I was inspired this week to put together my own Top 10 list as way to look back at 2025 and jump into 2026. I hope you enjoy this snapshot of ideas, content, and ruminations that captured my mind this past year:

1. The moment that stopped me in my tracks: Watching the return of the last living hostages on October 13 as part of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza. The deal was announced in the days after I had the honor of joining hostage families in praying for their release.
2. The link I sent to the most people: Dan Senor’s State of World Jewry address at the 92nd St Y.
3. The books I’m still thinking about: People Love Dead Jews by Dara Horn; Abundance by Derek Thompson and Ezra Klein; and The Marshall Plan by Benn Steil.
4. The idea that changed my mind: Sometimes the most innovative thing is to scale a known idea rather than create something new.
5. The question I found myself returning to all year: What does THIS moment call on us UNIQUELY to do as The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington?
6. The artist I had on repeat: The Idan Raichel Project
7. The news from Israel that made me smile: Hebrew University scientists discover an RNA molecule that can help fight antibiotic-resistant bacteria. And the top Hebrew baby names in 5785 were Lavie and Avigail, channeling the strength of lions and overwhelming joy.
8. The assumption I think we’ll need to let go of: That we won’t be able to overcome our divisions and work together to address critical issues.
9. The offbeat trend that will take hold in 2026: As someone who occasionally finds themselves on the cutting-edge (I had been pushing Fanny Packs for years before their triumphant return), I am going to predict that analog alarm clocks will be all the rage as people begin to resist screens and carve out time away from the digital world.
10. The top baby name for 2026: Whatever my future grandson is going to be named!

Bonus Round

• The Federation team’s favorite vocab words: Connection, relationship, or belonging.
• The paint color Pantone should have picked for color of the year: Pomegranate Red in honor of my homegrown pomegranates I picked from my fruit tree (and let’s add fig, lemon, blueberry, and olive in anticipation of my summer harvest).
• The best new dish I made: Peruvian Roasted Chicken (I skipped the cilantro sauce).
• The item that gives me hope: My son having just won his fantasy football league after years of trying.
• The other item that gives me hope: The depth of commitment in this community to each other and to building a vibrant Jewish community today and for tomorrow. I am constantly in awe of this community and its many incredible people.

Have an answer to any of the above? An offbeat trend prediction of your own? Send them my way, I would love to hear them!