13 Tevet 5786

Dear Friend,

As we stepped over the calendar threshold into this new year, we found ourselves standing at a unique intersection of time. We are surrounded by new faces and fresh opportunities, yet we remain a community of deep-rooted history—one that we have cultivated, built upon, and enriched for a century.

In Jewish tradition, we are never simply moving forward; we are "turning" the scroll. We look back to gain the wisdom necessary to move ahead.

One hundred years ago, our predecessors established the Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts with little more than a vision and a shared sense of responsibility. From the busy storefronts of Holyoke and Springfield to the academic enclaves of Northampton and Amherst, they wove Jewish life into the very fabric of the Pioneer Valley.

We are the inheritors of their resilience. In the Torah, we see this pattern in the life of Isaac, who went back to the wells his father Abraham had dug:

"And Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father..." (Genesis 26:18)

Like Isaac, we do not start from scratch. We draw from the "wells" of our synagogues, our community center, and our agencies. Their history is the soil in which we grow, providing the spiritual and communal nutrients for our future.

While we honor the past, this year beckons us toward the "new." We see it in the families seeking a meaningful pace of life, the new members of the Federation’s Board of Trustees, the students bringing fresh intellectual fire, and those rediscovering their heritage.

And in our liturgy and in Lamentations 5:21, we pray:

“Chadesh yamenu k’kedem—Renew our days as of old."

This is the beautiful paradox of Jewish life: we seek a "newness" that is deeply connected to our ancient roots. Each newcomer adds a unique thread to our century-old tapestry, ensuring that the fabric of our community remains vibrant and strong.

The year 1926 had its own trials, and the world of 2026 presents us with a shifting landscape of raising the essential funds that support Jewish education, fighting the anti-Israel rhetoric, and enhancing/developing the security we all need. Yet, we meet these challenges with the same courage our ancestors displayed. In the Torah, as Joshua prepared to lead the community into a new and unknown land, he was told:

"Chazak v'amatz—Be strong and courageous." (Joshua 1:9)

These challenges are the catalysts for our greatest opportunities. Whether we are reimagining our ritual spaces, deepening our interfaith and corporate partnerships, building more relationships with our family in Israel, or strengthening our commitment to one another, we do so with the knowledge that we are not just keepers of a 100-year history, but architects of the next 100 years.

As we enter 2026, let us be mindful that we are building a "Mishkan"—a dwelling place for community—that requires the heart and hands of every individual.

May this year be one of growth, connection, and renewed purpose. May we honor the century behind us by building a future that would make our ancestors proud.

Shabbat Shalom,

Adam Solender