Renewing the Hope

by Nina Fondiller Woldin

Yesterday I attended the Celebrate Israel parade in New York City. The theme this year was Israel @ 75: Renewing the Hope. There were over 40.000 marchers, and from my vantage point, it seemed that 30,000 of them were schoolchildren from the New York metropolitan area. That should make us feel very optimistic about the future of the Jewish people, however, we know that today more Jewish people than ever are not engaged in Jewish life in traditional ways. 

… today more Jewish people than ever are NOT engaged in Jewish life in traditional ways.

Professor Barry Kosmin commented on the idea of “Jews by choice,” a phrase that usually refers to converts: “in a free society, with religious affiliation a purely voluntary matter, ‘In practice, everyone is a Jew by choice.’”

With this in mind, and against the backdrop of the substantial rise in antisemitism, (the security for the parade was a constant reminder throughout the day) it is more important than ever to grow meaningful connection within the Jewish community. 

A rewarding way to do this is through Chai Mitzvah’s signature text-based conversations for adults, teens and families. Traditional Jewish texts are relevant to every aspect of our contemporary lives, and the discussions bring us close. Another unique aspect of Chai Mitzvah  – POP, the Power Of Passion – adds an essential layer of community that many people seek.

I left the parade encouraged and inspired to share Chai Mitzvah’s message. If you’ve experienced Chai Mitzvah, share your thoughts, and if you haven’t, please learn more!