As congregants, we share all the emotions that Rabbi Miriam’s departure brings. As members of Kolot’s Board of Directors, we have been in deep conversations with Rabbi Miriam, understand her decision, and wish to say now, unequivocally, both how grateful we are to her and how invested we remain in Kolot’s well-being and its future.

More on the future in a moment. First, we need to express how exceptional a rabbi and a person Rabbi Miriam is. Her ease on the pulpit, her ability to connect wisely and genuinely and constructively with everyone around her, and her boundless reservoir of empathy are simply extraordinary. Her ability to create meaning all around her is what made her stand out as a student rabbi, and it is what made us so enthusiastically look to her when, upon the retirement of Rabbi Ellen Lippmann, it came time to choose a new rabbi for the first time in Kolot’s history.

Miriam began her rabbinate at a vulnerable moment for Kolot. To replace a beloved founding rabbi is no small thing. She very quickly became beloved to us as well. But then we were rocked by new challenges. No one expected the pandemic’s unprecedented struggles — the losses of loved ones, of course, but also the isolation, and the technical challenges of providing the services of a religious congregation remotely at a time when we all needed so much. Rabbi Miriam rose to the occasion. She led us through that extraordinarily difficult time. She maintained our sense of community, conducting cathartic, intimate services with our Cantor Lisa B. Segal. She provided pastoral care that so many of us have found so touching and meaningful. She augmented Kolot’s adult education efforts, and she led Kolot in many struggles for social justice that we all hold so dear. And, amazingly, Kolot actually grew in numbers to the point that we serve 50 percent more households than we did before the pandemic.

The turmoil of this period has taken a toll: We have seen, around the country, that clergy departures have spiked in the wake of the pandemic. While Kolot’s successes are real, so have been the challenges. As the leader of our congregation, Rabbi Miriam knows better than any of us about this. Coming out of this period, Rabbi Miriam has found herself in a period of transition, as our congregation also is in a process of continuing change. While her departure saddens us, we know that Rabbi Miriam’s future is filled with promise. Between now and October 31, we will be taking every possible opportunity to let her know how much we have appreciated being the first chapter of what will be an inspiring career.

We are also grateful, of course, to Cantor Lisa, who will continue to provide the Kolot community with an essential sense of continuity on the bimah, in pastoral care, in spiritual guidance and more. As we look ahead, we know there can be instability in a rabbinic transition at the same time that there is an opportunity to reflect on who we are as a congregation: our values and our practices, what we’ve accomplished and what the future holds for us. What we hope you will take from this letter is to make space to feel both sadness and possibility as we move to our next chapter.

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We know that our community’s future is something Rabbi Miriam, alongside all of us, holds dear. Please join us in thanking Rabbi Miriam and wishing her well. And please join us as, together, we work toward our future.

With gratitude,

The Kolot Board of Directors