Cultivating community

The quiet work of summer’s sacred space

Nammie Ichilov, Federation President & CEO

As we embrace the warmth of June, we find ourselves in that precious moment between seasons, a time of transition that mirrors the spirit of Shavuot, which we celebrate in the early days of the month. Just as our ancestors stood at Mount Sinai, poised between their past as slaves and their future as a covenantal people, our community now stands in this transitional summer space between cycles of intense activity.

While our programming calendar may appear quieter, these summer months represent one of our most intellectually fertile periods. Our professional team is deeply engaged in reflection, planning and preparation: cultivating the seeds that will blossom into next year’s vibrant community life. We are finalizing budgets, developing innovative programming and creating meaningful engagement opportunities for the coming year.

The wisdom of Shavuot teaches us that receiving Torah is both a historical event and an ongoing process. There is a beautiful story of Honi the Circle Maker that speaks to this idea of generational wisdom and responsibility:

An elder was planting a carob tree when a young person passed by and asked, “How many years until this tree bears fruit?” The elder replied, “Seventy years.” The youth exclaimed, “Do you really expect to live long enough to eat its fruit?” The elder smiled and said, “I found carob trees in the world, because my ancestors planted them for me. Now, I plant for my grandchildren.”

This parable reminds us that our work always exists in relationship with both past and future. We build upon the foundation laid by those who came before us while creating new opportunities for those who will follow. Each generation receives wisdom from its elders while simultaneously adapting traditions to meet the needs of changing times.

I am pleased to share that this summer will be dedicated to strategic planning, listening deeply to diverse voices across our community as we chart our course forward. Our professional team will also be growing as we welcome new colleagues to lead our Marketing & Communications and our Jewish Community Relations Council departments. These partners will help strengthen our connections both within our Jewish family and with the broader community.

Summer offers us this gift of spaciousness, time to reflect on where we’ve been and envision where we’re going. I invite you to use these months, as we do, as a season of intentional growth and preparation for the vibrant year ahead.