This Sunday evening, we begin celebrating the light and joy of Chanukah.
Those who know me, know that I prefer to focus on and add to the joy – not the oy – of Jewish life. And while this is a particularly joyful time of year, we continue to live in a time of uncertainty and concern, where the “oy” can feel overwhelming.
We worry about how millions of Ukrainians will fare in the fast-approaching winter, as missiles and bombs from Russia continue to damage homes and the country’s capacity to supply electricity and hot water.
We are deeply concerned by the expected composition of Israel’s next government, where ministry appointments will likely go to extremists who disparage much of world Jewry, promote legislation to limit the rights of LGBTQ+ Israelis, threaten to erode rights of Palestinian citizens of Israel, and seek to legalize unauthorized settlements in the West Bank.
Here at home, the rise and normalization of antisemitism and hatred of Jews makes us apprehensive, wondering how to take meaningful action.
There are parallels between the concerns we see today and those of the Maccabees in the Chanukah story. When the Maccabees saw an issue of communal significance—persecution by the ancient king Antiochus—they chose to stand together to fight for a Jewish future, despite being outnumbered and out-armed. Even as we experience the many joys and privileges of life as Jews in America, we can take a cue from the Maccabees and take collective action to address the challenges we face as a community.
And—this is where the joy comes in—with your support, we are doing just that.
In partnership with Jewish Federations across North America, we have provided crucial funds to partner organizations on the ground in Ukraine and Eastern Europe to care for those facing deprivation in a harsh winter.
In Israel, the work done by the organizations we as a community fund, through the Annual Community Campaign, promote religious pluralism and a shared civil society, which are both more important than ever.
Here in Washtenaw County, our Federation recently convened a Jewish community-wide conversation about antisemitism, which provided a safe environment in which to share personal experiences and generate ideas to address antisemitism in our own lives. In the coming weeks, those interested in developing a plan of action based on these ideas will be invited to do so.
We are also raising funds toward a matching grant for a three-year program called LiveSecure, which will enable us to better coordinate community-wide security, safety and communications. We look forward to partnering with the Jewish Community Security Group in Detroit to hire a community security coordinator to drive these efforts.
But the joy goes beyond responding to crises with effectiveness and care. We are further energized by planning for a strong future and fostering creativity and collaboration for a vibrant Jewish community.
In the coming year, we’ll get a first look at data from the first ever full-scale demographic study of Jewish Washtenaw County. This information will be critical to better measure, understand and serve our local community. We are excited to embark on the community-wide visioning and planning process that will follow analysis of these data, which will set us up for success for decades to come.
In addition, we look forward to receiving grant applications for the Zelma Weisfeld Fund for Culture & Education, made possible by the bequest of Zelma Weisfeld z”l. These grants, along with Community Engagement Fund grants, encourage local organizations and individuals to collaborate on innovative projects that to add to the joy and vibrancy of Jewish life in Washtenaw County.
During the eight nights of Chanukah, we’ll be sharing stories illustrating our impact – what you make possible through a gift to the Annual Community Campaign. As you light the hanukkiah each night, we invite you to reflect on what brings you joy and how you might engage with us and our communal partners to spread light, compassion, and collaboration to nurture a strong, engaged, connected, vibrant and enduring Jewish community.
I wish you a very happy Chanukah and a joyous, healthy New Year.