This week was marked by my extending greetings at Cafe Europa, the Jewish Family Service annual luncheon for more than 850 Holocaust survivors.  This week also was marked by Federation Board Chair Karen Zemel and I meeting with the Presidents, Rabbis, and Executive Directors from eight synagogues across Broward County who came together to cooperate and collaborate with the Federation. 

In reading parsha Ki Tisa in the book of Exodus (Shemot) 30:11 – 34:35 in the second book of the Torah, we read about God giving the Ten Commandments to the Jewish people twice.  The first time, Moses smashed them in anger at the sight of the golden calf created after the exodus from Egypt.  Then, Moses returned with the second set of the Ten Commandments, as we read in an excerpt from Exodus (Shemot) 34:29, "...Moses came down from the mountain bearing the two tablets of the Pact...."

If at first you don't succeed, try again is a familiar expression.  In the case of the Ten Commandments, we are fortunate that the Jewish people were prepared to receive the second set.  Today, we work together as synagogues and the Federation have much in common.  We have learned the importance of cooperation and collaboration to care for the spiritual and communal needs of the Jewish people at the same time.

Shabbat Shalom,

Eric B. Stillman
President and CEO