Rosh Hashanah >> communal messages

A People Interconnected

R

osh Hashanah is a sacred time
of prayer and personal reflec-
tion, but it also offers a unique
moment to consider the world around
us. While many in Detroit are extremely
fortunate to live in peace and comfort,
we know that the challenges facing the
Jewish people are numerous and complex,
and that for many Jews across the world,
life is difficult and uncertain.
In Israel, our brothers and sisters
continue to live under threat of terrorist
attacks amidst ongoing volatility in the
region; in addition, despite the nation's
considerable successes, Israelis face a
myriad of social and economic problems.
Many thousands of Jews in Ukraine
and other isolated communities face daily
hardships we can scarcely imagine. In
Europe, as well as on college campuses
throughout our own country, ugly and
blatant anti-Semitism has reared its
head. And we can never forget that there
are those in our local community who

remain vulnerable, includ-
ing seniors, families in crisis
and individuals with disabil-
ities, to mention just a few.
How do we respond?
While we may not have the
answers to these difficult
issues, the one thing each
of us can do is to recognize
our deep and longstanding
interconnection as a people.
The elderly woman living
alone in the former Soviet
Union, the Jewish family
facing anti-Semitic attacks on the streets
of Paris and the child living in the shadow
of rocket fire from Gaza are not strangers
to us. They are family, just like those who
gather at our table for apples and honey
on Rosh Hashanah.
We must remember, too, that we are
connected to each other throughout our
own community, regardless of which
stream of Judaism we follow or in what

Reflections And
Resolutions From
NEXTGen Detroit

R

osh Hashanah is a
Service
time of reflections
"Volunteers are the back-
and resolutions.
bone of the Federation and
Each year, we take stock of
our agencies; they are the
ones who ultimately make
the road traveled, and we do
our best to map out the road
the difference between just
ahead. This year, my reflec-
any community and our
tions and resolutions extend
Detroit Jewish community:'
beyond my personal growth,
— Nancy Grosfeld
my professional goals and
Steve Migliore
In the year ahead,
the hopes I have for my
family as I step into 5776 as
NEXTGen Detroit will grow
the president of NEXTGen
our volunteer- and commu-
nity service-focused efforts through the
Detroit.
In preparation for the coming year,
iVolunteer initiative and our NEXTGen
our leadership team charted an ambi-
Volunteers partnership programs with
tious course that we believe will bring
agencies and nonprofits, and we will
NEXTGen Detroit to an even stronger
further foster and grow other commu-
place this time next year. Our guide-
nity-based service initiatives like Pitch
posts for this journey are the principles
for Detroit and Do it for Detroit, to
of service, leadership, action and
name a few.
investment.
Leadership
What follows is a breakdown of
NEXTGen Detroit's resolutions for each
"There is no better joy than helping
of our principles, all of which take inspi- people around you go to levels higher
ration from reflecting on the wise words than they ever thought they could."
of past and present communal leaders.
— Dan Gilbert

58 September 10 • 2015

JN

part of town we live. As we have
always done, we will celebrate
our triumphs together, and we
will rely on one another as we
face our individual and shared
challenges.
This theme of interconnection
is a powerful undercurrent of
our High Holy Days, celebrated
across the world. We feel it
palpably as we stand together
in shul and listen to the blasts
of the shofar, just as we do each
time we step foot on the soil of
Eretz Yisrael. It must remain present in
our daily lives, as well, for it is the force
that galvanizes us as a people and ensures
our future. It is what powers the work of
Federation, our remarkable partner agen-
cies, synagogues, temples and schools,
and all those organizations that seek to
provide for the welfare of our people.
Kol yisrael arevim zeh bazeh. We are
connected to one another and responsible

for one another.
We will always have challenges to face
and problems to solve, but as long as we
cherish our deep connection as a people,
and as long as we recognize our sacred
responsibility to support one another, we
will remain strong and whole. That has
been proven year after year and genera-
tion after generation in Jewish Detroit
and it is the reason that, despite economic
meltdowns, floods and other crises, we
remain among the most vibrant and uni-
fied communities anywhere. We are here
for each other and we are here for good.
May everyone throughout our commu-
nity have a joyous holiday, and may you
be inscribed in the Book of Life for a good
year. Shanah Tovah.

Through a sustained focus on leader-
ship development, NEXTGen Detroit
will seek to cultivate the leaders of
today and tomorrow who will be able
to develop and oversee stimulating
programs, lead effective and efficient
meetings and discussions, and coach
and mentor others. Furthermore, we
will expand our Women's Leadership
Initiative, which will specifically focus
on creating and developing young
women leaders in our community to
serve on our executive and general
boards, our committees and to lead our
community.

efforts, and we will expand our affinity
groups in order to broaden our oppor-
tunities for outreach and engagement
to various subgroups, including fami-
lies and professionals, to name a few.

Action
"Solving any problem or maximizing any
opportunity begins with an honest analy-
sis of the obstacles that stand in the way
of success. Only then can you plan your
strategy and direct your resources:'
— A. Alfred Taubman

Leadership is not always popular, nor
is it always easy, but if we each act in
an honest and thoughtful manner, if we
remain open to constant feedback and
input, and if we work toward constantly
improving ourselves and our communi-
ty, we will individually and collectively
be able to accomplish more than we
ever imagined possible.
To that end, NEXTGen Detroit will
focus on fostering community feed-
back and discussion though focus
groups and non-traditional engagement

Lawrence A. Wolfe is president

of the Jewish Federation

of Metropolitan Detroit.

Investment
"We are all trustees of our Jewish heri-
tage with an obligation to cherish it,
improve it and guarantee its future:'

— Max Fisher

In the year ahead, NEXTGen Detroit
will seek to promote investment in
community through education and
enrichment. By clearly communicat-
ing and demonstrating the numerous
ways that our dollars impact lives, we
will seek to connect with our commu-
nity members and peers in a way that
we previously haven't. We will focus
on further educating our community
members and peers through compel-
ling stories of lives changed because of
our Jewish Federation and its family of
agencies, all of which are enabled by
our investment in our community.
Now that we've set the course for
NEXTGen Detroit in 5776, we hope
that you'll join us along the way, and
we also hope that your own reflections
and resolutions during these High Holy
days ultimately lead to a very sweet and
happy New Year. L'Shanah Tovah!

Steve Migliore is president

of NEXTGen Detroit.