Dear Friends,
We have accomplished much throughout these past several years. We have pushed ourselves and grown. We have experienced and explored lots of new areas. Some experiences have been fun and exciting. Other experiences have been trying and perhaps different than we had hoped.
For the next two years, we will continue to grow. Afterall, our experiences shape us. As we look ahead, we commit to doing what we do best. Our programming will remain robust and effective, and our campaign strategy will continue to evolve while trusting what’s tried and true in our community. I am excited to announce the return of the highly anticipated Super Sunday along with other long-standing campaign measures we’ve come to love and rely on.
Another key goal and word I’m carrying with me is collaboration. We can’t, and shouldn’t, try to be everything; to do it all. Our partners in our community are excellent at what they do best. The many synagogues and nonprofit organizations in New Orleans have missions and purposes that they fulfill with great success. They are very good at what they do. I believe it’s our role as the Federation to support and partner with them, encouraging more participation.
Another area in which we vow to maintain our leadership is security. We will continue to do everything in our power to study and be on top of all security threats. Our goal is to provide support, expertise and resources that keep us all as safe as possible.
Additionally, we will continue our multi-cultural and governmental work through our Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) and The Behar Center for Jewish-Multicultural Affairs. We see the tangible impact of our collaboration with organizations and community members as we address issues affecting us all. This is how we continue to fulfill our commandment of Tikkun Olam: repairing the world.
And lastly, our support of Israel remains a priority. While I, or we, may not always agree with the actions of the Israeli government, we will remain steadfast in our support of the Jewish people. They are our people. I, and we, do not always agree with our own government, but we should, and do, support and respect our fellow Americans.
I remember my very first trip to Israel, in 1983. This was a Young Leadership Mission made up of over 1000 young Americans.
We had been up in the Golan Heights and we were driving into Jerusalem. It was a Friday afternoon, just hours before Shabbat. All 1000 participants were supposed to go to the hotel to get ready for Shabbat at the Western Wall. All but our bus! We were all hot, tired, dirty and trust me — I needed a bath.
Our tour guide, some of you may recognize the name, Matti, took us directly to the wall. On our drive there he told us about the recovering of the Western Wall during the Six Day War. He explained how grown soldiers carrying their weapons came up to the wall and literally began crying and praying. He explained how this one wall was a rallying cry for the Jewish people for over 2000 years. I realized that I too was experiencing a first. None of my grandparents had seen the wall, or even Israel. My mother and my father had not and would never go to Israel. What a blessing I was about to experience.
Our bus drove into the parking area and there was no one there. We were able to go to the wall and experience it with our bus mates and our own thoughts and prayers. I, of course, had written out my prayers and I was able to place them securely in the wall. It was a very special experience and perhaps for me a rebirth of my commitment to the Jewish people: l’dor v’dor.
That commitment feels just as strong as I stand here before you today. I want to thank you for the faith and trust you have put in me. I’m honored to serve you, and I look forward to working with each of you. The Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans is a caring, giving and loving family. We are committed and connected to each other and to our brethren across the world. How do we love and support Jews throughout the world? We do it through the practice of Tzadech. It’s what binds us together.
It’s what we, all of us, together, do best.
Sincerely,
Melinda Mintz, Federation Board Chair