We head into Pesach facing yet another in a seemingly endless series of momentous times for the Jewish people.
The terrorist attack on Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, Michigan was a stark reminder of why we have all invested so much time, energy and money in our communal security. Despite the preparedness of both the Temple Israel staff and members, the excellent community security initiative run by the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, and the bravery of the security guards and law enforcement, we came within minutes and inches of disaster. We thank God for the blessing of life and pledge to do everything in our power to further strengthen our security and to advocate relentlessly for the robust government response that is so desperately needed.
And we are in week five of Operation Epic Fury and Operation Roaring Lion. We watch in awe as the United States of America and the State of Israel work together to remove the threat of Iran’s terrorist regime from the world. We are so grateful to the United States Armed Forces for their skill and bravery, and to the Israel Defense Forces for their unending commitment to protect and defend the Jewish State.
Of course, the Jewish Federations across North America are doing what we always do, supporting the people of Israel through this latest crisis. By the end of week four of Operation Roaring Lion, Jewish Federations had mobilized over $30 million in emergency response. Federation funds are supporting victims of terror, the displaced, vulnerable Israelis, reservists and their families, and those spending hours in shelters. They are powering mental health hotlines, matching volunteers with needs in the field, and strengthening resilience nationwide. Importantly, this figure does not include the tens of millions of dollars in funding that support the core emergency response capabilities of the Jewish Agency for Israel, JDC, and the dozens of partnerships among Jewish Federations and communities and kibbutzim across Israel, all of which also are being used to assist in this time of war. To read some examples, click here.
In addition, we know it is critical that Jewish leaders across North America not only get the news from Israel but also receive insights to help understand these complex developments. Since the war began on February 28th, Jewish Federations have been keeping communities informed through regular, detailed updates from Israel and have hosted five expert-led webinars attended by over 13,000 participants to provide timely analysis and context.
On Wednesday evening, Jews around the world will sit down to Pesach Seders. Some will do it in the comfort of our homes, some visiting friends and loved ones, some in bomb shelters and some under fire in Israel and also in Ukraine. Wherever we are and whatever our circumstances, we will all say the same words:
בְּכָל־דּוֹר וָדוֹר חַיָּב אָדָם לִרְאוֹת אֶת־עַצְמוֹ כְּאִלּוּ הוּא יָצָא מִמִּצְרַיִם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וְהִגַּדְתָּ לְבִנְךָ בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא לֵאמֹר, בַּעֲבוּר זֶה עָשָׂה יְיָ לִי בְּצֵאתִי מִמִּצְרַיִם. לֹא אֶת־אֲבוֹתֵינוּ בִּלְבַד גָּאַל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, אֶלָּא אַף אוֹתָנוּ גָּאַל עִמָּהֶם
In every generation, each person must see himself as if he himself had come out of Egypt, as it is said: “And you shall tell your child on that day, ‘Because of this the LORD acted for me when I came out of Egypt.’” It was not only our ancestors whom the Holy One redeemed; He redeemed us too along with them.
It is now the turn of our generation. We must see ourselves as if we too came out of Egypt, and we must act to build the Jewish nation, to bring us to safety, to bring us to Mt. Sinai, to lead us across the desert and to the promised land. Let it be said that our generation understood and fulfilled our responsibilities to the fullest.