UJA-Federation of New York

From the Director…
Shalom friends:

For the past four years, SYNERGY newsletters have arrived in your synagogue’s mailbox twice a year — at Rosh HaShanah and at Pesach. As you can see, we’re making a change, embarking on a new way of staying in touch at these seasons with those of you — presidents, rabbis, and executive directors — who lead New York synagogues. (Do feel free to pass it along to others in your leadership as well.)

As always, this edition includes a variety of content: articles to stimulate your thinking on a particular topic, examples of creative approaches and inspirational learning from New York synagogue leaders, and information about highlighted resources and initiatives supported by UJA-Federation of New York. Not coincidentally, our focus this time is on the use of new media for community building in our kehillot, a task all the more urgent in these challenged times, and featured are ways New York synagogues are letting congregants who may be experiencing economic reverses know about UJA-Federation of New York’s Connect to Care initiative — often, not surprisingly, online. Learn, too, how to access information and appropriate help through UJA-Federation’s expanded J11 information and phone referral center.

With the upcoming launch of UJA-Federation’s next-generation website, we will now have a new platform through which to further develop our synagogue community and “speak” with you about issues, events, and opportunities that help strengthen synagogues, and together strengthen the New York Jewish community. You will continue receiving SYNERGY e-mails to alert you to new matters of import to New York synagogues and the New York Jewish community as a whole. And, of course, we have a postal address and a phone number as well! Do let us hear your thoughts by whatever means is most comfortable for you.

UJA-Federation’s mission to build inspired, caring, connected communities is unchanged. SYNERGY: UJA-Federation of New York and Synagogues Together is the banner that represents the myriad ways your federation and New York synagogues act together to bring healing, renewal, and wholeness to our world.

May you, your loved ones, and the kehillot kedoshot that you lead be inscribed for blessing in the coming year, and may our common commitments find fulfillment.

L’shanah tovah,

Dru Greenwood