“Miracles sometimes occur, but one has to work terribly hard for them,” said Chaim Weizmann, chemist and first president of the State of Israel.
Weizmann captured what may be the spirit of the American Jewish community: a deep spiritual commitment and the promise of tireless work.
British-born Weizmann’s adopted home, Israel, is a shining example of a miracle in this century (think agriculture, technology, cultural arts and education), earned through the blood and sweat of an industrious and committed people.
We, too, are witness to miracles.
When I began to work at the Milwaukee Jewish Federation, I didn’t fully understand its role within the community. I saw lists of names and titles, fundraisers and speeches.
But what I missed was the modern miracle. The federation is engaged in a daily battle to save lives, improve living conditions, enrich Jewish life and ensure continuity. And it touches many thousands of people locally and many more around the world.
Last year, the federation’s Annual Community Campaign raised almost $8 million for that purpose.
I understand the image I hear most often to describe the federation’s relationship to the community — umbrella. But I see the federation as something deeper, maybe nutrients in a healthy soil, which allow all that are planted to grow and thrive.
What I know now is that without the federation’s support, most of our community organizations would be much poorer. And personal stories would be startlingly different.
Remember the senior citizens who receive vital supportive services and low-income housing as needed. Remember the mentally ill, who meet regularly and receive counseling and social support. Remember the children who receive Jewish educations that their families might not otherwise be able to afford.
Remember the youth and college-age activities, helping young people develop and maintain positive Jewish identities in what can be tumultuous years. Remember the community-wide holiday programs that allow all families to connect to Jewish culture and tradition.
Remember interfaith programs that give families the opportunity to choose Judaism as their family’s path. Remember the many Israelis who visit our community and allow people see the human face of our homeland.
Remember visiting authors, concerts and cultural arts activities. Remember the interfaith dialogues that help our Jewish community develop and maintain strong ties with the rest of our local community.
Outside our local community, too, we are part of a living, moving miracle, one that supports Jews in need around the world. We have helped Jews leave Ethiopia in their modern exodus in Operation Moses in 1984 and Operation Solomon in 1990. We continue to help Jews from the Former Soviet Union not only emigrate but also to rebuild Jewish life after communism.
We now help the newly poor in Argentina, where former middle class Jews now stand in line for food. We contribute to the vitality of the modern State of Israel.
I’m struck again and again by the power of generosity within our community. And though there are days when I don’t love being an American Jew, I’m deeply proud and humbly thankful to be part of a people that works to lift its members, strong and weak, regardless of denomination.
Ours is the story of a community caring for itself, of a tree with many branches that understands that importance of strong roots and a solid trunk to support its many diverse endeavors.
This year, Community Campaign 2005 gives all of us the chance to participate in the holy mission of building Jewish life and saving Jewish lives here and around the world. It’s a miracle well worth our hard work.
Chag Chanukah sameach.
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