Shabbat Shalom Rhode Island,
This week, I had the pleasure of breaking bread with Herb Stern, a past Board President of Rhode Island’s Jewish Federation, before the formalization of the Alliance.
As we discussed issues facing Rhode Island’s Jewish community during his leadership in the mid-2000s, our conversation naturally turned to the opportunities and challenges we face today. Our discussion has stayed with me, notably Herb’s repeated use of the word “we” when speaking about the Alliance’s work and impact, both then and now. Embedded in that simple word was a deep commitment to our Rhode Island Jewish community, even though he now spends much of the year elsewhere.
He is not alone. Many people, whether they live here year-round or carry Rhode Island with them wherever they go, view connection to the Rhode Island Jewish community as an essential part of their Jewish identity. This speaks volumes about our history, institutions, and experiences.
I was also struck by several themes that define Jewish life today just as they did 20 years ago:
- Leaning into Jewish community means embracing questions and debate while striving to uphold our shared responsibility for one another and our collective future.
- People connect to Jewish life in spaces that feel welcoming, safe, and rooted in our shared history.
- People want to be seen, heard, and valued, both within the diversity of the Jewish community and within the broader communities of which we are a part.
The remarkable thing is that these themes could fit into almost any chapter of Jewish history and still feel relevant. They reflect enduring truths about the relationship between the individual and the community.
With all this in mind, it is both humbling and inspiring to realize that the mission of the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island will never truly be finished. Our work is the ongoing pursuit of Jewish continuity, connection, care, and a vibrant future for generations to come.
As Shabbat approaches, I am grateful for those who built Rhode Island's Jewish community, those who sustain it today, and those who will carry it forward tomorrow.
Sincerely,
Steven A. Baker
President & CEO
