Reflections from the Temple President

A Passover Memory Across Waters

There are certain Passover memories that stay with us not just as traditions, but as moments that shape how we understand the story itself.

One of mine takes me far from Lake Tahoe—to the shores of the Red Sea. Years ago, when our family was living in Riyadh, we shared a Passover Seder unlike any other. We gathered for a picnic-style Seder with a Muslim family—dear friends—spreading out our meal near the water, looking across the sea that has carried the Passover story for generations.

As we sat together, I remember looking out over the water and thinking about the Israelites’ journey—about courage, uncertainty, and faith. And I remember sharing that moment with my children, recognizing how extraordinary it was: celebrating a deeply Jewish story of freedom alongside friends of another faith, united in friendship, curiosity, and respect.

That experience has stayed with me because it reminds me that the essence of Passover is not confined to one place or one time. It is a story that invites us, in every generation, to find our own meaning.

Here at Lake Tahoe, we are blessed with beauty and a sense of peace that can sometimes make the challenges of the wider world feel far away. But Passover gently calls us to look deeper.

We may not be standing at the Red Sea—but we can stand at the shores of Lake Tahoe, look out across its vast waters, and reflect on what connects us all. The longing for freedom. The importance of community. The responsibility to care for one another. The understanding that each of us, in our own way, is on a journey.

Passover reminds us that we are not meant to walk that journey alone.

As we gather this year around our Seder tables—with family, with friends, with community—I hope we take time for meaningful conversation, for storytelling, and for reflection. May we listen closely, share openly, and find connection in both oursimilarities and our differences.

And as we move through the holiday, I look forward to celebrating together at our Mimosa Cookie Party—a joyful way to mark the final crossing of the Red Sea and to step forward, together, into what comes next.

Wishing each of you a Passover filled with family, friendship, meaningful conversation, and a deep sense of connection.

Chag Sameach.

— Heidi Doyle

President, North Tahoe Hebrew Congregation