The Federation’s Mission Statement reads in part “to serve the Jewish people locally, in Israel and throughout the world . . . .” So, how inclusive is our Mission Statement. That is to say – what are “the Jewish People? Are we a group that simply regards one another as a people, a religion, a nationality, a culture, people that have some feeling of shared group catastrophe from recent history or some tribe that simply shares a pride in belonging to a people with a long and diverse history throughout the world and through the ages? Are we a category of people defined by the outside, non Jewish world or are we a collection of diverse people which self-identify as belonging to Jewish people based on some personal and individual belief that we belong to the Jewish assembly regardless of any biblical or rabbinic injunction? Is a professed Jew that identifies primarily through Ashkenazi or Sephardic culinary delights, a Jew?

There are some that have a warm feeling of the heart from their vague and professed emotional attachment to the Jewish People. But, absent affiliation and support of a Jewish institution, a studied notion of our history, culture, tradition and religious teachings; is such connection to the Jewish people anything more than some base claim of belonging to a tribe by self-declaration without substance or justification? Such vague attachment to the Jewish people does not motivate anyone to raise Jewish children, to affiliate with Jewish institutions, or participate in Jewish continuity. On the other hand, those that are so motivated ARE part of the - Jewish People.

Here in the Springfield area our Federation members ARE a continuum of the JEWISH PEOPLE, Klal Yisrael. Your contributions, your participation on boards, committees, events and time donated, all contribute to the ongoing saga of Jewish continuity. We are blessed with two wonderful rabbis and houses of worship. Our Federation initiated Synaplex. Simply put Synaplex is an innovative way to enrich Jewish life and strengthen community through prayer, study, social and cultural programs all taking place in the synagogue—throughout Shabbat. Moreover, Synaplex is a way to find and bring into the fold those whose participation may be the impetus for his or her entrance into the world of Judaism we seek to preserve. The Federation as an organization and its individual members constitute Jews helping Jews while adhering to our mission to serve the Jewish people locally, in Israel and throughout the world – clearly, exemplar of Tzedakkah in action.

Bill Seltzer
Springfield Jewish Federation President
2008-2009