On the evening of June 1 at 7pm, our amazing Confirmation class will take to the bima to lead us in prayer and song. Taking part in our beloved custom of Confirmation, they will share their words of wisdom and reflect on the year we spent together. They are a bright, generous and compassionate group. We had a great time this year as we talked about the issues, studied Jewish texts, met with local leaders, visited our nation’s capital and prepared for our Shavuot service. They are a diverse group as well, representing myriad school districts, points of view, ideologies and theologies. I have loved every minute with them.

It is not an easy time to be a teenager in America, even more so it’s not an easy time to be a Jewish teenager in America. Expectations are through the roof. Stress is sky high. Social media is paralyzing. The combined weight of extracurriculars, sports, clubs and the quest for perfect grades is untenable at best. I see it with my own eyes. I hear it in their words. And yet, to their credit, these kids remain upbeat, giving and caring. They are not checked out. They are not jaded. They are engaged and ready to rise to the task of fixing our deeply fractured world.

Each year, the Confirmation class gives a gift back to our congregational community. It’s a way of both thanking KI for the years of support and ensuring that the legacy of this particular Confirmation lives on in a tangible way. Around the building, if you look closely, you will see various gifts given by our classes over the years.

This year, the class has decided to dedicate a memorial to the victims of October 7, 2023. We have commissioned KI artist Robert Dennis to help us. Earlier this month, we met with him to discuss ideas and our vision. The thinking is that the memorial should capture both the severity of the events of that day and our shared hope for a more peaceful tomorrow. We decided on this gift because so much of our year was impacted by that horrific day and its aftermath. We have prayed for the hostages to be returned, the fighting to stop and for the Israeli and Palestinian peoples – cousins ultimately – to live side by side. Robert will create a painting that speaks to all of this; it will eventually hang by the entrance to the KG Auditorium.

We would love for you to contribute to this important cause. Please join us by sending a donation of any amount to the KI office, with “Confirmation Gift” in the memo. The class really appreciates your generosity and support.

This memorial will have us recall the strength and resilience of the people of Israel and the ongoing struggle for our very survival. It will have us consider, in every generation, what it means to be a member of the Jewish people and supporter of an Israel that is inclusive, democratic and beholden to the highest ideals. May we all experience a more peaceful tomorrow and a world without war. Amen.