This weekend will truly be a community celebration of Brian Rissinger, our beloved Executive Director, who has served our synagogue with deep commitment and dedication for 20 years.

As I was preparing for our Shabbat Spring Celebration Service, I began looking through photos of Brian to create a visual tribute. Honestly, I could not find many. I looked through years of photos, and the only ones I could find were from those occasional moments when we paused to celebrate a birthday or for a special staff gathering.

And yet…Brian has been present at everything.

He is always behind the scenes, attending to every detail so that all we do runs smoothly. He is the first to arrive and the last to leave. I imagine it won’t be easy for him to be the center of attention this weekend, because his greatest joy is making sure everyone else feels cared for, and that everything is prepared so our community can gather, pray, and just be together.

It feels especially fitting that Brian’s honoring falls in the week of Parashat Shemini, a portion filled with careful attention to the details that shape a sacred life; what we do, what we refrain from, how we bring intention into even the smallest acts. We are reminded that holiness is found in the details.

And Brian lives that every day.

Our synagogue is rich and vibrant not only because of what we see, but because of what is so thoughtfully held behind the scenes-every light that turns on, every room that is ready, every relationship that is nurtured, every moment that feels warm and welcoming.

This Shabbat, may we take the time to say: “L’Chaim to Brian!” and to celebrate the community he has helped build and sustain for the past 20 years!