Commit to doing one extra Jewish “thing” in 5785

 

With 5785 beginning in just a few days (as I am writing this month's column), I have that "special" feeling I always seem to have at this time of year. For as long as I can remember, the days leading up to the High Holidays have always stirred this sense of hope and optimism in me. In fact, it is similar to the feeling many people get when the final days of December fade away.

 

Do you get that feeling – a hopefulness of what the year ahead has in store for us and a chance to think about what we want to accomplish in the year ahead? I do not believe it is a coincidence that Jews all over the world have a similar thought as they celebrate Rosh Hashanah each year. Plus, oftentimes, this is when they report that they feel the "most" Jewish.

 

As a Jewish professional, I wish I had the secret recipe for sustaining that feeling in our community beyond the High Holy Days. However, I am fully aware that there is only so much I can do and that it takes community members to actively determine their own approach to doing so.

 

What I have come to realize, though, over the past several years, is that part of the issue has to do with relevancy. This concept of ensuring what is being provided is relevant is something my staff and I consider each and every day at the Jewish Federation. With the increased amount of competition for people's time, it is critical that we figure out ways to create opportunities and experiences that people feel are not only impactful but also worthwhile.

 

For a long time, Jewish organizations never really had to think about this because it was just understood that if you were Jewish, you "did" Jewish. However, this has become less the norm over the last several decades. And sadly, many Jewish organizations have struggled to continually redefine themselves to ensure that what they were offering people were looking for… relevancy.

 

By keeping that concept in mind, as we continue to re-evaluate the programs and services we offer, our Jewish Federation has been able to stay one step ahead. I feel we have been able to do this by providing a wide range of programs and activities for various ages and interests and doing our best to show the community what people get from participating. And, we remain open to ideas from community members regarding new approaches to meet the ever-changing needs of our community.

 

You might be saying, "This sounds great Jason, but what does this mean for me?" Well… for starters, I would encourage everyone to commit to doing one extra Jewish "thing" in 5785. Maybe it will be to attend a synagogue program or class. Perhaps it will be deciding to send your child to a Jewish summer camp this summer (I hear Camp Gan Shalom is pretty amazing 😉). Maybe it is attending a Jewish Federation event like a Jewish Book Festival event or signing up to read names during our annual Every Person Has a Name Holocaust commemoration.

 

If you're still unsure what sounds good… get in touch with me, and let's discuss it. I would happily help you determine what you want to do in 5785. It does not matter what you decide to do as long as you honor the commitment you make to yourself.

 

Here's to an incredible new year ahead. L'shana Tova!