Since last June, the Jewish community has lived with a persistent sense of vulnerability that has touched nearly every corner of Jewish life. We have watched the war in Israel continue with heartbreaking consequences. We have mourned Israel is sti l l held hostage and innocent Palestinian lives lost in Gaza. We have seen antisemitism rise in ways that many of us once hoped belonged to another era. And perhaps most painfully, many Jews have felt increasingly isolated—caught between defending our people’s right to safety and dignity while also carrying the moral
weight that Judaism demands of us.
And yet, despite all of this, I have also witnessed something remarkable this year.
I have seen Jews show up for one another with extraordinary compassion and resilience. I have watched our community gather in prayer, in study, in protest, in grief, and in hope. I have seen people wrestle honestly with difficult questions rather than retreat into silence or certainty. I have watched friendships deepen, acts of kindness multiply, and a renewed commitment to Jewish life emerge even in moments of fear and exhaustion.
Judaism has never promised us a world without struggle. Ours is a tradition born in uncertainty. Again and again, Jewish history has asked the question: how do we remain hopeful without denying reality? The answer our tradition offers is not optimism for optimism’s sake. It is the belief that even in broken times, we are still capable of building holiness, community, and moral courage.
As we look toward the coming year, I pray that we carry that spirit with us.
May this next year bring healing to those who are suffering. May we see an end to war, and greater peace and security for our community. May we continue to stand proudly as Jews without hardening our hearts to the pain of others. And may we remember that one of the greatest acts of resistance against fear is continuing to build vibrant Jewish community filled with learning, joy, compassion, and hope.
The world may feel fractured, but Judaism reminds us that even in difficult times, we are not powerless. We still have the ability to choose kindness over cruelty, courage over despair, and hope over cynicism.
