In this week's parsha, Pharaoh awakens troubled by dreams of abundance followed by famine. Seven healthy cows devoured by seven gaunt ones. Seven full ears of grain consumed by seven withered stalks. Joseph's interpretation is both prophetic and practical: seven years of prosperity will precede seven years of devastating hunger. But Joseph offers more than prophecy, he provides a plan. Store grain during the good years. Build reserves when times are favorable. Prepare today for the challenges of tomorrow. This ancient wisdom of communal responsibility remains as vital now as it was in Egypt, it is the foundation upon which the Jewish Federation's Annual Community Campaign stands.
This is the ultimate lesson of the rainy-day fund. When the harvest is bountiful, that is precisely when we must think ahead. Not because we are pessimists, but because we are realists. History teaches us that after every period of plenty, challenges inevitably arrive; and the Jewish community has been taught this lesson more frequently than most. The question is not whether difficult times will come, but whether we will be ready when they do.
Dr. John Ruskay, former CEO of UJA-Federation of New York, captured this truth powerfully when he said, “We were there on 9/11 because we were there on 9/10.” The Jewish Federation-network’s ability to respond in crisis depends entirely on the infrastructure, relationships, and resources we build during times of calm. The Federation's strength in moments of darkness stems from investments made when the sun was shining.
As we celebrate Hanukkah alongside this week's parsha, the connection deepens. Our sages teach that it is far easier to keep a flame burning than to ignite one in darkness. Imagine trying to start a fire in a freezing, pitch-black cave versus simply maintaining one that already glows. The Maccabees innately understood this lesson, they fought not just to reclaim the Temple, but to ensure the eternal light would never be extinguished.
Today, ensuring the funds for tomorrow has never been more urgent. This past week's horrific terror attack against our community in Bondi Beach, Australia, reminds us that anti-Semitism's darkness persists everywhere. In these moments, we cannot afford to let our communal flame flicker. We must stoke it, fuel it, and pass it forward.
The Jewish Federation has been here for this community through every season, in prosperity and in crisis, on September 10th and September 11th, on October 6th and October 7th, yesterday and today. We have maintained the flame through investments in security, education, social services, and Jewish life. We are here now, supporting our brothers and sisters in Australia, in Israel, and everywhere. And we will be here for generations to come.
As we approach the end of this calendar year, we invite you to be part of this sacred work. Your year-end gift to our Annual Community Campaign ensures that the flame Joseph lit in Egypt, the flame the Maccabees rekindled, continues to burn brightly in our community. No gift is too small; every donation helps keep our communal flame alive and glowing. Visit the Jewish Federation’s Annual Community Campaign page to make your contribution today, and please share this message with friends and family so it reaches every corner of our community before December 31st. Together, we build the reserves we need for tomorrow.
Joseph's wisdom echoes across millennia: prepare during the seven good years. Keep the light burning. Invest in community. Together, we ensure that when darkness comes, and it will, we are ready, resilient, and radiant with hope. Because we are Stronger Together!
Shabbat Shalom and chag sameach,
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