Shabbat Message - August 27, 2021
This message has 637 words and will take a little more than 2.5 minutes to read.
It’s hard to believe that the last full week of summer break is upon us. Students are preparing to go back to school, Rosh HaShanah is right around the corner and the Federation 2021 Annual Campaign kicks off on September 1. All of this is happening at a time of great uncertainty.
We knew that our community would be feeling the effects of the pandemic well into 2021 and now with rising cases due to the Delta variant, most certainly well into 2022. Many of us started summer off excited for new beginnings and a fresh start in the fall. But, with Step 4 of the province’s reopening plan now paused, many of us are not where we hoped we would be. However, as a Federation, and as a community, we are better prepared to take on the next phase of COVID impact. Because of that, we are hopeful for the future.
The 2021 Federation Annual Campaign kicks off September 1st.
We have come through crisis mode together but there are new challenges on the horizon. Challenges as we navigate this uncertainty in a way that feels safe for us as individuals and for our families. And our partner agencies are challenged in determining how to plan effectively for reopening and recovery, when the situation and needs are constantly evolving. Hence, you are going to hear us talk a lot about uncertainty in this year’s campaign.
As we reflect on the past 18 months, we draw on the strength that we’ve built from our community coming together and supporting one another. We are confident that with your continued commitment, we and our partners can take on whatever the pandemic brings our way.
Our community came together in a time of great crisis last year, and now we must stay the course to build for a brighter future—together.
Strengthened by where we have been. Inspired by where we can go.
That is the theme of this year’s Annual Campaign. It has been a tough year and a half in many ways, but we are incredibly grateful for the ways in which community members and organizations came together. Throughout it all, our Federation has been there—and that won’t change. Our community planning expertise, our ability to bring organizations together and foster new partnerships is needed now, more than ever, as the pandemic’s impact lingers. So is the incredible work of our partners, who have done an incredible job evolving and adapting so they can serve the thousands of people who rely on them. It has become clear that there is nothing we can’t do when we do it together—and that gives us great hope for the future.
Community is made by the people who participate.
The Annual Campaign is a great example of that. No matter the size of your gift, the fact that you participate makes a big statement and has a positive impact. You are a key piece of the puzzle that keeps our community vibrant.
You have made it possible for our community to gain strength through this challenging time. And you can be the inspiration for where we can go. Next week, you will receive a letter from Lana Marks Pulver, our campaign chair. (if you don’t, please reach out to me.) This is a great opportunity to participate, and there is an entire community relying on your answer.
Shabbat shalom,
Ezra S. Shanken
Chief Executive Officer