A little over one year ago, I stood before you as the new President of Rodeph Shalom. We were still talking about emerging from a pandemic. I introduced myself, and asked:

Who am I and Why am I here? Who are you, and Why are you here?

So here we are, almost a year to the day since October 7 and nothing feels the same. I don’t know about you, but my personal identity as a Jew and what it means to be a Jew today in America has been tested in ways that were unimaginable a year ago. And yet, if anything, my faith and hope in this community is stronger than ever.

Admittedly, this has not been an easy time for anyone. In a large, diverse congregation such as ours, we hold many different views. Trust me on that one! But that diversity is what makes us strong.

How has Rodeph Shalom navigated these turbulent times? The answer is as old as the Torah and as new as our efforts to constantly reinvent and redefine what we do consistent with our vision. I believe that RS stands as a shining avatar for how to confront these current crises – fully imbued with our Jewish values. We have leaned into the complexity, the nuance, and to quote Rabbi Maderer’s Rosh Hashana sermon – the “nonbinary”. We have accepted the challenge of having difficult conversations. Like our Clergy, I too am truly proud of our Israel ConnectRS and Israel-Palestinian Discussion groups for modeling how to engage, listen and treat each other with respect, even when we fundamentally disagree. Just this past Sunday, 50 more than of our congregants came together to engage in deep, honest discussions about how they were feeling about what was going on in Israel and their deepest feelings about their Judaism. The conversation in and of itself is both the means and the end. As it is said in the Talmud, “An argument for the sake of heaven will have lasting value. An argument not for the sake of heaven will not endure.”

I have never seen the need to come together as a community more profoundly than right now.  This past Monday, we marked the one year anniversary of October 7.  We hosted a deeply moving memorial service where we packed every seat in the chapel with congregants representing all ages and demographics. The feeling of community and solidarity was palpable.

We are actually seeing a surge in engagement and affiliation after a time when many congregations were seeing the exact opposite trend. The level of intense and thoughtful engagement by our affinity groups has never been higher. You can feel the electricity, pride, and dare I say hope that pervades this building when you walk through our doors. I encourage those of you who don’t typically come to the building on a Sunday morning when our Berkman Merkaz Limud is in session to stop by sometime; it will simply make you smile.

We can’t do any of this work without devoted clergy, staff and volunteers. In a recent survey about this “surge” in engagement, the Union for Reform Judaism found that on average there is only one staff member for every 26 newly-engaged congregants. On the other hand, there are actually two congregants to each newly engaged member. We already know that we do not have enough resources to fully serve all of the needs of our community. And that is where you come in.

Let me issue two challenges to you today. First, look within yourself, and ask, what really matters to you?  Now, more than ever, is the time to recommit to this community and make it a priority. We can stay true to our values and assure the strength, health, and vitality of our congregation by centering Rodeph Shalom in our lives. Whether that’s by getting involved and joining an engagement group, coming to services, volunteering to make calls to those in our community in need, raising your hand to work on a program, and yes, finding a way to increase your philanthropy through membership gifts or general giving. I can’t emphasize how important your personal investment in RS is today, and how impactful that investment will be for the future. Many of you have stepped up financially in the past year, and it’s making a real difference.  As it is said in the Shulchan Aruch: “One who is engaged in attending to the needs of the community is just like one who is engaged in Torah study”. There is no higher calling. (Shulchan Aruch, Orah Hayyim 93:4).

Second, we have a unique opportunity in this post-October 7 “surge” in engagement. Our community is hungering for connection and community. We need to roll up our sleeves, and exercise our RS muscles and do that wonderful engagement work we are known for.  So when you’re here, if you see someone new, please reach out to them – find out what brought them here and how we can help make them feel truly part of our community. Many come and don’t even necessarily know exactly what they are looking for other than feeling a need to be with other Jews. It us up to each of us to help make them feel at home – that they belong here.

It is said in Psalms – “This is the generation and those who seek its welfare.” (Psalms 24:6) We are the generation in whose hands the future of Judaism squarely rests. This is a pivotal moment in Jewish history, and for our community and our congregation. I know you will join me in meeting this moment.

Rabbi Maderer’s sermon last night at Kol Nidre focused on hope. I know I have hope. When I look around this great assembly, I see hope. While times are difficult, just look around this room at each other for a moment. We wouldn’t all be here if we didn’t have hope for a better world, and a better future.

I wish you a happy and healthy New Year. Let us hope and pray that when we return for next year’s High Holy Days, we find a world reborn, filled with hope, renewal, and Baruch Hashem, with peace.  G’mar chatima tova – may we all be sealed in the book of life. Gut Yontiff.