With Rosh Hashanah – the Jewish New Year – arriving this Wednesday evening, all of us at JCRC-NY extend our warmest wishes for a sweet and meaningful New Year to you and your loved ones. Whether you're gathering around the holiday table or standing in solidarity with our Jewish community, this season of reflection and renewal resonates with us all.

Rosh Hashanah is a powerful reminder of the cyclical nature of life and the ever-present opportunity for growth and change. It's a time when we look back on the past year, take stock of our actions, and set intentions for self-improvement in the year ahead. In the spirit of new beginnings, I'm excited to share that JCRC-NY has adopted a theme to guide our work in the coming year: Hachnasat Orchim, the mitzvah (commandment) to welcome guests.

We kicked off the Rosh Hashanah season early with our "New York, New Year, New Connections" celebration this past week. It was an honor to host distinguished guests including Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, Assembly Member Alex Bores, and City Council Members Susan Zhuang, Shaun Abreu, and Eric Dinowitz. We were also joined by faith leaders, community partners, board members, and friends to learn about Rosh Hashanah and participate in its meaningful rituals.

Together, we dipped apples in honey in the hopes of a sweet New Year.  JCRC-NY President Ben Golub blasted a shofar made from the horn of a Kudu heralding the upcoming year. Participants also discussed their hopes for the future, and cast pieces of bread into the Hudson River symbolically representing casting away our transgressions. This gathering truly embodied the spirit of Hachnasat Orchim that we aim to foster.  

Hachnasat Orchim is about intentionally creating a space where everyone feels valued and included. It's about rushing to greet the stranger, just as our forefather Abraham did in the Book of Genesis (18: 1-7), offering not just shelter and sustenance, but genuine warmth and connection. As we enter 5785 (2024-2025), this ancient practice feels more relevant than ever.

The connection between Rosh Hashanah and Hachnasat Orchim is profound. As we reflect and seek to improve ourselves in the coming year, what better resolution could we make than to open our hearts and our communities to our neighbors? Our Jewish community, guided by Abraham’s example, must extend a hand of welcome not just to those we know, but to those who may feel the vulnerability of being strangers in our midst.

In the coming year, JCRC-NY will be focusing our efforts on embodying this vital principle of Hachnasat Orchim. We'll be creating more opportunities for interfaith and intercommunity dialogue, supporting newcomers and emerging leaders in our great city, and working to make our spaces – both physical and metaphorical – more welcoming to all.

But this work isn't just for organizations – it's for each of us. As this High Holiday season approaches, we invite you to consider: How can you practice Hachnasat Orchim in your own life? How can you make someone feel more welcome in your home, your workplace, or your community?

As we celebrate this New Year, our hearts remain with those who cannot be with their loved ones. We continue to pray fervently for the swift and safe return of all the hostages held in Gaza. Our thoughts are with their families, and we hold onto hope for their reunion. In this spirit, JCRC-NY co-sponsored a rally in front of the United Nations on September 20th calling for pressure of the international community to help bring the remaining hostages home.  As we advance toward the one-year anniversary of October 7th, we pray for peace in Israel and the region, aspiring for a time when all can live in security and harmony. May this new year bring healing, reconciliation, and the realization of these deepest hopes.

I hope this Rosh Hashanah brings you joy, peace, and a renewed sense of purpose. May we all be inscribed and sealed in the Book of Life for a good year.

L'Shanah Tovah U'Metukah – Wishing you a good and sweet new year!

Mark Treyger
CEO, JCRC-NY