Kol Nidre Address 2025/5786

By President Heidi Doyle

Good evening, for those who may not know me, my name is Heidi Doyle, and I have the privilege of serving as the President of the North Tahoe Hebrew Congregation. It is my honor to welcome you tonight, on the most sacred evening of our year.

I would like to take a moment to recognize our board members, who are here tonight. I invite them to please raise their hands so that we can acknowledge their leadership, their service, and their dedication to keeping our community vibrant. Thank you!

As we begin, let us also offer our heartfelt gratitude to Rabbi Evon Yakor, to our Cantorial Soloist Erev Rav Marni Loffman, our inspiring instrumentalists, and to the many volunteers who have worked so hard to create a meaningful and inspiring High Holiday experience for all of us. It takes many hands and many hearts to bring this service to life.

Tonight, as the familiar words of Kol Nidre echo through this sanctuary, we are reminded that this moment is about more than prayers spoken—it is about lives renewed. We face ourselves honestly, we consider the vows we did not keep, and we open the door to forgiveness, healing, and hope.

We are a medley of beliefs, and that is our strength. What unites us are the Jewish values that guides our lives: equity, inclusion, environmental justice, caring for the underserved, and sincere empathy for all who suffer. These values call us to be present for one another, and they invite all who identify with this vision to join us.

Our tradition calls us to this sacred work through teshuvah, tefillah, tzedakah—returning, prayer, and acts of giving. Teshuvah turns us back toward our best selves and toward each other. Tefillah gives us words for gratitude, sorrow, and hope. Tzedakah moves us from reflection to action—lifting up the vulnerable, supporting our community and repairing the world.

One of my favorite authors, Henry David Thoreau, wrote:

In wildness is the preservation of the world.

Here in the beauty of Lake Tahoe, we know this truth in our bones. The preservation of the world—of its forests, its waters, its wild places—depends on our care. And so too, the preservation of our Jewish life here depends on our willingness to care for one another, to strengthen this congregation, and to sustain it for the next generation. I believe his words remind us of our responsibility to preserve and care not only for the natural environment, but for one another. In caring for the earth and for humanity, we discover the true meaning of holiness. We cannot ignore the suffering of our time. We hold close in our prayers the war in Israel and the heartbreak of hostages still waiting to come home. And we extend our compassion to all who face the terrors of war, famine, injustice, and work instability. To be Jewish is to carry a deep empathy, and to let that empathy move us to action.

That is what we are building here together- a congregation rooted in Jewish tradition, wide enough to embrace everyone who seeks justice, peace, and belonging. This is the heart of our temple family.

But this is not something we can do alone or by a select few. Tonight, I ask you to join me- through financial contributions, your volunteer spirit and your welcoming nature -to sustain this sacred place.

I need you to invite others who identify with our community to join us. By opening our arms to others, by inviting like-minded friends and neighbors to join us, we enlarge the Jewish community our founders envisioned and strengthen our chosen Jewish family here on the shores of Lake Tahoe and Truckee.

We need your volunteer spirit—to help guide our children in learning, to nourish adult education, to plan activities that bring us together, and to share your talents in service. We need your financial support—to keep our doors open and ensure that every person can join in Jewish life regardless of circumstance. May this sanctuary always be a beacon of Jewish presence in the Sierra. Your gifts of time, your gifts of energy, your gifts of treasure—these are what transform this congregation from a building into a vibrant, living community.

On behalf of our board, our Rabbis, and all who serve this congregation, I thank you for your presence, your commitment, and your love. Together, we strengthen Jewish life here and beyond.

May we all be inscribed and sealed for a year of blessing, renewal, and peace.

G’mar Chatimah Tovah.