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

