PURELY COMMENTARY

4 | SEPTEMBER 22 • 2022 

community greetings

Remembering Our Blessings
I

magine living in a community 
where no individual ever goes 
hungry, where no one is without 
a place to call home or any other 
necessity for a safe, healthy life. 
Imagine a place where 
families are offered the 
means to prosper, in 
both good and difficult 
times, and where children 
are taught the values of 
kindness, compassion and 
charity. Imagine a place 
where every older adult is 
treated with respect and 
afforded the ability to live 
in comfort and dignity. 
Imagine a community 
built upon a profound 
sense of love, connection 
and responsibility for one 
another.
To many living in 
our complicated and 
challenging world, 
this may seem like an 
idealistic vision. But, for 
us here in Jewish Detroit, 
it is the essence of who we 
are as a community. To be 
part of this community 
is to be included, embraced and 
supported. 
It also means we hold the sacred 
responsibility of taking care of one 

another and extending ourselves to 
those who need support. In fact, these 
are two sides of the same reality. The 
security and stability we enjoy comes 
only from our personal investment and 
commitment to each other and to our 
enduring history as a people.
Rosh Hashanah, our sacred time for 
personal reflection, is a moment to 
remember the blessings of community 
and to renew our commitment to the 
values and traditions that still provide 
the scaffolding for our daily lives. 
The New Year is also a time to look 
to the future and, as we do, we must 
remember that the strength of Jewish 
Detroit and the welfare of all those 
who live here can never be taken for 
granted. In fact, as we have learned 
from the recent global pandemic, we 
can never fully anticipate events that 
may be on the horizon. We can expect, 
however, that the year ahead will have 
challenges for our community.
Inflation and the rising cost of living 
has affected many households while, at 
the same time, making it more difficult 
for our agencies and organizations to 
provide the programs and services for 
those in need. Mental health issues 
continue to affect many of our young 
people, still reeling from the impact of 
COVID. We have a large and growing 
population of older adults, many of 
whom need community support. And 

the threats of antisemitism, hatred 
and physical security concerns require 
ongoing attention, advocacy and 
vigilance. 
As always, though, we have reason 
to remain both grateful and optimistic. 
Despite these challenges, we know 
that — thanks to the commitment of 
Jewish Detroiters of every age and 
background — we will continue to 
have the means to take care of all who 
need support. We will remain a place 
where no Jew is ever truly alone and 
where Jewish life continues to thrive. 
This is the mission of the Jewish 
Federation and United Jewish 
Foundation and, together with our 
partners across the community and 
around the globe, we have spent the 
past century taking care of our most 
vulnerable individuals and building a 
vibrant Jewish future for all. We are 
grateful to all who share this work and 
especially to those who generously 
support us. 
On behalf of the Federation and 
Foundation, we wish our entire 
community a meaningful holiday and 
a healthy, peaceful and joyful New 
Year. 

 

Matthew B. Lester is president of the Jewish 

Federation of Metropolitan Detroit. Dennis 

S. Bernard is president of the United Jewish 

Foundation. Steven Ingber is CEO of the Jewish 

Federation of Metropolitan Detroit

Matthew 
Lester

Dennis 
Bernard

Steven 
Ingber

Rosh Hashanah

Dos iz Rosh HaShana un In shul mir vel gayn
Mir zaynen farputzt, Un di shul azay shayn.
Mir zitzn un shtayen, zayn a Yid iz azay shver 
Ich bin mid, zayer mid, avu iz a chair?
But mir zaynen alle tzuzamen, ich bin nisht nisht 
 alayn.

Dos iz: this is
Un In shul mir vel gayn: and we’ll go to synagogue

Mir zaynen farputzt: we are dolled up
Un di shul azay shayn: the synagogue is 
 beautiful 
Mi zitzn un shtayen: we sit and we stand 
Zayn a Yid iz azay shver: to be a Jew, it’s hard 
Ich bin mid, zayer mid: I am tired, very tired 
avu iz: where is?
Mir zaynen alle tzuzamen: we are all together 
Ich bin nisht alayn: I am not alone.

By Rachel Kapen

Yiddish Limerick

