Publisher's Notebook

equilibrium

rn i r c! -

A Jewish Declaration
For The New Year

To Our Readers:
Entering the New Year 5771 and accompanying Days of Awe,
we reflect on those areas in our personal and professional
lives where we have fallen below expectations. We publicly
and humbly declare our shortcomings before God and our
community of worshipers and desire to be worthy of new
beginnings and fresh starts.
As a Jewish community, we col-
lectively ponder our inadequacies
and view the upcoming year as an
opportunity to recommit to caring
for those in need, strengthening our
religious and cultural identities, recon-
necting with Detroit and the general
community, supporting Israel with
intelligence and integrity and assuring
that we have a vibrant, vital future in
Southeastern Michigan.
Our energy has been sapped in
recent years as we continue to struggle
with the economic hardships that have crippled our state,
region and Jewish community. The domestic automobile
industry has been downsized. Housing and commercial real
estate values have plummeted and retirement funds have
shriveled. Job opportunities, especially for those formerly
employed in "old economy" positions, are scarce.
And when we overlay the troubling demographic profile
of our Jewish community — shrinking population, exodus
of young adults to other cities and surge in the percentage
of elderly — it feels like circumstances are truly beyond
our control. With apologies to Gen. Douglas MacArthur, our
Jewish community, like an old soldier, isn't dying ... it's just
fading away.
And it will fade away unless we resolve, this Rosh
Hashanah, to seize the initiative and participate in creatively
writing the next chapter of our Jewish community's story.
While we must continue to implore our communal leaders to
articulate and embrace an exciting vision for a rejuvenated
Detroit and Southeastern Michigan Jewish community, and
allocate the dollars and human resources needed for imple-
mentation, we must also take individual responsibility for
helping to change our gloomy demographic trajectory.

A Helpful Guidepost
Beginning on page 18, you'll find the details of a North Star
to help guide you. That North Star is called the Southeastern
Michigan Jewish Declaration. Crafted and endorsed recently
by a group of 14 young leaders who pledge to work toward
its implementation, the declaration articulates a vision for a
Jewish community that is vibrant, welcoming, entrepreneurial
and engaged with the general community. The Jewish News
convened these young leaders in April. The declaration is the
first fruit of their labor and passion.
Their vision is worth restating:

"We aspire to re-invigorate the business, economic
and job-creating climate in Detroit and Southeastern
Michigan, especially for those in their 20s, 30s and 40s,
so that they will want to stay, return or relocate here to
live and raise their families. Achieving this will enhance

the overall quality of life and Jewish life in our region
and secure our future as a vibrant and dynamic Jewish
community."

d

T.

Dear TRX:
What have you done
with my weak muscles?

...nevermind, I don't
want them back.

So is their pledge —

"In support of our vision and mission, and to create a
vibrant future, we pledge to:
• become involved as active leaders and volunteers
• support efforts of others to create jobs and business
opportunities
• take personal action to create jobs and business
opportunities
• collaborate with others
•join efforts underway that are consistent with the
declaration to give them a stronger voice
• encourage efficiency
• hold each other and our community leaders accountable
• keep each other focused
• use our relationships to help others develop new
relationships
• serve as goodwill ambassadors for the quality of life,
and Jewish life, in Detroit and Southeastern Michigan."

The Next Step
What can you do to help drive this vision forward?
If you are a business owner, resolve to create internship
opportunities. Mentor an aspiring entrepreneur. Include
Jewish job posting sites and the Southeastern Michigan
Jewish Alliance (SEMJA) when you have openings.
If you are an investor, pool dollars with some of your
partners or friends to create a venture capital fund to enable
Jewish entrepreneurs to bring their ideas to life and poten-
tial profit to you.
If you are a synagogue member, show your rabbi and lay
leadership recent stories in the Jewish News and the Detroit
News about creative steps being taken by Young Israel of
Southfield to bring young families here (related editorial:
page 45). Ask them, "what is keeping us from doing this,
too?"
If you are a contributor to Federation's Annual Campaign,
press your solicitor to identify what extraordinary efforts
are being made to invest in the future of our local Jewish
community. If you like what you hear, increase your gift.
Be a goodwill ambassador for the quality of life, and
Jewish life, in Detroit and Southeastern Michigan. Recognize
that what we have is special, especially when Ann Arbor is
included in the narrative. Understand that we do have con-
ventional and unconventional employment opportunities
in the region. Bite our tongues when the temptation to bad-
mouth overcomes us. Try it.
Go to www.thejewishnews.com/declaration and add your
name as an endorser of the Southeastern Michigan Jewish
Declaration. Take the pledge. Take a stand. Embrace this
grassroots opportunity to reshape, stabilize and re-ener-
gize our Jewish community ... your Jewish community.
Best wishes for a healthy, peaceful and satisfying New
Year. May your words and deeds strengthen, uplift and
inspire.
L'shanah tovah!

❑

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September 2 2010

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