June 5, 2026
Happy Pride Month!
We begin this month celebrating the diversity within our community and affirming that our tent is wide enough to hold everyone beneath it.
You are WELCOMED. You are SEEN. You are LOVED. You BELONG.
When we talk about Tikkun Olam, I sometimes worry that it has become a phrase we repeat without fully embracing its meaning. But Tikkun Olam is not just a slogan—it is our personal and collective responsibility to help create a more just, inclusive, and compassionate world.
Too often, we speak of Tikkun Olam as one of our core values without asking how we are putting it into action. Marking Pride Month is one way we can fill those words with meaning. It is an opportunity to recognize and celebrate a community that has too often faced persecution, exclusion, and misunderstanding. It is an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to dignity, equality, and belonging for all.
You are WELCOMED. You are SEEN. You are LOVED. You BELONG.
Tonight, our very own President, Robb Layne, will share his story at Temple Or Rishon. For the first time, he will offer a drash about his journey as a gay man, a husband, a father, and someone who found his way to the Jewish community in the most unexpected and meaningful ways. If you would like to hear him, services begin at 7 PM and there is a streaming option too.
You are WELCOMED. You are SEEN. You are LOVED. You BELONG.
There are more ways to put Tikkun Olam into action. Our JCRC is leading efforts to march in the Pride Parade on June 14. We will have a shared gathering spot for our entire community, alongside Congregation B’nai Israel and Congregation Beth Shalom. If you would like to join us, RSVP to receive details about the meeting location.
Bring your colors. Bring your energy. Bring your voice to say:
You are WELCOMED. You are SEEN. You are LOVED. You BELONG.
Pride Month is also a reminder that each of us was created b’tzelem Elohim—in the Divine image. Every person carries a spark of holiness. When we come together as a community, those sparks multiply. The light shines brighter. The force grows stronger. The impact reaches farther.
And together, we remind one another:
You are WELCOMED. You are SEEN. You are LOVED. You BELONG.
Mariela Socolovsky, CEO of the Jewish Federation of the Sacramento Region