by Michelle Friedman, Immediate Outgoing Board Chair
As my term as Board Chair comes to an end after five extraordinary years, I find myself reflecting on what Keshet means to me, why I chose to serve and why I will continue to support this remarkable organization.
When I began my tenure as Board Chair, we were just beginning to emerge from the uncertainty of COVID. Like so many organizations, Keshet faced enormous challenges. Yet what continues to amaze me is that we didn’t simply get through those years—we thrived! Our staff, leadership, volunteers, donors and families never lost sight of our mission. We found new ways to connect, to innovate and to say “yes” to the children, adults and families who count on Keshet every day. Looking back, I am incredibly proud of what we accomplished together during one of the most difficult periods any of us have ever experienced.
For me, Keshet has always represented something much deeper than programs or services. As a woman with a disability, I know what it feels like to be told “no” simply because of a disability. I know what it is like to wonder if you belong or if people truly see your potential. I also know how life-changing it is to be fully seen, valued and welcomed.
That is what makes Keshet so extraordinary.
Keshet sees disability not as a limitation, but as a natural part of the human experience. It doesn’t ask people to change who they are to fit into the community. Instead, it creates communities that welcome people exactly as they are with dignity, opportunity and belonging.
Too often, people with disabilities are defined by what they cannot do. Keshet has always challenged that way of thinking. Here, children and adults are recognized for their strengths, their gifts and their potential. They are supported not only for who they are today, but for who they are becoming.
One of the things I treasure most about Keshet is its commitment to people across their entire lives. From infancy through adulthood and beyond, Keshet is there for participants and their families. When Keshet says it will be there forever, I know it truly means forever. That promise has always meant so much to me, and I know it means everything to the families who depend on it.
Perhaps the greatest gift these past five years has been the people I have met along the way. I have had the privilege of getting to know so many extraordinary participants, parents, staff and the countless supporters who make Keshet such a special community. What began as introductions quickly grew into meaningful relationships, and many of these remarkable individuals are now people I am honored to call friends. Their resilience, joy, generosity and unwavering belief in one another have inspired me every day. They have reminded me that Keshet is so much more than an organization—it is a family, built on connection, compassion and the belief that everyone belongs. Those friendships are among the greatest gifts of my time as Board Chair, and I will cherish them always.
During these past five years, I have also had the privilege of watching Keshet dream bigger than ever before.
When Jen Phillips, Keshet’s CEO, first shared her vision for creating a permanent home for Keshet, with me, I was immediately all in. This wasn’t simply about constructing a building. It was about creating a place where people with and without disabilities would learn, work, celebrate, build friendships and be part of Jewish life.
Just a few short years later, that vision is becoming reality. Construction is underway on Keshet’s new home, and every time I think about what this building will mean, I feel both humbled and inspired. It will create opportunities for inclusion, independence, employment, recreation, community and lifelong connection for generations to come. More than anything, it stands as a physical expression of everything Keshet believes—that belonging should never be an afterthought. It should be built into the very foundation of our community.
Serving as Board Chair has been one of the greatest honors of my life. I am deeply grateful to my fellow board members, our extraordinary staff, our generous donors, our volunteers and especially to Jen Phillips, whose vision and leadership continue to move Keshet forward in remarkable ways. But above all, I am grateful to our participants and their families. Thank you for trusting Keshet, for welcoming me into your lives, and for showing me every day what friendship, resilience and hope truly look like. Every achievement over these past five years has been possible because of a community that believes in saying “yes.”
Although my term as Board Chair has come to an end, my commitment to Keshet certainly has not. I am grateful to remain on the Board for another year, and I will remain dedicated to Keshet’s mission, its participants and its families, forever.
Keshet has changed countless lives, including my own. It has strengthened my belief that every person deserves to be seen, valued and included, and it has given me friendships that I will treasure for a lifetime. As I look to the future, I do so with tremendous hope and excitement. The best is still ahead, and I cannot wait to see all that Keshet will accomplish in the years to come.
