In this week's Torah portion, Vayetze, we find Jacob fleeing his home with nothing but the clothes on his back. As night falls, he places a stone under his head for a pillow and falls into an uneasy sleep. Yet it's in this moment of vulnerability that Jacob experiences his famous dream, a ladder connecting earth to heaven, with angels ascending and descending. Upon waking, he declares: "Surely, Gd is in this place, and I did not know it." (Genesis 28:16)
What happens next is equally powerful: Jacob doesn't simply appreciate the vision and move on. He takes that stone pillow, sets it upright as a monument, and makes a commitment. He transforms a moment of recognition into a foundation for the future.
This Thanksgiving, Jacob's journey from vulnerability to vision, to building something lasting, mirrors our own community's story, particularly the evolution of our Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC).
Several years ago, our JCRC was in its early stages, offering important but occasional programming, educational sessions, and events on relevant topics. It was a start, our “stone pillow” if you will. But visionary leaders in our community recognized what Jacob saw: that connections matter, that bridges between earth and heaven, or in our case, between the Jewish community and elected officials, interfaith partners, and civic organizations, aren't luxuries. They're essential infrastructure for a safe, secure, and sustainable Jewish future.
Thanks to those early champions who invested in this vision, and the generous supporters who stepped up to fund a full-time professional, our JCRC has become something transformative. Today, it's a full department providing real advocacy in public affairs affecting Jewish life, building relationships with officials who shape policy, and creating genuine partnerships across faith and community lines. This isn't just feel-good outreach, it's the security architecture our grandchildren will inherit.
This Thanksgiving, as we support neighbors who are isolated, housebound, food insecure, or far from loved ones, our JCRC work ensures we can do so in a community where Jewish life can flourish. Because here's the truth: we can only care for our vulnerable when we live in a place where all people, regardless of politics, faith, or ideology, are committed to protecting each other's dignity and safety.
Like the angels on Jacob's ladder, our JCRC enables two-way movement: we advocate fiercely for Jewish security and survival while simultaneously supporting partner organizations whose missions blanket the broader community's needs in sync with our Jewish values. We ascend and descend. We give and receive. We build relationships that make everyone stronger.
Jacob didn't just have a nice dream. He woke up, recognized the holy ground beneath him, and built something lasting. That's what our community has done with the JCRC, and this Thanksgiving, we're profoundly grateful to everyone who transformed a vision into reality. Because we are Stronger Together!
Wishing you and yours a meaningful Thanksgiving. Shabbat Shalom,
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