If you are feeling overwhelmed by your Passover to-do list, consider the lessons from the story of Nachson crossing the Red Sea.
Continue readingPassover Musings from Morah Chaya
Micah Men: A Safe Space Where Depth is Welcomed
For many men in their 40s and 50s, life is full. Careers are demanding. Children are growing up and perhaps moving out. Parents are aging and need help. Perspectives shift. Questions deepen. And yet, meaningful spaces to process all of it—openly and honestly—can be hard to find. Learn how Micah Men meets this need.
Continue readingTips for Navigating Life’s Transitions
Experience has taught me that transitions, even when they are welcome, are treacherous. They involve change, and let’s face it, while some people handle change with grace, most of us find the process unsettling. Our Jewish tradition utilizes a modest token to help with transitions, the mezuzah.
Continue readingHow Katie Leighton Finds Jewish Connection at Temple Micah
Who knew that a Google search could be so life-changing? Read Katie Leighton’s story to see why this search in 2008 helped her family find Jewish connection through Temple Micah.
Continue readingA Personal Story to Commemorate International Holocaust Remembrance Day
In commemoration of International Holocaust Remembrance Day on January 27, one of our members, Bernice (Bernie) Mazor shares this personal story of her time on an Israeli kibbutz and relates the importance of never forgetting.
Continue readingHow Mike and Robin Aubrey Found a Spiritual Home at Temple Micah
In 1998, Mike and Robin Aubrey’s reason for “shul shopping” was a common one; they were newly married, had a toddler, and decided to raise their children Jewish, so they sought a Jewish community. Read more to learn about the Aubreys’ journey to finding their spiritual home at Temple Micah.
Continue readingLearning to Step Forward, Step Back, and Show Up
Drawing on Jewish tradition and timeless wisdom, this reflection explores the three essential roles—leader, helper, and participant—and why healthy communities need us to embrace all of them.
Continue readingBringing in the Light When the Days Grow Short
As Daylight Saving Time ends and darkness comes earlier, the simple act of lighting Shabbat candles offers warmth, comfort, and a reminder that even a small light can transform the world.
Continue readingLiving as if the World Depends on It: The Wisdom of the Lamed Vavnicks
The Jewish teaching of the 36 hidden righteous—Lamed Vavnicks—invites us to live with greater kindness, humility, and justice, reminding us that every small act may help sustain the world.
Continue readingMeet Nancy, A Dedicated Member for More Than 40 Years!
Nancy’s journey with Temple Micah began in 1982 when she was saying kaddish for her father every afternoon. Read more to learn what keeps Nancy involved more than 40 years later!
Continue readingMaimonides’ Four Steps to a True Apology: A Teaching for the Jewish New Year
This reflection was originally written for our September 18, 2025 religious school newsletter by Chaya Silver, Youth and Education Director, as we approached the High Holydays. We’re sharing it here so our community and visitors can learn from this lesson at any time of year.
A few days ago, while spending time with my granddaughter, she became angry and broke a toy that belonged to her little sister. When I gently asked her to apologize, she looked confused. It wasn’t that she was unwilling—she simply didn’t understand what an apology really involved. She just felt bad.
That moment reminded me of something beautiful in our tradition: a clear, compassionate four-step process for making amends, taught by the great Jewish philosopher Moses Maimonides (Rambam) in the 12th century. His guidance offers a powerful way to repair relationships—at any age.
The Four Steps of a True Apology (According to Maimonides)
1. Admit the mistake
Say clearly what you did: “I broke your toy.”
2. Express remorse and commit to change
Acknowledge the hurt and resolve not to repeat the behavior:
“I’m sorry I broke your toy. I will do my best not to do it again.”
3. Repair the damage
Do what you can to fix the harm:
“I will fix your toy.”
4. Act differently when faced with the same situation
When the moment repeats itself, choose a new path:
“Next time I feel angry, I will not break your toy. I will give myself the chance to do it differently.”
The next day, I walked through these steps with my granddaughter. I watched relief wash over her face. She realized she could do this—she could apologize, repair the toy, try harder next time, and even forgive herself. She had a roadmap.
Apology as Preparation for the New Year
As we head into the Jewish New Year, our tradition encourages us to apologize to those we’ve wronged. This sacred process doesn’t just heal relationships—it gives us a fresh start.
Maimonides’ four steps remind us that repair is possible, even when it feels difficult. Whether we’re mending trust, a friendship, or even a toy, the work requires effort, sincerity, and the belief that we can grow.
The opportunity is in our hands. The action we take to repair what has been broken is meaningful in its own right.
No matter your age, beginning the year with a clean slate is a gift.
As we approach Rosh HaShanah, I invite you to join me in using the wisdom of our tradition. Take a moment to apologize the Maimonides way—to others and even to yourself. You may find that it opens the door to a truly sweet New Year.
Sylvie’s Choice: Becoming a Bat Mitzvah
It’s not often that a child who hasn’t grown up going to temple or religious school decides that they want to become a bar or bat mitzvah. Sylvie celebrated Passover and Chanukah and talked about the religion a bit because her mom is half-Jewish, but she never felt totally Jewish.
Last year, when Sylvie was 12, she decided it would help her feel more a part of the Jewish community if she became a bat mitzvah. But where to start? They didn’t belong to a synagogue.
Searching for a Synagogue
“My parents were open to the idea, but they wanted me to find a temple where I’d feel comfortable and that would be open to my background, so I Googled ‘Jewish temples near me,’” Sylvie explains. “I looked at a few websites and Micah seemed to be very welcoming and personal.” The family talked to Rabbi Mo and felt good about the decision to join Temple Micah.
“It turns out all our Jewish friends belong to Temple Micah, but we had never talked about it before,” says Sylvie’s mom, Anna. “Also, both Sylvie and I went to Montview Preschool, so Micah felt very homelike.”
Three I would use to describe Temple Micah are: welcoming, open-minded, and warm. – Sylvie
Starting Religious School and the B’nai Mitzvah Program
Sylvie signed up for the B’nai Mitzvah program, which included weekly religious school classes, Hebrew tutoring with Risa Aqua, and weekly meetings with Rabbi Mo. Before last year, the only Hebrew Sylvie knew was the blessing for lighting the candles. She worked hard, attended services and classes, did a mitzvah project, and became a bat mitzvah in May 2025!
Sylvie says about the religious school experience, “I liked the teachers. One was a cultural Jewish teacher who covered history and traditions, which was very interesting, especially since I hadn’t learned much of this growing up. The Hebrew teacher helped me read and recognize Hebrew more easily. I also liked being around people my age studying the same thing, and having friends who understood what I was going through.”
Including the Family
Three words Sylvie would use to describe Temple Micah are: welcoming, open-minded, and warm. Anna echoes that sentiment. “My husband isn’t Jewish, and his family felt really comfortable during the bat mitzvah. Many of our non-Jewish friends commented that it was the best they felt in a spiritual space in a long time; Micah was so welcoming. We’re grateful that Sylvie got to have that positive experience…without making our extended family unwelcome.”
Now the family attends High Holyday services, occasional Shabbat services, and the Spring Fling, and Sylvie gets together with her b’nai mitzvah classmates. Her 10-year-old brother is considering starting religious school and becoming a bar mitzvah.
Anna comments, “Through our involvement with Temple Micah, I’ve realized that my upbringing was more Jewish than I thought. The philosophical approach I was raised with is similar to many Jewish values. Initially I was opposed to going to a temple, but Micah is so welcoming. Rabbi Mo and the congregation do a great job of setting parameters for exploring questions without abandoning the text, bringing an intellectually-engaging approach that is traditional but not inflexible” Anna also notes that they know a lot of families with kids who were raised more secularly who are interested in exploring becoming a bar or bat mitzvah. “Micah made that so accessible for Sylvie, more people may be coming to Micah for the b’nai mitzvah program!”
If you would like to share your story, please fill out this form or contact Alaina Green, communications manager.
