Rise up Greensboro

RISE UP GREENSBORO

The day I’m writing this, Nike has released a commercial commemorating the company’s 30th anniversary of the “Just Do It” campaign. This is front page news. For those that haven’t seen it by the time of this publication, the commercial is narrated by Colin Kaepernick, an NFL football player who famously started kneeling during the national anthem as a protest against racial injustice. No matter your feelings on Nike or Colin, the commemorative ad has a special message:

Since the Greensboro Jewish Federation began its work in 1940, the annual campaign has been the gateway and backbone of our Community’s work in sustaining Jewish life at home and throughout the world. There’s no doubt in my mind that our Community dreamed very crazy dreams about what Greensboro could be and mean to the Jewish families that lived here. I think that’s what it takes. I imagine the dreams of the past have all

come true and then some, but it’s time for new dreams. I obviously have my own, but we want to make this Campaign about hearing from you about what this Community could be for each other and for the people around the world that need us.

In earnest, what dream has this Federation ever dreamed that we haven’t achieved? Time and again we rise up and accomplish what I’m sure others have laughed at or thought was unimaginable. So, as we begin the Campaign year, we genuinely ask you, what would you like to see happen, or keep happening when you’re no longer watching, here or elsewhere in the world? Please meet with us. Please write to us. I think that you’ll find that more so than ever before, our Federation is prepared to dream with you and help you achieve whatever you may have in mind. And I hope what you tell us is crazy, because as Nike’s ad just said today, “Don’t ask if your dreams are crazy, ask if they’re crazy enough.” After all, “It’s only crazy until you do it.”