Episode Details

Rabbi Jeffrey Myers is stepping down after nearly eight years of guiding the Tree of Life Congregation through unimaginable grief, rebuilding, and resilience since the 2018 synagogue shooting. He took over just a year before the tragedy and led the community through funerals, the pandemic, and the groundbreaking of a new memorial building — all while prioritizing healing over his own. Now 70 and ready to return to New Jersey to spend time with family and pursue personal passions, Myers leaves behind a legacy of strength, gratitude, and quiet wisdom, often drawing on pop culture like Mr. Spock to explain his philosophy. In his farewell, he honored every victim by name, sang “You’ve Got a Friend,” and thanked first responders — a moment that moved survivors and members to tears. The congregation, now bonded with Mother Emanuel AME Church, is preparing a new home with a memorial and educational exhibits on antisemitism, set to open in 2028. Myers, the right leader for a dark time, is remembered as the steady hand that held the community together — and now, it’s time for new voices to rise.

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