As I complete my term as the President of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven, I’d like to reflect on one of my favorite quotes from Pirkei Avot:
“You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to desist from it.”
Our work is built on the shoulders of professional and lay leaders. None of them completed the work and they continue to work for our community.
Thank you to the professionals in our community who have stood shoulder to shoulder with our lay leaders. Thank you for making our work easier. All of you have worked tirelessly under extreme conditions. Fire, Water, and Plague.....do not be surprised if locusts and frogs come very soon. I know one thing for sure: we are all working together to make our New Haven Jewish community better. Always moving forward despite the stumbling blocks put in front of us.
To my life partner, Betsy: Thank you have being by my side from the very beginning of our amazing life journey.
To our community: Thank you all for what all of you have done in the past, thank you for what you are doing now, and most of all, thank for what you will be doing in the future. Thank you for the honor of working with all of you. The work continues be- cause we have not completed it, we can not desist from it, and we will never give up.