Over the past year, JEWISHcolorado’s Shinshinit, Shoham Suisa, has been working with Temple Emanuel, and last month, she reached one of the highlights of her service by joining the congregation’s Confirmation ceremony. This is her speech.
When I first started working on this speech, I was assigned a different Jewish value.
But as I read about it, I realized… it just didn’t feel like me. Yes, every Jewish value connects to each of us in some way, but I wanted this moment to be real, to speak from my heart. So I went back to the list. I looked at every value, one by one. And then, all the way at the bottom, I found the one that fit perfectly: “Sever Panim Yafot.”
Confirmation is about standing up and owning who we are as Jews, not just that we believe, but how we live, so when I thought about the Jewish value that truly speaks to who I am and who I want to be, it had to be Sever Panim Yafot.
A pleasant expression. At first, it sounds simple — smile at people, be polite, be nice. But in Judaism, this value is so much deeper. It’s about how we approach the world. It’s about showing up with positivity, warmth, and an open heart — even when it’s hard. This idea comes from Pirkei Avot, where it says: “Receive every person with a pleasant face.” In today’s world, where so many people are rushing, stressed, and distracted, something as small as a genuine smile, eye contact, or a kind word can mean everything. It’s our way of saying, “I see you. You matter.”
Over the past year, I’ve had the honor of serving as a ShinShinit with JEWISHcolorado. I work in several different communities, and let me tell you — the schedule is not easy sometimes. Some days I’m at four different places. It’s intense. But it’s also one of the most meaningful things I’ve ever done. I feel so lucky to be here. To be with people I love, in a place I care about deeply, experiencing something that will never come again in quite the same way. And despite the challenges, I try — every single day — to meet each person I encounter with a smile.
Why? Because I care. Because it feels good to make someone else feel seen. And because it builds a real connection. I believe that with the right attitude, there’s no limit to what we can accomplish. Just being here today proves that. And staying strong — even when life gets complicated — proves to me that with the right mindset, the world can look different.
There’s a saying: “If you’re going to do something, do it well.” But in my house, we say something else: “It’s not just about doing it right, it’s about doing it with the right attitude.” If you’re going to do something, do it with a smile. Do it with heart. And you’ll be amazed at what comes back to you. Staying positive doesn’t mean pretending everything is okay. It means choosing to keep going, to be a source of light for yourself and for others, even when things feel dark.
And yes, I’ve had dark moments. After October 7th, I felt completely broken. For two months, I was just going through the motions, numb, disconnected — not myself. Until I sat down with my grandmother. Before that day, I was one of the smile-iest people you’d meet. But she could see that something had changed. She’s been through wars and tragedies herself, moments when smiling probably felt impossible. And yet, she looked at me and said, “You’re not who you were. I’m worried about you.” At first, I didn’t understand. Of course I was upset. Who wouldn’t be? But then she told me something that changed everything. She said, “As Jews, we don’t have the luxury of staying stuck in our pain. When we fall, we rise. Again and again. We remember, but we move forward. Because we must. We owe it to ourselves, and to each other, to face the world with strength — and with a smile. Even if the smile is forced at first, it will become real.”
So I took her words to heart. And slowly, I started to come back to life. I said good morning to my neighbors. I went for walks. I watched movies. I spent time with friends. And no — I didn’t forget October 7th. But I didn’t let it stop me from living, either. Because that’s our story. From leaving Egypt, to surviving the Holocaust, to rebuilding after every war, our people have always chosen to move forward with strength and hope.
We carry our memories, but we also carry light. I know I’ll face hard moments again in the future. But I also know this: I’ll meet them with a smile — and with Sever Panim Yafot.