10/02/2024
As we approach the new year, I am reminded of a poem by Israeli poet and author, Yehuda Amichai
My father was a god and didn’t know it. He gave me
the Ten Commandments not in thunder and not in anger,
not in fire and not in a cloud, but gently
and with love. He added caresses and tender words,
“would you” and “please.” And chanted “remember” and “keep”
with the same tune, and pleaded and wept quietly
between one commandment and the next: Thou shalt not
take the name of thy Lord in vain, thou shalt not, in vain,
please don’t bear false witness against your neighbor.
And he hugged me tight and whispered in my ear,
Thou shalt not steal, shalt not commit adultery, shalt not kill.
And he lay the palms of his wide-open hands on my head
with the Yom Kippur blessing: Honor, love, that thy days
may be long upon this earth. And the voice of my father –
white as his hair. Then he turned to face me one last time,
as on the day he died in my arms, and said, I would like to add
two more commandments:
the Eleventh Commandment, “Thou shalt not change,”
and the Twelfth Commandment, “Thou shalt surely change.”
Thus spoke my father, and he turned and walked away
and disappeared into his strange distances.
Today I am honored and humbled to begin my term as National President of Jewish National Fund - USA. I am keenly aware that we have been incredibly successful in our impact thus far - not just in achieving a record $200 million campaign this past year, but in actually getting the work done thanks to the leadership and vision of our immediate past president, Dr. Sol Lizerbram, our CEO Russell Robinson, and the entire professional and leadership team. Yet I come in with my own plans and ideas to continue building on the vision of the organization, an organization that has worked tirelessly and continuously to ensure a future Israel for all of its residents.
So as we enter this new year, as President, I look forward to keeping what’s working as I honor the past and the 11th Commandment - “Thou shalt not change” , while also looking strategically at the future and honoring the 12th Commandment -”Thou shalt surely change.”
I cannot wait to see what we will achieve together – b’yachad.
Wishing all a year of love, laughter, peace and security.
