By: Jill Katchen
Director of Donor Engagement
Shabbat Shalom,
This week, I sat in the sanctuary of Temple Emanuel with my mom and so many inspiring women who helped build this community over the last 87 years, to celebrate and remember a remarkable life.
She was a lifelong Denverite, a stalwart supporter of JEWISHcolorado, and someone who had a profound impact on me as a donor, a mentor, and a friend. Her presence was woven into the very fabric of this community.
She was cherished as a teacher, wife, sister, mother, grandmother, aunt, great aunt, and a beloved friend. Story after story reflected her passions: Judaism, travel, the arts, philanthropy, and yes, a hot dog from Mustard’s Last Stand. But the thread running through all of it was connection: her deep devotion to her daughters, her joyful daily Wordle group texts with loved ones, the care she poured into holiday gatherings, adventures with grandchildren, and her gift for bringing people together — for the ballet, the opera, a fundraising event, a ladies luncheon, or for a meal and laughter with old and new friends.
She lived a life rooted in relationships — full of intention, attention, and love.
Last week in Parashat Emor, the Torah outlined the sacred calendar, moments like Shabbat, Pesach, and Yom Kippur, reminding us that holiness can be found in time and tradition.
This week, in Behar-Bechukotai, the Torah zooms out to a broader vision. It speaks of Shemitah, the sabbatical year, and Yovel, the Jubilee — times of rest, release, and return. These laws are not only spiritual, but deeply social. They remind us that the health of a society depends on justice, compassion, and the strength of our relationships.
Moving from Emor to Behar-Bechukotai feels significant. The Torah shifts our focus from the personal to the communal, from the sanctity of ritual moments to the holiness of a just and caring society.
The woman we remembered this week lived in that space between the two, showing up for holy moments, yes, but also making space for others, embodying compassion, and nurturing connection in everything she did.
As we close the book of Vayikra, the Torah reminds us that true blessing comes not only through ritual, but through the love we give, and the relationships we build — the legacy we leave behind.
This Shabbat, may we carry her memory as a source of light. And may we honor her by leaning into connection: reaching out to someone on our minds, offering a listening ear, and showing up with full hearts and open presence.
Please email Jill Katchen at jkatchen@jewishcolorado.org with questions or comments.