As 2025 comes to a close, I took time to read “Marc’s Remarks” from these past 52 weeks. I view my weekly email as a way to take the pulse of our community, to share in our collective joys, and to communicate our common challenges (plus a few fun tidbits here and there). To summarize this past year for the Jewish community, I would simply say this – We are here and we are standing strong!

To say that 2025 was a "complex" year would be a significant understatement. It is as if we have had to hold two opposing truths simultaneously every single day -- profound vulnerability and unwavering strength.

Let me run through a few things...

The ceasefire in Israel continues to hold despite Hamas' unwillingness to disarm and hostage Ran Gvili’s body still in Gaza. For many, grief and concern about the war (from multiple lenses) have been constants, but so has our resolve. 

We have faced the undeniable reality of antisemitism – locally and around the globe. It is a topic I wish I did not have to write about so frequently, but my commitment to you is to be an optimistic realist. I cannot sugarcoat the rise in hate speech. We have watched the discourse in the public domain and on social media deteriorate, creating an environment of anxiety and fear for many. In fact, one community member recently wrote me how they were scared to attend Jewish community events. That saddened me.

In 2025, most refused to retreat behind locked doors. At the Jewish Federation we leaned into our community security initiative. We secured our institutions not to wall ourselves off, but to ensure our doors could remain open. 

I want to thank our clergy, executive directors, educators, communal professionals, and our security team who are always there again and again -- in moments of fear and celebration. And we see it in all of you: lay leaders, volunteers, community members, and donors who give your time, your resources, and your hearts to ensure our community is prepared and secure. We have felt your support all year long, and we are deeply grateful.

What this says to me is that a powerful antidote to the anxiety of this past year was kehillah -- community.

Time and time again, you showed up. You showed up for community gatherings. You showed up for Israel. You stood tall against hate. I was moved seeing the diversity of people in the Jewish community speaking up and speaking out. We are a community of different denominations, different politics, and different backgrounds, yet when it matters most, we stand together.

I also think about the people I met this year, including those new to Portland or new to organized Jewish life, seeking connection. I think about the events where people come because the desire to be together was so great. In a digital, post-pandemic world that breeds isolation, the simple act of gathering has become an important symbol of Jewish continuity.

The Jewish Federation made a strategic decision this year to invest in "Jewish joy." Our identities cannot be defined solely by what we are fighting against; we must know what we are fighting for. To me, that is a Jewish community filled with simchas (celebrations), the full rhythm of the holidays, our Jewish heritage and traditions, and the warmth of connecting and belonging.

Furthermore, 2025 was a year where we looked outward. We strengthened our alliances. We sat down with civic leaders, interfaith partners, and neighbors to explain that hate against one group is a threat to all. These relationships take work, but they are vital. A strong, democratic society is the best protection for the Jewish community.

I am often asked how do I stay so optimistic. The answer is simple – How can I not? With tonight being the end of 2025, I want to leave you with a sense of pride.

The story of Jewish Portland in 2025 is not a story of victimhood. It is a story of a community that clarified its values. We clarified who our friends are. We clarified that we will not be intimidated. We clarified that the Jewish Federation is more than a fundraising organization. We clarified that we are a vibrant people with a voice in the Greater Portland community. 

We are resilient. We have weathered storms before, and we will weather them again. But we never face the future alone. We will face it together, spirited by our Jewish tradition and strengthened by our unity.

Thank you for your trust, your partnership, and your commitment to Jewish life. Next week I plan to share ideas and thoughts for the year ahead.

May 2026 bring peace, health, and even greater connection for us all. Happy new year to you and your family and warm wishes for an early Shabbat Shalom.