While I know it may not be popular, I feel I need to get something off my chest. Unlike some people, I like meetings. In fact, meeting with someone or a group of people is something I truly enjoy and look forward to doing. I am thankful for how I feel, especially in my role as Executive Director of our Jewish Federation.

I bring this up as I reflect on an important meeting we held here at our Jewish Federation yesterday. Over the last couple of years, we have organized a meeting for all of our community's Jewish Professionals (i.e., our Rabbis, Cantors, Educators, Synagogue Administrators/Executive Directors, as well as our Jewish Federation staff) to come together twice a year. The goal of these meetings is fourfold: 1) hear from speakers from programs like Community Security Initiative (CSI) or the Anti-Defamation League (ADL); 2) discuss issues affecting our local community; 3) share ideas of ways our institutions can work more closely together; and 4) build camaraderie with one another. As you might imagine, scheduling a meeting for over 20 people can be difficult, and I'm proud that our community's professionals make a point of attending. It is a testament to how much our Jewish leaders care about our community and their desire to do whatever they can to make it the best it can be.

During the meeting yesterday, following a presentation by David Englin, Senior Regional Director of the ADL, our discussions shifted from an update on what the ADL is currently focused on as they work to combat hate to discussing the importance of us finding ways to help our community celebrate Jewish joy, especially within the climate we find ourselves in today. I am always so impressed by my colleagues' ideas and perspectives and feel uplifted spending the 3+ hours together. Working with each of them is something I immensely value and appreciate.

Following our meeting, I realized how important it was that our 28^th Annual Jewish Book Festival was about to kick off this Sunday. With the hate targeting the Jewish community and the ongoing struggle of feeling alone that so many people have shared, our Jewish Book Festival events give our community something to come together and celebrate.

This year's lineup of authors is remarkable. For example, one of our authors will discuss their book about a top aide to FDR, a Hungarian American Jewish woman who helped shape domestic and foreign policy. Another will talk about a secret mission by a musical quartet who smuggled information to and from Jewish refuseniks and dissident musicians in the USSR in a very ingenious way. And the first Ugandan female Rabbi will share her story during a family event about how Shabbat is celebrated in Uganda. These are just three of the featured authors who will be in our community as part of our Festival of Jewish Music.

I hope you will join us as we celebrate Jewish joy and even learn something new about our rich history, heritage, and legacy as Jews by attending one or more of our 28^th Annual Jewish Book Festival events.