Elul: An Opportunity for Reflection

Dear Community,

The natural transformation from summer to fall during this month of Elul ushers us into a sacred season of reflection, preparation, and renewal. Elul invites us to pause, and through Teshuvah, look inward and consider how we can live with greater intention in the year ahead. Through Tzedakah, we look outward toward one another and ask how we can strengthen the bonds that hold our community together. Through Tefillah, we reconnect with ourselves and each other with purpose.

Just as the shofar calls us to awaken our hearts, this season of Elul calls us to deepen our commitment to building a community rooted in care, generosity, and shared responsibility. As embodied by the intertwined braids of OJCF’s logo, each of us brings something unique to this collective: our voices, our values, our gifts, and together we weave a fabric stronger than any one braid alone. Together, we weave a vision into reality, building a community rooted in belonging, tradition, and hope for the future.

Your commitment to community makes this possible. Through your generosity and partnership, OJCF not only sustains programs and services. We nurture connections, uplift traditions, and ensure that every member of our community feels seen and supported. In this way, we embody the true spirit of Elul, preparing for renewal not just as individuals, but as a people bound together by hope and shared purpose.

Just as we reflect on the year that has passed and envision the one to come, Elul also reminds us that true preparation extends beyond today. Endowments are a tangible expression of a legacy of renewal, sustained by the commitments we make together to honor our community’s past, create vibrancy in our community’s present, and ensure our community’s future.

Creating or contributing to an endowment represents a powerful act of faith and an investment in our community’s strength and resilience. When creating or contributing to an endowment, we make a powerful statement that the values we cherish and the connections we nurture will endure for generations. We invite you, in this season of reflection and renewal, to consider how you might join the community in building this legacy by endowing its future.

As the High Holidays approach, may we all find moments of meaning, reflection, and connection. May the new year ahead be one of health, peace, and continued strength for our community. And, may we all share in the joy of building community together for the love of community.

Shanah Tovah. Wishing you a sweet and healthy new year.

David Forman, President & CEO

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