Dear Friends,

What an intense time this is for our country, Israel, and the world. 

I continue to watch this precarious hostage deal and ceasefire in Israel, holding my breath in the hope that the hostages in this first phase are returned and outraged that the remaining hostages continue to be held in Gaza. 

Through the many conversations I’m having with fellow communal professionals, community members, and civic leaders, I’m hearing that people are unsure of what to make of this moment. 

Amid so much uncertainty and change, I had two grounding and uplifting experiences over the past week, both thanks to extraordinary and passionate leaders. 

Last Friday, I spoke to nearly 100 Israeli Maoz Fellows who represent every sector of Israeli society. We spoke about American Jews and our relationship with Israel and Israelis. I shared with them my love and deep sense of responsibility for them and the future of Israel and the Jewish People. They were such engaged learners, listening openly and challenging me respectfully. 

After my talk, four participants volunteered to share how they and their families spend Shabbat. An Arab-Israeli woman shared her Friday rituals, followed immediately by a Haredi (Ultra-Orthodox) man who told a Hasidic story, giving the Fellows an opportunity to appreciate the diversity and commonalities of experiences in Israel. These leaders do not shy away from their differences nor their disagreements, yet they are committed to one another, to the community they are building, and to finding paths forward in the name of the common good. We need more of this in the world. 

This week, I also had the privilege of joining 35 leaders, mostly from the Black and Jewish communities, for an evening of reflection and conversation. I was so grateful for this opportunity, coming during Black History Month, and just a few weeks after my meaningful conversation with Van Jones. Van reminded us that, throughout America’s history, Jewish and Black leaders have been on the forefront of creating American democracy as we know it, weaving our deep cultural commitments to justice and repairing the world into what he called a “double helix of hope.” One of the speakers that evening summed it up beautifully: “When our world is filled with divisiveness and hate, we know that we are stronger together.” 

I love that both of these experiences took place in the week between two extraordinary Torah portions. Last week, we read about the parting of the sea and the liberation of the Israelites from Egypt. This week reminds us that it was not just freedom from slavery and oppression, but ultimately freedom to receive the Torah at Mount Sinai, take responsibility for ourselves and our world, and build a community and a shared vision of a thriving Jewish future and a more perfect world. That’s what Sinai represents. 

We need more leaders like the ones I met this week — in community with one another — sharing the stories of their past, strengthening bonds in the present, and building bridges across differences and toward a better tomorrow for all.