Dear Colleagues and Friends,
As of this writing, forty-eight hostages remain in Gaza. Tragically, almost two years after the events of October 7, we have still not reached October 8. Our Israeli colleagues, families, and communities have endured trauma and hardship as the war has raged on. Our communities throughout the world face increased and often violent antisemitism. In so many locales, we see a rise in political polarization and threats to democratic norms and institutions. And as rabbis, the need for our Torah, pastoral presence, and leadership has never been greater. In every corner of the globe, our work is crucial, challenging, and exhausting.
And yet, we have titled this annual report: הנה מה טוב ומה נעים
Even in times of great personal and communal struggle, our challenge as rabbis is to find – or even create – blessings. Indeed, this past year our RA has achieved a great deal as we have sought to bring our colleagues together, find mutual support, and provide resources to help us serve our communities.
- Over 200 colleagues gathered for a moving and inspiring convention in Israel
- Hundreds of colleagues have participated in webinars, communities of practice, and affinity groups to learn Torah, train in new skills, and support one another
- Over 40 volunteers have reached out to almost 200 colleagues who are experiencing personal loss or life challenges
- Our joint Masorti campaign raised almost $150,000 to support our colleagues in Israel and other communities outside North America, we developed a new fund to celebrate and support our women colleagues, and completed the sponsorship of our new Lev Shalem Siddur for Weekdays
- We assisted hundreds of colleagues with personal and career counseling along with support in the job search process
- We implemented our new Code of Conduct and strengthened our Vaad Hakavod procedures
- We served as a key partner in our Movement’s success in the World Zionist Congress elections, nearly doubling our vote in the US alone
We are grateful to our Executive Council, the hundreds of colleagues who serve on committees, and our dedicated staff who make it all possible. And we thank each of you for strengthening our bonds with one another, being a part of our organization, and for the many ways you support Our RA.
May the blessings you helped create this past year move us toward a world that is more just, secure, democratic, and peaceful going forward.
Warmly,
Rabbi Jay Kornsgold, RA President
Rabbi Jacob Blumenthal, RA/USCJ CEO