By Michael Schlessinger, UJF President
It has been 10 months since October 7. Our Jewish community, locally and around the world, continues to be tested in ways old and new.
The solidarity we felt when the current crisis began has given way to unease as the war in Gaza has dragged on and threatens to give way to a regional conflagration. Meanwhile the philosophical debate about the respective definitions of anti-Zionism and antisemitism has become all too real, as our children face ostracism in the elite institutions that we did so much to build and perpetuate. And we remain divided — in some ways uniquely so — about our nation’s leadership, to whom we might ideally look for answers in a saner time.
As we seek to find our bearings, our Federation seeks to help.
The Federation system has been around a long time, at least 100 years depending on how you count. (Boston was the first of the current 146 members to incorporate in 1895.) Federation has represented many things, but first and foremost, it has been a communal source of strength, ensuring the health and well-being of our Jewish communities. In an acute crisis, our role is clear. And we played that role well when we raised the better part of $1 billion for Israel 10 months ago. A sustained crisis — one that challenges our world views and, in some ways, our fundamental beliefs — is harder. In our effort to respond, we have convened an impressive cross section of our community to help us define a new initiative that is responsive to this moment.
A few principles have emerged, including:
• The murkier and more challenging the world around us, the better we must do in defining Federation’s role. At its best, Federation is the glue that holds this community together.
• Fighting antisemitism can no longer be delegated to the Anti-Defamation League. All Jewish organizations must play a role in confronting it and Federation should leverage and amplify the efforts of all.
• Israel lies at the center. Half of the world’s Jews live there, and whatever one may think of this or that politician, the Israeli people need our support, informed advocacy, and long-term engagement.
• We have not come this far in building Jewish life in this country to recede now. As patriotic Americans, we are also proud of our community’s success and will remain visible, unbowed, and very much “at the table” in charting the course forward, including for the Middle East. In the spirit of these principles, UJF Stamford, New Canaan, and Darien and UJA-JCC Greenwich are hosting a community-wide festival and celebration.
Many of our synagogues and local institutions will be participating. We hope you will join us at the Loading Dock on September 29 at the Jewish Festival of Fairfield County. While October 7 is nothing to celebrate, our resilience and resolve as a people is. So we will gather to commemorate October 7, to rekindle our connections, and to proclaim Jewish pride. We will share more about our new initiative soon and look forward to discussing it with you at the festival.
This President's Message appears in the September '24 issue of The New Jewish Voice. To receive The New Jewish Voice delivered free to your home, sign-up today at www.ujf.org.