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"Two are better than one, for the reward is greater when they are together. For if they should fall, one can lift up the other; truly sad is the one who falls with no companion there to lift them up!"— Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

Sometimes, life offers us special opportunities to make sacred connections with fellow human beings. You meet someone—at school, at temple, at work, through a mutual acquaintance, by sheer luck—and you are forever changed because they are in your life. They share happy memories with you, and more importantly—as Ecclesiastes teaches—a true friend is there to pick you up when you fall.

For us at Temple Sinai, Rabbi Segal and Rabbi Kranz have forever changed us. What makes them both so unique is that they are not just our rabbis, supervisors and mentors, but they are true and genuine friends who have indelibly touched our lives and who have been with us at our highest highs, and our lowest lows.

As you well know, Ron and Phil are the types of people who simply sparkle—smart, hilarious, and wholly warm-hearted. They have been by our sides as we have added new members to our families through births and weddings, they have been a shoulder to cry on as we have grieved the loss of parents, grandparents, siblings and spouses. They have been with us under the chuppah and at the graveside. They have been with us at our b'nei mitzvahs, and our hospital bedsides. They have enriched our lives in ways that words cannot express.

When Beth, Brad and I were discussing Jewish texts to include in our tribute for Ron and Phil, we settled on these words from Ecclesiastes: "Two are better than one, for the reward is greater when they are together.” Not only are they exceptional individually, but their friendship and partnership are one that we all learn from, and are what makes Temple Sinai so remarkable and unique.

So this Shabbat, we reflect on these powerful words from Ecclesiastes and we celebrate these two incredible people. We thank them for all they have given us: their wisdom, their humor, their strength, and their support. We are so grateful for this unique Temple Sinai Community they have built for us and our families, and we look forward to celebrating them for many more years to come. Mazel tov to you Rabbi Kranz and Rabbi Segal, we love you and it is time to party!

Shabbat Shalom.