When the Framers of the U.S. Constitution met in Philadelphia in that sweltering summer of 1787, the language they chose for the Constitution’s very first sentence carried a deep aspiration: “a more perfect union.”

With America’s 250th anniversary around the corner, I’ve been thinking a lot about this word: more. It’s one that doesn’t get a lot of attention, but it does carry profound moral and spiritual significance.

More implies that there is a gap between the way our country is, and the ways we know it should be. We need to be honest enough to recognize that gap and aspire to close it.

It’s notable that our founders did not write simply “a perfect union.” I believe they chose to add the word more because they understood that the holy work of creating community, building a society, and repairing the world is never done. In fact, it is necessarily incremental.

To quote the teaching of Rabbi Tarfon in Pirkei Avot: “It is not upon us to complete the task, nor are we free to desist from it.” This is precisely what calls us to the radical responsibility to make things better, even a bit “more perfect.”

We’re halfway through LGBTQIA+ Pride Month and about to honor Juneteenth tomorrow. Both celebrations shine a light on communities whose stories and experiences are often underrepresented in our still-not-perfect union. The health and vibrancy of our democracy and our Jewish community depend on how we foster a sense of connection and belonging for everyone across differences. A powerful way to do this is to celebrate what Rabbi Jonathan Sacks called the “dignity of difference” — the unique contributions of particular individuals and communities.

The 2025 Greater Boston Jewish Community Study (CS25) illustrates how far our Jewish community has come and what we can do next so that everyone feels a sense of connection and belonging. The data found that while nearly 50% of respondents feel connected to the Jewish community, only 40% of LGBTQ+ Jews and 34% of Jews of Color feel that they belong. 

We also discovered that 34% of people in our community say they are not at all aware of Jewish programs and events.

The findings in CS25 are an opportunity to recommit ourselves to building a community where everyone feels seen and valued, and where every voice matters.

So, how might we do that?

I recently came across a piece on campus Jewish engagement in eJewishPhilanthropy that speaks to this question. The author suggests that when it comes to fostering connection, intimate 1:1 relationship-building — the coffee date, the personal conversation — isn’t the most effective entry point for everyone.

Instead, the author recommends “compelling, easy-to-access experiences” that invite people to come closer before asking them to go deeper. “Many are searching,” he writes, “not only for meaningful experiences, but for confidence, pride, friendship, resilience and community. Large-scale engagement helps students see that Jewish life on campus is not small, isolated or defensive. It is joyful, visible and alive.”

I especially appreciated the author’s call for greater intentionality in everything the Jewish community does, from social events, to Shabbat dinners, to 1-1 conversations. A community of connection sees intimate gatherings and large-scale experiences not as competing, but as mutually reinforcing.

Now is the time to ensure that anyone who engages with the Jewish community feels seen and respected. We can create broad-scale engagement opportunities that help more people in our diverse community find their ways into Jewish life. We can make immersive, transformational experiences more welcoming and accessible. And when we do, we can help create a “more perfect” Jewish community where lifelong Jewish journeys lead to greater meaning and purpose for everyone.