Dear Friends,
During times of crisis or stress, the natural response is to focus on our individual needs. This is necessary, of course, and an important element of human nature to ensure our survival. As Jews, however, our mandate is to ensure that our individual actions strengthen and support our collective responsibility.
The Talmud in Rosh Hashanah (29a) discusses the question whether someone who has already made a birkat mitzvah—such as Kiddush or Havdalah—has the ability to again do so on behalf of someone else. The Gemara concludes that, despite the fact that one has already fulfilled his own obligation for a specific mitzvah, that individual can still make the blessing for someone else.
Rashi explains:
אע"פ שיצא מוציא - שהרי כל ישראל ערבין זה בזה
“Even though one has already fulfilled his obligation, he can nonetheless fulfill the obligation of another person because every Jew is a guarantor for every other Jew.”
Areivut means my personal obligation is at the same time intertwined with our communal obligation: that until every community member’s obligation is complete, until our community is sustained for Jewish continuity and service, my personal obligation is not complete either.
Jewish education is an essential and vital element of our community. It connects our past to our present and ensures our future. Jewish Day Schools imbue our children with a strong connection to the Torah, a relationship with Hashem, a proud identification with Jewish values, a well-rounded education that integrates Torah U’Madda, a love and appreciation for the Land of Israel, and so much more.
It is for this reason that BMA has stopped at nothing to prepare for a safe reopening of school. Our team has worked day and night with passion and commitment recognizing that nothing can deter us from this awesome responsibility to our children and community. But this commitment comes at a great cost to our school, additional investment in technology, educational resources, additional maintenance staff, cleaning equipment and more. These costs are only compounded by significant increases in tuition assistance provided this year and a lower enrollment due to COVID. It is our commitment to provide quality Jewish education no matter the cost which is why our team has worked tirelessly to get, and keep, school open but we are counting on your support to be able to continue to do so.
As members of the Jewish community, we are not customers of Jewish Day School. We are stakeholders. Whether you are a donor society member, a grandparent with grown-up children, or a family receiving tuition assistance, you have a stake in ensuring our community’s Jewish future - in our BMA.
It is for this reason that we are launching the Areivut Campaign to support our school’s present and ensure its future. Our goal is to raise $200,000 by Yom Kippur from all members of our community.
With your partnership and support - we will have a successful campaign for our BMA, and Jewish Education in our community, to continue to thrive through these challenging times.
May Hashem bless all of us with a year of health and happiness and with the ability to help others have a healthy and happy year as well.
Eitan and Blumi Goldberg
Annie, Sam and Jonah
And in honor of our grandchildren Ayelet, Leba and Gavi!
Dear Friends,
During times of crisis or stress, the natural response is to focus on our individual needs. This is necessary, of course, and an important element of human nature to ensure our survival. As Jews, however, our mandate is to ensure that our individual actions strengthen and support our collective responsibility.
The Talmud in Rosh Hashanah (29a) discusses the question whether someone who has already made a birkat mitzvah—such as Kiddush or Havdalah—has the ability to again do so on behalf of someone else. The Gemara concludes that, despite the fact that one has already fulfilled his own obligation for a specific mitzvah, that individual can still make the blessing for someone else.
Rashi explains:
אע"פ שיצא מוציא - שהרי כל ישראל ערבין זה בזה
“Even though one has already fulfilled his obligation, he can nonetheless fulfill the obligation of another person because every Jew is a guarantor for every other Jew.”
Areivut means my personal obligation is at the same time intertwined with our communal obligation: that until every community member’s obligation is complete, until our community is sustained for Jewish continuity and service, my personal obligation is not complete either.
Jewish education is an essential and vital element of our community. It connects our past to our present and ensures our future. Jewish Day Schools imbue our children with a strong connection to the Torah, a relationship with Hashem, a proud identification with Jewish values, a well-rounded education that integrates Torah U’Madda, a love and appreciation for the Land of Israel, and so much more.
It is for this reason that BMA has stopped at nothing to prepare for a safe reopening of school. Our team has worked day and night with passion and commitment recognizing that nothing can deter us from this awesome responsibility to our children and community. But this commitment comes at a great cost to our school, additional investment in technology, educational resources, additional maintenance staff, cleaning equipment and more. These costs are only compounded by significant increases in tuition assistance provided this year and a lower enrollment due to COVID. It is our commitment to provide quality Jewish education no matter the cost which is why our team has worked tirelessly to get, and keep, school open but we are counting on your support to be able to continue to do so.
As members of the Jewish community, we are not customers of Jewish Day School. We are stakeholders. Whether you are a donor society member, a grandparent with grown-up children, or a family receiving tuition assistance, you have a stake in ensuring our community’s Jewish future - in our BMA.
It is for this reason that we are launching the Areivut Campaign to support our school’s present and ensure its future. Our goal is to raise $200,000 by Yom Kippur from all members of our community.
With your partnership and support - we will have a successful campaign for our BMA, and Jewish Education in our community, to continue to thrive through these challenging times.
May Hashem bless all of us with a year of health and happiness and with the ability to help others have a healthy and happy year as well.
Eitan and Blumi Goldberg
Annie, Sam and Jonah
And in honor of our grandchildren Ayelet, Leba and Gavi!