As we prepare for Rosh Hashanah and welcome the Hebrew year 5787, the Jewish Press of Tampa Bay is featuring a special collection of reflections from our synagogue leaders. We asked them to respond to the question, “As we welcome 5787, what is your hope for the Jewish community in the coming year?” Below are the responses for this edition:
YAEL HATFIELD
Congregation Mekor Shalom, Tampa
As we move into a new year, my hope is that we continue to come together and support one another through these challenging times. May we continue to find strength through our faith and community.
Am Yisrael Chai!
RICKI BAUMAN
Beth Israel, Sun City Center
YAEL HATFIELD Congregation Mekor Shalom, Tampa
We live in a different world today – a world where antisemitism is now called by its real name, Jew hatred. In my 73 years, I have never felt it as I do now. And how [can] we feel safe in this unsafe world? My wish and hope for 5787 is simple: for my congregation and for Jews everywhere, it is for a major reduction in Jew hatred, so that we can live our lives and worship our God in peace.
L’Shana Tovah!
STEVE HIRSCHKOWITZ
Congregation Rodeph Shalom, Tampa
As we welcome 5787, my hope for the Jewish community is that we deepen our connections to one another — locally here in Tampa and across the world — with renewed pride in our heritage, strength, compassion and purpose. May this be a year of greater unity, security and joy; a year in which we deepen our unwavering commitment to Israel, stand firmly against the recent increase in antisemitism and open our doors wider so that every member of our community feels truly at home. Together, may we build a future filled with light, learning and lasting peace.
RICKI BAUMAN Beth Israel, Sun City Center
JAY MILLER
Temple Beth-El, St. Petersburg
As we enter this High Holiday season, I am reminded of how fortunate we are to be part of such a warm, welcoming, and vibrant Jewish community here in Tampa Bay. The High Holidays invite us to pause, reflect and renew, not only as individuals and families, but as a Jewish community.
May this High Holiday season bring all of us opportunities for reflection, renewal, connection and hope. May we continue to build a Jewish community where everyone feels welcomed, valued and inspired.
May we enter this new year together with open hearts, renewed purpose and a commitment to making our community and our world a little brighter.
STEVE HIRSCHKOWITZ Congregation Rodeph Shalom, Tampa
L’Shanah Tovah.
MARILYN ROSENBERG
Temple Beth David Jewish Center, Spring Hill
My wish for the Jewish community has been and always will be peace in the Middle East and a secure Israel; a cessation of antisemitism; and health, happiness and unity among our people.
EILEEN M. HOCHSTADT
Jewish Community Center of West Pasco, home of
Congregation Beth Tefillah
As the year 5787 arrives in our Jewish lives, it is my hope in the coming year that we try to put aside our differences about the politics of the Middle East and try to remember that we are all children of God; that we all have opinions, but perhaps those opinions should be respectfully held dear to our own hearts and not be used to alienate others.
JAY MILLER Temple Beth-El, St. Petersburg
I wish everyone chesed (loving kindness driven by commitment, not obligation), tzedakah (righteous charity, justice for all), rachamim (mercy, deep compassion, a heartfelt empathy for others) and chen (grace, favor, showing goodwill or warmth toward others).
MARILYN ROSENBERG Temple Beth David Jewish Center, Spring Hill
EILEEN M. HOCHSTADT Jewish Community Center of West Pasco, home of Congregation Beth Tefillah