A Hidden Moment from the OC Mega Challah Bake That Reveals the Power of Community

A quiet moment at the OC Mega Challah Bake revealed something deeper about community, belonging, and what truly brings people back. This short story shares the impact Jewish schools and organizations often overlook, but need to remember.

The Quiet Moment That Revealed the Power of Community

There’s a funny thing about events.

You can plan for months, script every segment, rehearse the timing, color-code spreadsheets, coordinate volunteers… and still, the moment that stays with you isn’t on the program at all.

That’s what happened to me at the OC Mega Challah Bake.

• We had a thousand women coming.

• A breathtaking Tehillim moment in which everyone together recited the entire book of Psalms in under 30 seconds.

• A theme built around One Night, Endless Impact.

• Camaraderie you dream of: women rolling up their sleeves, stepping in wherever needed, and doing whatever it takes to make the night beautiful.

And yet the moment that has not left me, the one that keeps replaying in my mind, happened before anything even began.

The Jewish Star Story That Moved Me Most

An older woman walked in. And her voice, full of pride, almost trembling with excitement, said:

“I wore my Jewish star tonight… I finally have somewhere I can wear it.”

She didn’t whisper it. She declared it.

It hung over her shirt, bold and bright, and the joy on her face said everything her words didn’t.

What This Teaches Us About Belonging in Jewish Organizations

That was my moment.

Not the thousand-person Tehillim.

Not the program we worked so hard to shape.

Not even the emotional high points that everyone else would talk about later.

It was her moment, the one nobody would have noticed unless they were listening for it. And it reminded me why I do this work.

Because community isn’t built in the big moments.

It’s revealed in the quiet ones.

Because impact isn’t measured by applause.

It’s measured by the feeling someone carries home.

Because the challah gets eaten, the speeches end, the night passes… 

But that feeling? That is what makes someone come again.

And if you’re a school leader, a community builder, a program director, a Rebbetzin, or anyone responsible for “spreading the word,” here’s the truth:

Your marketing isn’t in the glitz. It’s in the unsung moments.

Why People Return: The Heart of Community Connection

Families don’t return because your graphics were gorgeous.

They don't enroll because you listed 18 bullet points of success.

They don't show up again because your room looked Pinterest-perfect.

They return because something real touched them.

Because something human reached them.

Because something authentic made them feel seen.

That’s the story people retell.

That’s the story worth sharing.

That’s the story that actually moves communities.

So yes — share your highlights.

Share your programs, your photos, your reels.

But don’t ever forget to share the moments that almost go unnoticed.

Because that moment, the woman walking in with her Jewish star, glowing —That was the heartbeat of the entire night.

And in the end, that’s what real Jewish community marketing is: Not polishing what’s glamorous, but elevating what’s true.

Listen to the full podcast episode from the Make It Matter Podcast

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