The High Holidays are only a few weeks away. The Jewish Federation has created this High Holidays resource page for you and your family. We hope you will find your place at a local synagogue, with family and friends.

For the High Holidays, we encourage you to participate in the Jewish Federation’s Gather Grant program. You select the date. You plan the activity. You invite the attendees. We recognize that costs for holiday meals tend to be larger and cost more – therefore, based on the number of people participating, the Jewish Federation will pick up the tab (between $120-$180). This program is open to the community and people of all ages. Make sure you apply for your grant by September 14. 

Malcolm Gladwell wrote, "The visionary starts with a clean sheet of paper and re-imagines the world." In the context of the Jewish Federation, we are doing just that. Later this morning, we will be holding a professional team retreat. It is my hope we will think boldly and utilize innovative thinking to develop fresh approaches to Jewish life. We will be challenging the status quo, embracing new ideas, and adapting to the evolving needs of our Jewish community.

One core element of our work is the Campaign for Community Needs -- which is more than just a fundraising effort. This campaign sustains our programs and services, supports a network of Jewish agencies, and helps weave the fabric of our community. It embodies the Jewish value -- Kol areivim zeh bazeh – all Jews are responsible one for another. This emphasizes mutual responsibility, fosters a sense of unity, support, and collective care within the Jewish community.

Fundraising is not a dirty word. In fact, I hope people are joyful philanthropists. Every Jewish organization (and non-profit for that matter) raises money to fulfill its mission – and none of them, including the Jewish Federation, are a “fundraising organization.” Funds are raised to serve people. To care for people. And to provide opportunities for people. The Jewish Federation raises money to assure the building and strengthening of the Jewish community locally, nationally, overseas, and in Israel, in accordance with Jewish values.

We serve as a hub, connecting individuals, families, and organizations. We work hard to navigate the complex dynamics of Jewish life, philanthropy, and communal responsibility, highlighting the critical importance of collective action and strategic foresight.

Our 2026 Campaign for Community Needs is starting now. Every dollar raised during the campaign helps fund social services that assist families facing hardship and individuals seeking mental health support. It fuels educational initiatives that promote understanding of Jewish history, culture, and faith. It supports cultural and communal events that strengthen our identity and foster pride. It funds advocacy to combat antisemitism and anti-Israel hate. Our fundraising efforts are how we ensure our institutions -- schools, cultural centers, social-service agencies, camps, Chabad centers, synagogues, and more -- continue to serve their constituents without fear for their security.

During particularly challenging times like these, the annual campaign reminds us of a fundamental truth: the strength of our community is rooted in generosity and shared responsibility. In the face of adversity, collective giving becomes an act of hope and resilience -- an affirmation that we stand together, supporting one another. The Jewish Federation hopes to inspire you to see beyond your particular interests and recognize that your contribution -- regardless of size -- is vital for our collective well-being.

We are working hard to steward resources responsibly, inspire participation, and help you see the concrete impact of your philanthropy. Your campaign support signals a commitment to each other and to the community we choose to build together.

I am asking you – please give generously. Whether you have contributed for over 25 years or are making your first contribution – every gift matters! As the saying goes, “We cannot do tomorrow’s work with yesterday’s dollars.” Help us move the campaign forward and reduce fundraising costs even further by making your increased gift today (with payment not due until December 2026). THANK YOU!

I mentioned earlier that today we will be holding a professional team retreat. Malcolm Gladwell also wrote, “The most successful organizations are those who are good at Plan B.” We will be developing those Plan Bs. Flexibility and resilience are crucial, especially when plans shift rapidly due to changing circumstances. Our community’s needs are constantly evolving and we must be ready to pivot and implement new strategies. I am always pushing for an organizational culture that is agile and responsive.

This work is a collective effort -- one that involves colleagues who demonstrate extraordinary dedication and vision. I am privileged to work alongside a passionate and dedicated professional team whose efforts are instrumental in guiding our community through these turbulent times. Their leadership, along with rabbis, cantors, educators, agency executives and employees, alongside devoted volunteer leaders, guides our community and ensures our actions are aligned with Jewish values.

As our team meets to thoughtfully plan towards 2030, several core areas of strategic focus emerge as essential to ensuring our community’s future. We must engage and involve more Jews. We must foster inclusive dialogue and understanding across diverse perspectives. We must seek ways to expand innovative educational initiatives to cultivate a vibrant, engaged, and informed community. We must prioritize efforts to actively engage all generations and incorporate these voices into our decision-making processes, ensuring that our mission, services, and programs resonate deeply with people throughout the community.

In a world filled with complex challenges and unprecedented opportunities, our Jewish community's future success hinges on its ability to adapt, innovate, engage, and raise the necessary financial resources to make all this possible. Each of us is part of something larger than ourselves, and we each have a responsibility to contribute to the betterment of Jewish life in Portland and SW Washington.

Finally, today marks 700 days since the October 7 terror attacks and 700 days of captivity for 48 hostages. We must bring them home! 

Shabbat shalom.

P.S. -- In case you missed it, please read this excellent special report in the Jewish Review on the climate at Portland State University for Jewish students and faculty.