The Strength of Our Collective Roots

Nammie Ichilov, Federation President & CEO

As October arrives in Florida, many of us find ourselves longing for the crisp autumn air and vibrant foliage that mark this season elsewhere. We scroll through social media, watching friends up north post photos of golden maples and pumpkin patches, while we step outside to another day of sunshine and palm trees. October in Florida also means we're deep into hurricane season, facing the possibility of storms that can disrupt our routines and test our resilience. It would be easy to focus on what we're missing, the cozy sweaters, the satisfying crunch of leaves underfoot, the dramatic seasonal transformation, or what we're worried about.

But perhaps this is precisely the moment to shift our perspective and recognize the abundance that surrounds us right here, right now, including the strength we've always shown in weathering any storm together.

Aristotle taught us that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts and nowhere is this wisdom more evident than in our Jewish community here in Greater Naples. When we come together, something remarkable happens. Our collective strength creates possibilities that none of us could achieve alone.

This very newspaper you're holding exemplifies that principle. Unlike a traditional subscription-based publication, our Fed Star exists because of our shared belief in community engagement and collective investment. Each month, this publication reaches your hands not because of market forces or advertising revenue, but because we, together, have chosen to prioritize communication, connection, and the sharing of our community’s stories.

Like those sukkah walls, our community provides shelter and protection, welcoming all.

Every article submitted by a community member, every volunteer hour, every business that places an ad to support our mission, and every reader who passes along a copy to a neighbor represents a thread in our communal fabric. Individually, these contributions might seem small. Collectively, they weave together into something essential, a voice for our community, a record of our shared experiences, and a bridge connecting us across generations and neighborhoods.

Speaking of our business supporters, when you see an advertisement in these pages and choose to follow up with that business, please let them know you saw their ad here and thank them for supporting our community newspaper. We're always seeking additional local businesses who want to invest in our shared mission of keeping our community connected.

This collaborative spirit extends far beyond our newspaper. It's reflected in our synagogues, where different families contribute their unique talents to create meaningful services and programs. It's visible in our Jewish educational programs where parents, teachers, and community leaders partner to nurture our children's Jewish identity. It's present in our social action initiatives where individual volunteers combine their efforts to address community needs.

This season particularly resonates with these values as we move from the reflection of Rosh Hashanah through the forgiveness of Yom Kippur into the joy of Sukkot, where we literally build temporary shelters that remind us of our vulnerability and our dependence on one another. Like those sukkah walls, our community provides shelter and protection, welcoming all.

In a season when others celebrate the beauty of change and transition, we here in Southwest Florida have the opportunity to celebrate the beauty of consistency — the steady sunshine of our commitment to one another, the evergreen nature of our partnerships, and the year-round harvest of what we accomplish together.

Our strength lies not in what any one of us brings to the table, but in our willingness to pull up chairs for everyone. This October, as we continue building our community one relationship at a time, let us remember that our metaphorical sukkah is always open, always welcoming those who seek connection, meaning, and belonging. The whole is indeed greater than the sum of its parts, and we are living proof of that ancient wisdom.