As we start thawing out from what feels like an interminable winter, it’s a good moment to reflect on things that warm our hearts.

Yes, there’s certainly no shortage of things to worry about, but for today, let’s focus on the bright spots, all from this past week, that inspire optimism and hope.

Snowbound, but not alone. The same snow days that are fun for kids with sleds can prove hazardous and isolating for older adults. This week, hundreds of caring professionals from our human service agencies and JCCs connected with many thousands of seniors: making check-in calls simply to reassure them, addressing heating issues, supplying groceries, and providing shoveling assistance. Home healthcare workers trudged through the snow, and some stayed overnight with vulnerable clients. Extensive virtual programming kept people connected and engaged.

This is the quietly heroic, even lifesaving work of UJA’s unparalleled network of nonprofits in action.

Letters, Light and Love. How do you get to Carnegie Hall? With practice... and snow boots.

On Tuesday evening — just one day after the blizzard brought the city to a standstill — we hosted a one- night-only performance at a sold-out Carnegie Hall, celebrating the Jewish people's connection to the land of Israel. Celebrities like Amy Schumer, Debra Messing, David Schwimmer, Tovah Feldshuh, and Noa Tishby read letters written over thousands of years, reflecting the age-old yearning for self-determination in our ancient homeland.

The show, first presented in London by producers  Michal Noé and Sarah Sultman, benefited Kibbutz Be’eri, one of the communities most devastated on October 7. Beyond the celebrity and song, it was the being together in this moment — unapologetic Zionists all — in one of our city's most iconic performance halls that moved me most of all.

Allyship and action. On Wednesday, I stood on the steps of City Hall with City Council Speaker Julie Menin and numerous members of the City Council, as well as faith leaders from across the spectrum, supporting legislation to protect people entering all houses of worship and schools in New York City. These bills affirm fundamental principles of our democracy: the freedom to practice one’s faith, gather, learn — and yes, even protest — without threat or fear. The bills would require the NYPD to create and implement a clear plan to establish buffer zones when safety concerns arise.

UJA played a leading role at the press conference in support of the bills. And with their presence and words, faith leaders — Catholic, Protestant, Muslim, Hindu, and more — affirmed that this is not just a Jewish issue; it is a matter of protecting access and religious freedom for all communities. I urge all members of our community to support the legislation through UJA Action.

Unity on Long Island. For the second consecutive year, we funded the Long Island Jewish Unity Conference, held yesterday at Woodbury Jewish Center. Post October 7, there was a sense that Jewish organizations on Long Island had an opportunity to work in a more coordinated way, for the benefit of the region’s large and incredibly vibrant, yet fragmented Jewish community. Enter UJA and the funding to bring 150 agency executives, educators, rabbis, and communal leaders together to find common ground across difference. Among the topics explored: The many faces of Jewish Long Island. Building interfaith relationships. Engaging people “beyond rallies.” Jewish education and the next generation. All for the sake of a stronger, more connected Jewish Long Island.

Toward greater inclusion. Yesterday, we also convened clergy and board leaders from 17 synagogues across denominations to discuss how we can create communities that are more inclusive to those with disabilities. Not “tolerant” but fully welcoming. The need to focus greater awareness on this issue is clear: UJA research shows that 13% of Jewish adults and 5% of Jewish children have a disability.

Leaders spoke candidly about both progress and gaps: rented spaces that are not fully accessible, outdated assistive technologies, religious school classrooms that need stronger support for neurodivergent learners, and more.

We discussed that inclusion means calling more people with disabilities to the bimah — not as a special moment, but as a regular practice. How rabbis, for example, can speak about inclusion from the pulpit. In some cases, it’s a change in mindset. In others, it’s about financial support to implement change. Which is why, beyond organizing convenings like this one, UJA plays a critical role in providing the funding that can move us toward more access and inclusion. 

Olympic hockey players. They are tough, toothless, and, yes, we have to kvell. As anyone who followed the Olympics knows, the overtime goal in the U.S. gold-medal victory against Canada this past Sunday was scored by a Jewish athlete. And his brother is also on the team! And their mother is a hockey legend too! No doubt the most popular costume for Purim this year (beginning on Monday evening) will be boys and girls in USA jerseys, gold medals...and blacked-out teeth.

In sum, the days are uncertain, the challenges great. And it might snow again before we see spring. But sometimes we all need a reminder — ours is a community that doesn’t just find warmth. 

We create it.

Shabbat shalom and Purim sameach