Finding a Place

by Audrey Lichter

Last night I attended the annual board meeting of our Greater Hartford Federation. The community had not gathered  together in person since 2019. Although I have never been on a Federation board, I always go to the meetings to cheer on the people that give their time and passion to the needs of the Jewish community. My niche has always been in education… building and running schools locally, and now of course creating Chai Mitzvah, a national Jewish engagement program. I used to feel slightly out of place at these meetings. Although I know lots of people, I am certainly not one of the regulars and hardly ever counted myself as one of the volunteers.  Somehow, has I have gotten older, I have relaxed about finding my place.

Now I just show up and marvel at all the new leaders I don’t know and the people like me who are growing older. Judaism survives and thrives because throughout the ages we, in our own ways, with our own interest and talents contribute to the tapestry of Jewish life. So this Rosh Hashanah, think about where your interests lay.  There’s a place for each of us, we just have to show up.

There’s a place for each of us, we just have to show up.