only runs day camps, but long weekends of camp for those who loved camp as kids, those who missed out, and those just looking for a fun time with other young Jews.

I hope you find some joy and an opportunity to play in the days ahead!

05/22/2026

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05/20/2026

Message from Rabbi Goldsmith:

One of the best parts of my job is working with b’nei mitzvah students as they write their divrei Torah - the speeches they give during their ceremonies. I encourage them to write about an issue or idea they care about and, together, we link it to the Torah portion. Through the process, I always learn about the students and, a surprising amount of the time, I also learn new insights into Torah itself.

For example, a current student had a new take on an obscure aspect of Torah: the restrictions of the Nazarites. An ancient Israelite who wanted to practice a deeper form of piety for a period of time would take the vow of the Nazarite. That involved several ascetic commitments, including avoiding grape products and foregoing shaving or haircuts. But the student’s insight was that skipping haircuts was not really about asceticism at all. Instead, she wrote: “I can imagine that God wants us to come as we are and not stress over what we look like.”

What a delightful reading! Rather than understanding these practices as a burden, she sees them as a reminder that God cares more about what is on the inside than what we present on the outside - that we should “come as we are.”

Tomorrow night begins the Jewish festival of Shavuot, when we traditionally celebrate Revelation: receiving the Torah at Mount Sinai. The insights of my students remind me that revelation was not a one-time occurrence in a faraway wilderness. Revelation continues to this day as we wrestle with our tradition, as we bring new knowledge to bear on ancient texts, and as we “come as we are” into relationship with God.

Chag Shavuot Sameach!

05/15/2026

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