Dear Richmond community,
The leaves are starting to fall and there is a smell of fall in the air. This can only mean one thing... Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year) is around the corner.
You see, this year has really highlighted, at least in my eyes, the need for acceptance and openness now more than ever. We have witnessed the dangers that hatred and negative rhetoric has caused, but what is not shown is the power that love and kindness can achieve.
Unfortunately, there is a disproportionate amount of attention given to negative items rather than positive and we need to change this. We must, as a community, focus our attention on the future years and the community we wish for our children.
You might be wondering how we can do this? Well, the answer is simple: everyone in the community makes a personal commitment to themselves to encourage good.
Talk to your children about the right things to do (and not to do), but most of all, lead by example. We can learn a lot from each other, so being open to dialogue, even if it is in opposition to your view and as long as it does not promote hatred, is a key to any community...not just ours.
As we finish the Jewish year of 5777 and enter the year of 5778, we at The Bayit synagogue will continue to strive for greatness, respect, dialogue and good deeds.
On behalf of my family, myself and The Bayit... we want to wish you all a happy, healthy New Year and may you all be inscribed in the book of life.
Michael Sachs, president
The Bayit synagogue
Richmond
