(7/22/15),

In one of my recent journal entries, I described how some of the latest political issues, most notably the Iranian deal, are poised to pull the Jewish community apart. Likewise, worsening affiliation rates, merging institutions, and less activism make us wonder at times what the future of the American Jewish community will look like.

Well, if it’s anything like these past weeks, I can say that future is very bright. Whether it’s young Jews gathering to spend quality time together and being engaged in meaningful Jewish life, or dancing and singing Jewish liturgy in full public view, or the ability to have difficult convesrations of important topics with Jews from multiple communities, there is a lot of good going on in our Jewish community alone.

This Saturday night, we mark the beginning of the fast of the Ninth of Av, the day we recall the destruction of the Temples along with many other moments of destruction the Jewish people have faced. Yet, no matter what pushes us to the brink where we think we might collapse, the Jewish people always get back up, brush ourselves off, and become stronger. So it was, so it is, so it will be. We are an eternal people with an incredible heart and a desire to not only survive, but thrive. We have much to look forward to because our future is very bright.

Kol Tuv,

Rabbi Ari Saks

Category : Ari-archive
Tag : ask the rabbi bright future Iran Deal joy rabbi rabbi's journal shabbat by the sea tisha b'av YJPA