Between Us: Let’s Talk About 90 Days of Impact

This week’s parasha stands in stark contrast to last week’s story, in which we witnessed the Israelites’ greatest act of disloyalty to God by building and worshiping a Golden Calf. This week, in Vayakhel, we read of the great devotion and loving commitment by each person (kol ish) in building the tabernacle according to God’s instructions.

The root of the verb va-yakhel is the source of the noun kehilla – community. In reading of the contributions of countless individuals in fashioning the tabernacle, we get a sense of communal vision through shared ownership. Each person brought their individual expertise to the project; all sharing and working toward a common goal. Community-building, like the building of the Mishkan, requires both individual expertise AND a shared vision.

It goes both ways: while we must each have a commitment to the values of the community, the community must always appreciate the value of each individual. Both have significant impact – the individual on the community and vice versa.

Without the passion, philanthropy and dedication of individuals in our area, the Jewish community locally, in Israel and around the world would not flourish. However, it is only because of the collective support by dedicated and generous individuals that we are able to build a stronger, more vibrant and more welcoming Jewish community. This month, we are showcasing the far-reaching, extraordinary impact that the collective makes possible.

We have launched 90 Days of Impact, a new social media campaign, to highlight how The Jewish Federation, together with our supporters and partners, is able to touch, change and save thousands of lives.

Now through June 1, we will highlight different themes Federation addresses and individuals whose lives are changed by our work. Our goal is to educate our community about Federation’s work across the globe, motivate individuals to get involved and inspire members of our community to make meaningful contributions to Federation’s 2016 Annual Campaign.

We look forward to celebrating the vital work we do each and every day and hope you will join us. Donate, get involved and explore our impact today at shalomdc.org/90days.