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02 August 2024
I’ve been consuming a wide variety of news and media this summer. Between developments in Israel and Gaza and an already-historic presidential election season, I have found myself devouring anything that helps me sort through what’s happening around us and how we can shape what comes next.
Be it in an interview with Bowling Alone’s Robert Putnam, an article about what it takes to put together a governing agenda, a discussion about social infrastructure and mental health, or a look at creating change at the county level, I have noticed a through line across the ideas drawing me in: achieving the future we envision rests on our ability to construct something positive.
It is not enough to simply survive this moment or resist the destructive forces at play in our civic and social lives. We must also be proactive in going after what it is we want for ourselves and future generations.
This thought is nothing new. Federation’s purpose, after all, is to support and galvanize our community as we work together to build a brighter Jewish future and better world. What is different, however, is the context in which our community must operate in the coming months.
From what I can tell, we will continue to grapple with how to sustain individual relationships and strong communal ties as we navigate disagreements about Israel, national politics, and more. Sadly, we must also keep up the fight against hate and antisemitism in an increasingly fractured and tumultuous political landscape.
But giving our best efforts to avoiding negative outcomes would sell our potential as a community short. Instead, we must continue pursuing positive goals. I’ve written about joy in all its forms before, from building close friendships, singing, and dancing at Jewish summer camp to gathering for Shabbat and holiday celebrations, and the many other ways we come together as community to celebrate the wonder and beauty of Jewish life. However, going forward, I don’t want to just hope for joy; I want to continue to work with all of you to identify the actions we can take to construct it and bring it into our ongoing lives.
The poet Amanda Gorman writes, “the only way to correctly predict the future is to pave it.” I wonder: how can we lay the bricks for a compelling vision of Jewish life in a post-October 7th world? How do we reach beyond tolerance to strengthen the social bonds we share? How do we ensure no one gets left behind in an age of isolation? What do we stand for and not just against? How do we ensure joy even in the midst of challenges?
As we start to look ahead to a new Jewish year, I hope you will join me in thinking about how our community can take hammers to the nails of history and build something that attracts, excites, and sustains. I welcome your comments and ideas.
Shabbat Shalom,
Gil Preuss
CEO, The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington