Renee Kutner’s Rosh Hashanah Message for 2025

A Message to the People of Israel:

Since childhood, Israel has been woven into the fabric of my identity. My mother is Israeli, and though I was raised in Atlanta, the rhythms, the history, and the spirit of Israel have always lived within me and shaped not only who I am, but how I understand the central place of Israel in the life of the Jewish people.

I know that these past two years have been unbearably heavy. I know many of you feel abandoned and misrepresented in the media, condemned by voices that twist truth, and unfairly singled out as if the one Jewish state were the source of the world’s ills. But hear this clearly: you are not alone, and you never will be.

From Atlanta to every corner of the Jewish world, millions stand with you with unshakable resolve. We advocate relentlessly on your behalf. We raise and send vital funds. We partner with organizations on the ground in Israel. We strengthen person-to-person connections that bind our communities together. We bring Israeli education into our homes, our schools, and our synagogues. In every way we can, we affirm our solidarity not as an abstract idea, but as a living commitment.

As we approach Rosh Hashanah, a time of renewal and reflection, our hearts are with you. The hostages still held in Gaza remain in our daily thoughts and prayers, and their absence is a constant reminder of why our work in Jewish Atlanta matters so deeply. We carry them with us into every action, every conversation, and every prayer literally around our necks with Bring Them Home Now necklaces determined to see them safely returned.

The Jewish Federation system has proven, time and again, that we will not falter. Through our actions, our voices, our resources, and our leadership, we guarantee that no matter how dark the days may be, Israel is never alone. Your fight, your resilience, your future- these are ours as well.

So, to the people of Israel, my message is this: Hold fast. See you. We love you. We will not turn away. Your pain is our pain, your strength is our strength, and your destiny is inseparable from ours. Am’ Yisrael Chai today, tomorrow, and forever. May 5786 finally bring some much-needed respite and peace.

Renee Kutner is the president and CEO for the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta. Kutner is active in multiple community organizations, including Congregation Ohr Ha Torah.