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Back to School, Back to Community

By UJF Community Shlicha Eden Refaelovich

Time truly flies. I still remember the first week of summer when I hoped for warm, sunny days like in Israel – and while some days were indeed warm (sometimes I even regret hoping for that), the summer here felt different – calm, peaceful.

I enjoyed my time at the JCC summer camp, quietly preparing myself for the noise and energy that comes with the new school year, and missing our community events – seeing you all at schools, synagogues, and various gatherings.

Wow, it’s already September. You can feel the change in the air – the smell of pumpkins, Halloween decorations popping up everywhere, and the arrival of fall (and the cold – and no, I’m not ready for that). But there’s a special feeling when you step back into the rhythm of the school year. I can’t describe the excitement of meeting familiar faces, and welcoming new students eager to learn more Hebrew and deepen their connection to Israel.

Students who don’t know me yet often ask why I flew all the way from the other side of the world to be here. But by the end of the year, I’m sure they’ll understand how important our connection to Israel is, how important it is that I am here, and how vital our community bond is for all of us – as one.

And after the summer, I find myself running from one organization to another, synagogue to synagogue – always with a smile and a deep love for our community and for what I’m doing. I’m looking forward to this year and doing even more with all of you.

And with the new year comes the holidays, which you know how much I love – the togetherness, the family feeling, and the joy that we Jews find in everything, no matter how hard the situation is.

Together with the Israel Committee, we have developed programs to bring Israel even closer to you, and I’m looking forward to it.

If your child, family, organization, or school could benefit from more Israeli cultural programming, please reach out to me at EDEN@UJF.ORG. I would love to strengthen our connections and keep Israel close to our hearts here in Stamford.