I hope you’ve had a good week. Thank you to everyone who joined us on Monday evening at the Dwares JCC to mark the first anniversary of October 7th. As I said on Monday, sometimes words fail to adequately describe the tragic losses of life and safety and innocence that our community experienced that day. 

For the last year, many of us have struggled to find the words to describe our feelings. But as we came together as a community on Monday night, it was a reminder that we are not alone. As a community, we suffered a collective trauma. One in a long history of collective traumas. But mourning together, praying together, reflecting together, just being together, was the strongest reminder yet of Am Yisrael Chai. That the people of Israel live.

And while this week focused on mourning and looking back, we are also in this period of the High Holy Days where we reflect, and we look ahead. This evening, we begin Yom Kippur, our holiest day. I’ve been reflecting a lot on the last year, and what I could have done differently, how I could have handled situations better. And I look forward to Yom Kippur each year for the opportunity to not only ask for forgiveness, but to think about the year ahead. 

It's not just about what I could have done better in the last year, but it’s about what I hope to do better next year. I think about that for myself, my family, and I think about that for the Alliance and our Jewish community. How can we as an organization do better in the year ahead? 

You are probably tired of hearing me say that the Alliance is currently in the middle of its strategic planning process, and we want to hear from you. We can only do better as an organization and better serve our community, if we know how to best do that. This process provides a critical opportunity to do that. Our community survey closes at the end of next week, and if you have not yet taken it, please do so by clicking on the link. 

With your support, we’ll be able to build a plan that meets the needs of this community in the years ahead.

Until next time, I wish you a safe, peaceful, and joyous Shabbat, and a meaningful Yom Kippur. 

Shabbat Shalom,
Adam Greenman
President & CEO