The Best of Times
Gary Aidekman
UJC President

One Mitzvah Leads to the Next

My Taglit Birthright Israel Experience

Involving Young Adults in Jewish Community: An Interview with Rabbi Daniel S. Brennan

CRC Legislative Update

September 10
Women's Philanthropy Opening Event

September 11
Stop Iran Now
CRC presents Financing of Iran's Nuclear Proliferation and State-Sponsored Terrorism: How Sanctions and Divestment Make a Difference

September 17
Young Leadership Divison's "We Bring the Bar...You bring the Mitzvah" Event

This month we've hit a record high with the help of our Lay-Leaders

The Best of Times
by Gary Aidekman, UJC President

As I begin my term as president of UJC, it is an exciting and challenging time for us all. We have difficulties to face together, but we also have new opportunities, and the chance to achieve more than we ever have before.

One of the major challenges facing us now is a tough economy. We are all feeling the pain of soaring gas and food prices. But this makes the work we do all the more urgent. Just think about those who depend on our help to get by in normal times. Think about how hard their lives must be now. We can’t afford to fail them.

At the same time, there is a new spirit at UJC. It is part of our new initiatives and new successes. Jewish education is on the front burner now in a big way. The MetroWest Community Day School Fund for Academic Excellence and Affordability is helping more and more MetroWest families make Jewish education part of their children’s schooling. And the PJ Library will be bringing quality Jewish educational materials right into their homes.

And there’s more. The health and fitness center on the Whippany Campus will be revamped and improved in the coming months. We have come to an agreement with Gold’s Gym. They are taking over operation of the center this month and have plans to upgrade the facility.

And our ability to serve Morris County Jews is increasing, due to our new Morris Outreach program, supported by a UJC grant, in coordination with JCC MetroWest and Jewish Family Service (JFS) of MetroWest. Morris County Connection (MCC) is bringing programs from JCC, JFS, and other UJC partner agencies to public spaces throughout the county, programs like Jewish story times at bookstores, Passover programs in local supermarkets and coffee shops, Hanukkah card-making workshops in home decorating stores, and more. In fact, in the coming year, we’ll be expanding our efforts to include a day of community service; Morris County Carelink, in partnership with MCC. UJC’s Young Leadership Division, and JFS; and a parenting conference, co-sponsored by MCC, JCC, JFS, the Partnership for Jewish Learning and Life, and the Hebrew Academy of Morris County. UJC is doing more in Morris County than ever before.

And we are basking in the glow of one of the most exciting and successful programs UJC has ever been part of. Taglit-Birthright Israel brings thousands of young Jews to Israel from all over the globe, for free, and they return home with a new passion for Judaism. We can hardly keep up with the demand in our community. We sent three groups this year, and it looks like there will have to be even more in future years.

It is an exciting time to be taking on the helm of UJC, and an ideal time to focus on our core mission, to inject the enthusiasm and momentum of our successes into the heart of what we do.

Our mission is two-fold. First, we help Jews in need. The challenges are great now and are likely to be for some time to come. But it is up to us all to be sure, even in tough economic times, that no Jew is ever without hope, is ever without a place to turn when there’s trouble.

Second, we build and strengthen Jewish community, and we do it through conducting cultural events and initiatives to teach Jewish values — by living the tradition we share. The successes we’ve had recently are excellent, and they are only a beginning.

We are a people with a purpose. At the heart of our tradition is a responsibility: that we are “a light among nations.” It is our responsibility to lead the world by our example, and to provide the example of what it means to do good, to be good — to commit ourselves to tikkun olam, to repairing the world.

UJC plays a crucial role in actualizing that purpose. We are the nexus of Jewish community and one of the best resources for teaching and practicing Jewish values. I know of no institution in the Jewish world that better serves our people and our purpose, our mission in the world.

I look forward to working with you all to make our successes what success should always be — a first step towards future achievements. It is going to be an exciting time.

And, I wish you all a happy, healthy, and wonderful Rosh Hashanah.

Gary O. Aidekman
President United Jewish Communities of MetroWest NJ
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