Communal Professionals

It’s bothered me for some time now that we’ve had an artificial delineation in the community between “donors” and “professionals.”

For too long, we haven’t had a Jewish communal professional campaign supporting the UJA Annual Campaign. And that’s an important opportunity lost. Having our own Annual Campaign means that Jewish communal professionals can take on the responsibility for the future of the community in a new, meaningful way.

So we changed it.

This week, with the support and encouragement of our agencies' leaders, more than 100 professional colleagues – employees of our synagogues, agencies, organizations, and Federation – came together for a lovely breakfast and an inspiring Campaign event. We heard beautiful words of Torah from my colleague Mark Lit, interim CEO of the JCC MetroWest in West Orange. My colleagues Amanda Solomon and Julie Rosenberg ran ice-breakers and introductions. Our Diller Teen Fellows spoke about the powerful connections between Israel and New Jersey. And nearly every professional present made a gift to the UJA Annual Campaign.* Because it belongs to us too.

Because as Jewish communal professionals we have a shared responsibility for the future viability of caring for those in need, building community, and saving lives. One person at a time.

*Each one of these new or increased gifts was matched dollar for dollar thanks to our Matching Gift Challenge going on through May 4.