This past week may go down as one of the most monumental and impactful for our community in recent years. Between the election, the buycott our Jewish Federation initiated and implemented in support of Trader Joe's carrying Israeli products, to what many are calling a pogrom in Amsterdam that targeted Israeli fans following Maccabi-Tel Aviv and Ajax's soccer match, to our announcement of bringing One Happy Camper, a scholarship program for first-time overnight campers, it was a very eventful week.

 

Let what I just shared sink in for just a minute. All of these events took place over the last seven days. It is mind-boggling to think that that much happened. And while some have or will have a more profound impact on our day-to-day lives, each will have an impact.

 

Many people have said that the events in Amsterdam last week further illustrate the profound need world Jewry has for Israel and demonstrate the importance of strong and vibrant Jewish communities throughout the world. As I've shared previously, this fight against Jewish hate and the attacks on Jews throughout the world are getting a lot more attention and publicity while more attention is also being paid to the rise of antisemitism. While it will take some time before we see a change in society, it is imperative that we keep in mind that the world is watching, taking note, and people are starting to understand better what Jews have been experiencing…. I just wish it had not taken so long. As Mister Rogers famously once said, "When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.'"

 

Our Jewish Federation is committed to continuing to do all we can by working with local and national partners to address this scourge of hatred. Rest assured, it will not diminish our effort to continue to bring our community together in order to strengthen Jewish life right here in the greater San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys.

 

I want to make one final comment about the buycott we organized and put it in perspective. You should know how far-reaching the campaign was as it was not only happening here in Southern California. Through our effort, communities in Buffalo, Greater Washington DC, St. Louis, Tidewater (Virginia), Virginia Peninsula, and Houston participated. We also know that the Jewish Federation of North America's National Young Leadership and Women's Philanthropy Divisions were encouraged to participate. Plus, the campaign also got national attention once #EndJewHatred and JewBelong picked up the campaign and blasted it out on their social media feeds and their massive email distribution lists. You should know that I have been in contact with Trader Joe's CEO, and he assured me that his company appreciated our effort and that they do not allow protests and petitions to influence their business.

 

This work week began earlier today with our Jewish Federation bringing together our community's Jewish professionals (Rabbis, Cantors, Educators, and Executive Directors/Administrators). The goal of this is to discuss our community's needs, ways we can work together to help address our community's needs, and how, by working together, we can move our Jewish community forward and strengthen the connections each of us has with our Judaism and our community. And later this week, our new Jewish Community Relations Council will meet and begin to map out how we will continue to advocate for our local Jewish community and strengthen our relationship with other groups.

 

While this week will most likely not be as eventful as last week, I have a strong feeling it will have a profoundly positive impact on our community in the near future.