A New Beginning for the Jewish People

Tomorrow marks the end of the holiday of Sukkot, and the start of Simchat Torah. The juxtaposition of these two days, both of which celebrate new beginnings, is particularly poignant as Jewish people around the world breathe a sigh of relief for the release of the remaining living hostages. We also continue to pray for a safe return of those hostages who are no longer living so they can be laid to rest with love and dignity, and for the ceasefire to be fully implemented.

If our prayers are fully answered, we will now look toward the future and begin rebuilding what has been damaged. Eric Fingerhut, president of Jewish Federations of North America, wrote in the Times of Israel on Sunday, that the efforts must focus both on Israel and here at home. “On one hand, the vast majority of Jews in North America have remained deeply connected to Israel and our Israeli brothers and sisters throughout the war. On the other hand, we know that Israel has come under withering attack in our communities and that these attacks have had an impact.”

Over these last two years, our Federation has worked tirelessly to support Israel and Israelis, students in local schools and campuses, and to combat antisemitism and antizionism in our community. We have worked with our partners, neighbors, and allies in the broader community as well, and we are grateful for those relationships. But there remains much healing to be done.

In his Times of Israel article, Fingerhut references new volunteer opportunities with Birthright Israel focused on helping with the rebuilding. Just this past spring, our Israeli Shlicah, Ziv Shemesh, led a group of people to Israel as part of the Birthright program where they participated in volunteer programs. And we now have two additional trips being planned to allow people of all ages in our community to also volunteer and strengthen their own connection to Israel.

Here at home in Nashville, the Federation has led efforts to combat antisemitism in our schools, we have stood up to neo-Nazis marching down Broadway and demonstrating in front of synagogues and disrupting Metro council meetings. And most recently, we led efforts to stop a Metro council member from presenting a divisive, inappropriate anti-Israel resolution.

These efforts must continue, even as the ceasefire takes hold and we welcome our beloved brothers and sisters home from captivity. Let us take a moment to breathe, to mourn, and to celebrate. And then, let us move forward with greater resolve as we face the work ahead.