10 | NOVEMBER 3 • 2022

guest column

Jewish Values in Action

guest column

Safeguarding Our Jewish Future

I

was asked recently by a
Federation officer why we
hold our annual meeting in
the fall, especially when our fis-
cal calendar begins and ends in
the spring.
Neither of us
knew why, but we
deduced that we
hold the annual
meeting of the
Federation to
coincide with the
High Holidays.
Surely, it wasn’t a coincidence
that we chose to pause and take
stock of our Federation — and
our community — at a time
when we as a people do much
the same in our personal and
spiritual lives.

As we celebrated Sukkot, we
gave thanks for the bounty and
the blessings we’ve been given as
a people. At the same time, our
sukkahs reminded us of the fra-
gility of life — especially for the
most vulnerable among us.
Our High Holidays remind
us that the mission of the Jewish
Federation is deeply woven into
our history, values and purpose
as a people.
In fact, our Federation can
be described as Jewish values in
action: Actions that build and
maintain a community, that
support people in need and that
educate and inspire our children
and, above all, that take respon-
sibility for one another, whether
it’s a neighbor across the street,

a refugee on the other side of
the world or a distant relative or
friend in Israel.
This is sacred work which
reflects the deepest essence of
what it means to be Jewish.
And so, as we begin a new
year, it is the perfect time for
us to reflect on the state of our
Federation and to reflect on the
accomplishments of the year —
and to consider and assess the
challenges that lie ahead in the
year to come.

DEALING WITH CRISES
Let us reflect on the COVID
Emergency Campaign and
relief efforts, which epitomize
the concept of Jewish values in
action. We all still remember the

early days of the pandemic and
what a surreal and frightening
time it was. From the start, it
was clear there were thousands
in our community who were
seriously threatened by COVID.
Thanks to many in our
community, our Federation
responded quickly, launching a
COVID Emergency Campaign
that raised more than $7.5 mil-
lion from donors at every level,
as well from our community
foundations.
This was an effort that truly
saved lives, providing food
assistance and delivery, pro-
tective equipment and hazard
pay for the front-line workers
at our agencies. The campaign
also made a difference in the

PURELY COMMENTARY

Matthew B.
Lester

A

s the steward of our
community’s assets,
we often spend a great
deal of time talking about num-
bers. They’re important, and
I’ll get to some
numbers shortly,
but first I want to
share some words.
These are not
my own words,
but those of the
individuals we
serve throughout
our community.
“Thank you for your extreme
kindness in bringing my news-
paper up the stairs to my door
as you delivered my meal this
morning. You did this of your
own initiative and couldn’t have
possibly known that today I was
experiencing severe pain, and it

would have been impossible for
me to even think of getting down
the stairs. Your kindness is above
and beyond.
”
This is from an individual
who has meals delivered every
day by a Jewish Family Service
driver. We can imagine what
might have happened had that
driver not brought the news-
paper up to the door, but try to
imagine, for a moment, what it
would it mean for there to be
no driver at all and no meals
delivered.
Imagine if we didn’t have our
agencies in place for those who
need them.
Think of what that might
mean as you listen to the words
of a single mother and small
business owner who received
assistance from another one of

our agencies: “Because of Hebrew
Free Loan’s assistance, there has
been a gradual and real stability.
I am now in a position to pay the
loan back, in full, ahead of sched-
ule. I was able to keep a business
afloat and provide a livelihood for
myself and my daughter.
And here’s another: “I previ-
ously was very scared on campus
to tell people I was Jewish and
had lived in Israel, due to many
people’s hate for Israel on campus.
I am much more confident in my
ability to defend and stay strong
against the haters of Israel.
”
I wanted to share these
because I don’t want us to
forget what the United Jewish
Foundation really does. Our
charge is to preserve and grow
our community assets, but our
ultimate purpose is to support

and make a difference in the lives
of our community members.
The words and stories I
shared are the true dividends of
the investment we make in our
community. You’ll find more of
these testimonials in the pages of
our new Annual Report. You’ll
also see that last year we distrib-
uted $96 million to our local and
global Jewish community.
It’s been said many times that
Detroit is a unique community,
and that has never been more
true than at this very moment.
According to recent data, the
Detroit Federation has the
highest percentage of individ-
uals who support their Annual
Campaign among large Jewish
communities across North
America. We also have the high-
est per capita amount of dona-

Dennis S.
Bernard