OTHER VIEWS

STEINSALTZ

from page 37

when we were hungry and needy, and
moves us to offer hospitality to the
hungry and needy.
The matzah also reminds us of a
time when the entire Jewish "family"
was together, sharing our destiny as we
went from slavery to liberation to rev-
elation. The invitation we offer is to
our brothers and sisters and cousins,
whose chairs sit empty at the table.
Where are they?
Maybe they are far away, too far —
from us or from Judaism — to hear
our invitation or to see the light from
the open door. Maybe they don't want
to hear or see. Maybe they don't even
realize that they have a hunger or a
need to stay connected. Maybe they
think we have forgotten about them.
We cannot forget about them. We
must remember.
We need to remember that, as Jews,
we are members of a family, that every
Jew is a child of the House of Israel. It
is not a perfect family, but it is a real

family. Sometimes we disagree with
one another. Sometimes we argue.
Sometimes we say things we shouldn't.
But because we are a family, we are
always there for each other — without
questions or hesitation — when fellow
Jews need help.
It will not be easy to bring our
brothers and sisters back to the seder.
All of us must issue the invitation and
open the door. If everyone at every
seder table will do this, perhaps some
of those who are estranged will hear
the words or see the light, and find
their way back home — even if they
enter by way of the home of a long-
lost cousin.
On Passover and every day, we must
call out to our brothers and our sisters,
shine a light to guide them home, and
make sure that we are a family that
they want to be part of.
And when they arrive, we must wel-
come them — without questions and
without hesitation. 0

STEINHARDT from page 37

gather to celebrate Jewish history,
culture and destiny together. I know
of no better expression of Jewish joy
than this culmination of the 10-day
trip, which emphasizes celebration
and unity — two quintessentially
Jewish concepts that are often
ignored.
It is time for diaspora Jews to
replace victimhood with joy by
assuring that more young Jews
receive the most important Jewish
learning and socializing experiences
— day schools, camps, youth move-
ments, Hillel: The Foundation for
Jewish Campus Life, and Israel travel
and study. Jews who grow up with
these experiences show dramatically
higher rates of commitment and
lower rates of assimilation and
Intermarriage.

Reversing The Whisper

riP MEADE

LAE7Ct...

of Southfield • 1-888-205-8340
28300 Northwestern Hwy • Southfield

A Division Of The Meade Group...
Serving The Metro Detroit Area
For 33 Years.

www.meadelexus.com
Mon. - Thurs. 9-9

Tues., Wed., Fri. 9-6
Sat. 9-4

To make these experiences available as
"standard equipment" in all Jews' lives,
these programs must be well funded in
all our communities.
To create what I call an "infrastruc-
ture of freedom" will require philan-
thropic funding beyond all past
parameters. Making this infrastructure
universally available would cost bil-
lions annually but would assure the
Jewish future.
Last year, I proposed an initial $100
million education fund to be matched
and spent by local communities to

bring the total to $500 million, there-
by galvanizing new funding and repri-
oritizing Jewish philanthropy toward
education.
Thus far, there has been but a
whisper of response. Apparently,
givers are hesitant to raise the ante,
particularly since the communities
are reluctant to shake up the status
quo and to go all out for Jewish edu-
cational funding.
As I write, Harvard University is
endowed with $22.1 billion. I am sure
that much of this rich endowment is
from grateful Jewish alumni who went
on to exemplary achievements and
shared a determination that Harvard's
contribution to humanity is perma-
nently assured.
I say that the Jewish people and civi-
lization — which has given the world
the faiths of 3 billion people, immeas-
urable advances in science, law, medi-
cine and business, and ethical and
moral leadership — deserves, nay,
demands, no fewer billions. There
should be no less determination to
assure, once and for all, Jewry's flour-
ishing future.
Who will join me in breaking with
past parameters of Jewish philanthropy
to secure a renaissance for our grand-
children?
Who will place the vitality of our
people above all other interests?
I cannot overemphasize the urgency
of the task. Our Jewish future hangs in
the balance. ❑