Dear Friends,

This week, in preparation for Yom Kippur and the demanding work of teshuvah (repentance), I spent some time looking back at 5783, and all of the communications we have shared, and the work we have accomplished. Over the past year, I have made countless decisions as CEO of Federation. As an organization, we have made choices about the issues and programs we believe demand our time, talent and treasure. And we have also made difficult decisions about what important issues and programs we cannot prioritize today. We have chosen when to speak out and when to hold back, when to partner and when to go it alone, when to lead and when to follow. In these Shabbat messages, and at gatherings throughout the year, and in many phone calls and lunches and coffees and breakfasts, I have shared my thinking, and the thinking of our Federation family of talented and passionate staff and lay leaders, about who we are as an organization, what we stand for and what we support. As a team we have discussed and often vigorously debated decisions about our strategy, our position on many issues, and our actions, trying to make room for all perspectives in the process.

And we know, because you have shared candidly and thoughtfully, that for some of you – sometimes-- we miss the mark. If the Jewish people are anything, we are opinionated, and San Diego’s Jewish community has no shortage of viewpoints and perspectives. It is a privilege and no small challenge to be a Jewish organization that reflects and serves the needs of our entire, diverse, multi-faceted, sometimes polarized community. We are constantly examining the impact of our choices, our messages and the programs we support, and we know as an organization we can always improve.  We make a regular practice of always asking ourselves the difficult questions. Is what we are doing having a positive impact? Is it helping people? Achieving our mission? Are we being caring and compassionate? Ethical? Respectful of our staff and lay leaders? An effective use of donor’s generous funding?  Are we doing all we can to make all Jews and their families feel included and welcome?  Finding the right, most effective ways to help all Jews in need? Are we meeting this incredibly complex moment in Israel in a way that serves our community? Doing enough or taking the right steps to safeguard our institutions? To address antisemitism? Who are we leaving out? Who are we leaving behind?

It is never my intention to cause anyone to feel discounted, or unheard, and if you have felt this way as a result of any of Federation’s actions, I ask for your forgiveness. I welcome feedback and dialogue. Every single choice we make as an organization, and that I make as CEO, is in service of our mission to care for Jews in need, strengthen Jewish identity and community and foster strong relationships with Israel and the global Jewish community. As Yom Kippur approaches, I, along with Jews around the world, recommit to the work of teshuvah (reflection and repentance), tefilah, (prayer), and tzedakah, (charity and justice). So please, keep sharing your thoughts with us. Let us know when you feel we have made a positive impact and when we have missed the mark; when there is more we can do; or when there is another perspective you think we should consider.  This work cannot be done alone; we are all partners in it together, and as we begin this new year, we thank you for caring so much. 
 
Wishing you and your loved ones a Shabbat Shalom and a meaningful fast,

Shabbat Shalom and G’mar Chatimah Tovah

Heidi Gantwerk
President & Chief Executive Officer