Friday, July 24

 

3 Av 5769 

 

Shabbat Shalom -

 

A Federation leader, donor, and one of the people in this community who has been devoted to the success of our agencies and institutions for many years, reminded me today that it is a good practice to put the Hebrew date on all of our Federation official business. 

 

In keeping with that suggestion, I added today's secular and Hebrew date to this message.  In so doing, I saw that it is the 3rd of Av which means that in a few more days we will be commemorating Tisha B' Av, which marks the 9th day of the month of Av.  I will discuss that commemoration shortly.  Putting the Hebrew date on our work, in essence, marking our work in this way, puts all that we do in the context of our connection in time to our Jewish world.  When we are talking about Federation's role in building community, it is important that we see our work in the big picture of Jewish life and the Hebrew date is the beginning of this process.  

 

Tisha B' Av is known as the saddest day on the Hebrew calendar as many tragedies befell the Jewish people on this day in ancient and modern times. Traditionally, the commemoration of Tisha B' Av is somber and includes many of the same prohibitions as on Yom Kippur.  Unfortunately we are all familiar with tragedies surrounding our people, including the destruction of the Temples, persecution by the Romans, the Inquisition and The Shoah/Holocaust.  Sometimes one just can't help but wonder, why do we still choose to associate with a people that has seen such misery? 

 

As those of you who know me will attest, I am a very positive person who sees opportunity in a time of difficulty and has probably said "let's make lemonade out of lemons" too many times.  Rather than focus on all of the tragedy, I feel so fortunate to be a part of a people with a rich long tradition, as difficult as that may be sometimes.  Another Federation donor this week said that being Jewish has set the context for his life and has framed who he is, not necessarily in a religious sense, but in the core of his being and in his day to day life. 

 

Our agencies, organizations, institutions and synagogues provide a means for us not only to connect with our difficult past, but also to show what a strong people we are and will continue to be.  It is this that inspires me to continue to connect and build community. The same two leaders I have mentioned in this email are also both people who belive in building community and Federation's role in this endeavor.  While we mark Tisha B' Av, I request that you think about the rebuilding that has been done in our Jewish world and the opportunity in our community now to continue to grow and strengthen who we are, through the work of our Federation. It is my goal that we continue to position Federation in a way that we facilitate a vibrant Jewish life in our region and around the globe, on every day of our calendars.

 

Shabbat Shalom -

 

Meredith