1. What first drew you into the Am Shalom community, and what has kept you connected over the years?

When Karen began searching for a Hebrew and Sunday school for her daughter Jodye—who didn’t walk until age seven or speak until age four—she faced heartbreaking refusals. “Other schools turned us away,” she recalls, “but the moment Rabbi Kudan and Sharon Morton reached out, we knew we’d found our home.” Sharon not only enrolled Jodye but tutored her for her Bat Mitzvah and later invited her to assist in a first-grade classroom—an experience that “did wonders for her confidence.” Over time, Jodye’s classmates and their parents have continued to greet her warmly around town, and Rabbi Steve’s habit of letting Jodye lead parts of the service has been, in Karen’s words, “better than anything a neurologist could ever do.” It is this genuine inclusion and the lifelong friendships that followed that has kept them deeply connected.

2. When you think about the future of Am Shalom, what do you hope it looks like for the next generation?

Karen envisions a congregation that retains its unwavering commitment to accessibility, safety, and community care. “The security staff not only make us feel safe but personally escorted me and Jodye to the car after my surgery,” she says. She hopes those practices will continue “for many, many more years,” under the steady leadership of Rabbi Steve. In Karen’s ideal future, Am Shalom remains a place where every family—regardless of ability—can participate fully in worship, learning, and community.

3. What has inspired your generosity as a supporter of Am Shalom?

“I can never repay Am Shalom for the kindness they’ve shown, from driving me to services after my surgery to the countless volunteers who uplift my daughter,” Karen explains. She reflects on social-action outings—like the Hanukkah Lambs Farm visit where “everyone is welcome,” and on congregation members who went out of their way to bolster Jodye’s spirit. “Whatever they ask, I’ll do,” she affirms, driven by gratitude for the joy and support this community has brought to her family.

4. Do you have a favorite Am Shalom memory or season that feels especially meaningful to you?

Karen’s heart still swells when she remembers Jodye’s Bat Mitzvah: “It was the most wonderful day an overflowing sanctuary, heartfelt blessings, and not a dry eye in the house.” Equally poignant are the many volunteering opportunities. Karen recalls one particular experience at a “Safe Place” shelter through the Social Action Committee. There, a single compliment on neatly folded laundry moved a shelter resident to tears, “a moment,” Karen says, “that truly captures the compassion and pride that define Am Shalom.” Another pride filled moment was in June of 2025 when Jodye was named one of the Jim Goodman Volunteers of the year award winners. Karen commented, “I am still overflowing with joy from Jodye’s honor. You don’t see people with special needs winning awards like this, and it’s another reason that makes Am Shalom so special. They never wavered, from day one, they have been tremendous allies and advocates.”