Weathering the Storm Together: A Recipe for Strength

In Genesis 32:25 Jacob wrestles with an Angel and in this story of struggle, we gain our name, Israel.
As I reflect upon the last several months, I think about the struggle of Jacob, and the strength that came from that pivotal moment in Jacob’s life. Jacob prevailed and because of his strength, came the start of something so much more.
There is no question in any of our minds that we are living through a moment in the history of our Jewish community that is like none other. These are times when we can either be paralyzed by the fear and negativity around us or we can embrace our new normal and make sure that when we get to the other side of this, that we are a stronger Jewish Community than we were before.
What can we do during this pandemic wrestling match to come out stronger on the other side?
We have all experienced loneliness and isolation over the past months; there is much uncertainty in so many aspects of our lives. Thankfully a new dawn – a new year – is approaching. How will we step into this next year, the next part of this journey? We have shown resilience and strength, we have adapted to this new normal, have relied on loved ones and on our Jewish community for support. As a Federation, we have done the same. We are here for you; to offer you support and resources with the hope that we can make this struggle a little bit easier for you when you need us most. As we move into the High Holidays, we hope the coming year is far sweeter than this past one.
We may be apart, but we are never alone. While we still can’t gather in person, the Jewish Federation, our agencies, Jewish organizations, and our Synagogues continue to offer a wide array of meaningful opportunities to connect with each other. Our Connect with Purpose webpage is the place to learn about the myriad opportunities throughout our strong and resilient Jewish Community, www.jewishindianapolis.org/connect-with-purpose. We continue to highlight our Community Heroes who have gone above and beyond during this pandemic. Please take a moment to nominate someone who has made a difference in your life during these past 6 months by visiting www.jewishindianapolis.org/community-heroes. When the crisis struck our community, we immediately created a Community Relief Fund and thanks to your generosity we have allocated significant new dollars to our Jewish organizations and to individuals negatively impacted by this pandemic.
In my memory, there has never been a greater need for the support of our community’s 2020 Annual Campaign than there is right now. While none of us know what the New Year will bring, we know what we want for ourselves and for our community. And we know that your support for our community’s Annual Campaign helps make possible all the things we want for ourselves, our families, our friends, and our community. Even if you are not able to give what you’d like, please give what you can—every gift supports those who need our help, and every gift, no matter the size, makes a big difference for so many.

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