January 2026 - A Chance Encounter, or Two

My seminary has a meet-up Zoom every week for alumni and I try to log on when I can. We Rabbis and Cantors have an opportunity to exchange ideas, give updates on our lives, present challenges, and just talk shop. On one such day a colleague, Rabbi Suri Krieger, was describing an art class she was teaching on Jewish artists, the well-known Marc Chagall, and the lesser-known, Arthur Szyk.

It sounded interesting and I asked her about doing something for us, so we spoke after and came up with the date for our Friday Kabbalat Shabbat Zoom service this month, on January 16. I later saw her at our school’s Retreat in November and we firmed it up. We decided on Arthur Szyk this time, since his work is not well-known but sounds fascinating. We have put the information about Rabbi Krieger and Arthur Szyk on our eNews, and I hope you will zoom in.

On another note, those of you who attended the Chanukah dinner know that I am gifting a piece of art to the synagogue as a Chanukah present! It was created by an artist who lives in eastern PA and whose work I saw at the Pittsburgh Botanic Garden. To me it looks like the Tree of Life and so it will be hung in the vestibule, opposite our big Tree of Life. The artist, Dar James, will be our guest at next month’s (February) Zoom Kabbalat Shabbat service, to share her process and experience as an artist and an author. Stay tuned for more on this!

The beginning of this secular new year has been challenging in our country and beyond. As I look ahead, Tu B’Shevat, the holiday of the trees, will be coming up in a few weeks. Together may we plant seeds of justice and peace. 

B’shalom,
Cantor Rena