The world has been changing for some time, but the urgency of that change has become unmasked. We are currently engaged in the 15-years war for the future of worldwide Jewry. What happens now will effectively determine the level of security our children and grandchildren can expect to have in their lives. This is a long journey that’s not going to be easy and requires a gradual process of transformation; we cannot afford complacency.
During the High Holidays, there’s no doubt that many people will be soul searching, as well as engaging in intense prayer for a better year. People will be asking questions of themselves and of others. Questions worth asking would be: What have I done today? What have I done this week?” What have I done this month or this year to contribute?
In his famous inaugural address, President John F. Kennedy said, “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.” It was a rallying cry for personal responsibility, for individual action in service of the greater good. It would be wise to adopt this way of thinking with regards to our challenges individually, communally and organizationally. The world has changed, and so must we.
For generations—Gen X, millennials and Gen Z—there has been no pressing need for aggressive, organized action. Things were “good enough.” But now, the realities of our world are demanding that people act in ways they’ve never been asked to act in their lifetime. It is unrealistic and unfair to expect members of these generations to suddenly jump into action. What is required is a period of gradual personal change, which will occur if the correct conditions are provided. It may be true that Jewish people are not accustomed to certain activities such as rallying, protesting, letter writing and organizing, but it is not true that we can’t do them. What’s needed is to focus on the impact we can have when we choose to act. Nothing can replace the power of people. Time, energy and digital activity by each individual and then the collective is of paramount importance. This requires humility and the recognition that we are neither too high for certain tasks nor too low for others.
Let us not worry about what the other side is doing, let us worry about what we can do. Through online coordinated activity, offline coordinated activity (which takes many forms) and systematic efforts in creating allyship we will overcome our enemies.
This isn’t just an individual responsibility; community leaders have a duty to step up in new ways. (An example of a community leader is a rabbi or president of a synagogue, a WhatsApp group administrator, an influencer, a school principal or board members of organizations.) The roles of these leaders have changed, and they would be wise to adapt. They should consider that integral to their jobs’ responsibilities are constant outreach to other communities and the maintenance of those bonds. Alliances aren’t just about shared interests; they’re about building long-term relationships through shared experiences. As an example, in every city there are probably 20 houses of worship for every synagogue. Why aren’t there more efforts towards working together more closely? These connections should be fostered through regular activities and collaborations that create lasting friendships.
Our community isn’t just the Jewish community; it’s everyone in our zip code. The Jewish community is a subset of a larger, diverse whole. The welfare of everybody in said geographical area should be of our concern. This shift in perspective is radical but necessary to begin acting and thinking differently. We are in the 15-years war, and we must remember that the world has changed now it’s time for us to change with it.
Dolores Huerta (labor leader of the United Farm Workers in the 1970s) said, “Si se puede”— “Yes we can”—similarly—YES WE CAN. We can coordinate, we can rally, we can unite, we can fight, we can advocate, we can educate, and we will build a better tomorrow.
Daniel Rosen, a Westchester resident, is a former leader of the pro-Israel group TorchPAC at New York University, and is the founder and president of Minds and Hearts, another pro-Israel advocacy group. He previously worked in the Jewish Agency’s spokespersons’ department.
