Cathy Miller’s Rosh Hashanah Message for 2026

The High Holidays ask us to consider not only the year behind us, but what we are building for those who come after us. This year, that feels especially poignant as our family enters the holidays without my mother-in-law, our beloved matriarch.
Her loss has made me think about legacy in a deeper way. At JELF, I have the privilege of seeing that same idea come to life every day. For generations, members of our Jewish community have helped young people pursue an education, knowing that investing in one person can strengthen a family — and our Jewish community — for generations.
That is what l’dor v’dor means to me: receiving something meaningful from those who came before us and taking responsibility for carrying it forward. Especially today, there may be no greater gift we can give the next generation than the opportunity, values and sense of Jewish belonging to build what comes next.

Cathy Miller is the Chief Operating Officer at Jewish Educational Loan Fund.