It’s a long-standing custom for Jews to wish one another a “sweet new year” on Rosh Hashanah; to hope that this coming year will be one filled with joy, fulfillment, and an abundance of blessings. However, Judaism isn’t a path focused simply on wishing for good things; if our goal is to make each year “sweeter” than the last, we must work to make it happen.

More than a year after the murder of George Floyd, as we continue to manage the realities of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as increased antisemitism, I fear that white Jews are beginning to lose steam and the ability to continue to engage in antiracism work is beginning to wane.

As the High Holidays approach once again, we have created a number of resources for individuals and congregations to utilize as we mark these most important days in the Jewish calendar. We know we will be a stronger, more vibrant Jewish community when we fully incorporate the diversity that is the reality of modern Jewish life. We hope that each of these materials will help your High Holiday experiences and programming serve a wide range of identities and help you create communities of belonging.

After several synagogue shootings, American Jews are grappling with the need to keep our communities safe and to remain open and welcoming to seekers of all backgrounds.

As we make the joyous return to camp this summer, many of us are looking forward to seeing old friends, making new ones, as well as attending camp for the very first time!  

When we initially convened this Task Force, we began a process of creating resources, as well as making recommendations for policy changes. Many critical resources are now complete and available to congregations and Jewish communities.

Our fears of toxicity and the preventative tactics they induce testify to how much surrounding American cultural norms have seeped into our institutions.

It is well understood that there is no amount of money that can be paid to right the wrongs of the many atrocities and genocides that have warranted the payment of reparations. But to truly begin to heal the wounds caused by over 400 years of inequities and dehumanization, acknowledgment, a truth and reconciliation process, apology, and reparations would be places to start. Watch the recent webinar series "Understanding Reparations" to learn more.

I want to talk briefly about a significant number from the Pew report, but first I want to invite you to go on a short journey with me as I create the framing around numbers and their significance by simply asking a question: What exactly is a number?