A Word of Thanks

Guest Column

By Howard Feinsand

As chair of the board of the Jewish organization committed to caring for Jews in need and building a strong Jewish community in Atlanta, Israel and around the world, I am thankful.

I am thankful for the honor of this position. I am more thankful for the opportunity to work with dedicated volunteers, donors, professionals, affiliates and partners who provide the programs and

services we all support. Programs and services that educate children, give seniors the ability to live full lives in the comfort of their homes, develop future leaders, are inclusive for everyone to participate, and so much more.

In light of this month’s horrific tragedies, however, my gratitude has found its focus on my thankfulness for our community. Our Jewish community. Thankful for the Jewish community that embraces its responsibility to care for one another, from one generation to the next.

We don’t take care only of ourselves in our individual homes and neighborhoods. We take care of one another wherever those suffering from violence may be, Jewish or not. Our hearts are heavy after the recent tragedies that have befallen France and have occurred elsewhere around the world, including yet another act of terror in Israel and the loss of an innocent, young American.

The unspeakable loss of lives on 9/11 still weighs on us after almost 15 years, but our strong Atlanta Jewish community, which takes care of those in need, both within our walls and outside them, enables us to maintain our balance and optimism despite these tragedies.

In this 2015 Thanksgiving season, I am thankful. I am thankful that the community I live in helps take care of me and my family and friends and also helps take care of our world family. Let us all be thankful for the good fortune and community that we have and do our parts to nurture it for a long, lasting future. Get involved today because tomorrow may not be soon enough.

Shalom.

Howard Feinsand is the chair of the board of the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta.