Jeffrey A. Gopen’s Rosh Hashanah Message for 2026

Lately, I’ve found myself reflecting on gratitude. As we gather with loved ones for another High Holidays, I can’t help but feel grateful for these traditions that bring our people together.
I’m grateful to be a part of a community that cares.
Being Jewish is something I’ve always been proud of, and this time of year reminds me why. We are a community bound by shared morals and values. We believe we were brought on this Earth not only to survive but also to leave each person and each place better than we found them. When we say tikkun olam (repairing the world), we mean doing so through actions of every size. Those are the moments that reveal our true character. They are, in many ways, the most sincere expression of our faith.
Our strength, as Jews, has never come from our numbers. It derives from our shared history and our resolve. No matter what the year has thrown at us, we find ourselves back together during the High Holidays to celebrate and reflect. Not because we must, but because we want to. The reason is bigger than ourselves.
I’ve been questioning what to do with this gratitude. How do you pass it forward, or, in the spirit of tikkun olam, how do you use it to repair the world? Here’s what I’ve settled on: the greatest gift you can give this holiday season is the gift of education.
We are reaching a turning point as Jewish people. The last of the Holocaust survivors are passing away, and a new generation is upon us that will not understand our history the way many of us grew up learning it. It is our job to share our traditions with them. When our children feel rooted in who they are — culturally, spiritually, emotionally — they carry something with them that will ground them through the chaos. A strong foundation in Judaism gives them a compass, a sense of belonging, and the confidence to stand tall.
At Jewish HomeLife, we see this every day in our residents, who paved the way for us, and in the team members and families who continue to honor them. This season, my hope for our community is that we hold our traditions close, share them generously, and find comfort and strength in one another.

Jeffrey A. Gopen is the President & CEO of Jewish HomeLife.