On October 13, we stood with Jews around the world as 20 surviving hostages finally returned home to Israel. After more than a year of anguish and waiting, their families could embrace them once again. It was a moment of profound relief and joy – yet our hearts remain heavy for all of the hostages who did not survive captivity. Their courage and sacrifice will never be forgotten. May their families be comforted among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem, and may this homecoming mark the beginning of healing for all of Israel.
As we enter the month of Mar Cheshvan, we find ourselves in an uncommon moment of stillness. After the intensity of Tishrei – with its sacred days of Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, and Simchat Torah – Mar Cheshvan arrives as the only month in our calendar without holidays or festivals. In its quiet, we discover something unexpected: the space to transform inspiration into action, to carry forward the spiritual renewal of the High Holidays into the everyday rhythm of our lives.
This stillness mirrors the relief many feel after periods of intense worry and upheaval. Just as the hostage families can now begin their long journey of healing in relative quiet, Mar Cheshvan invites all of us to move from the drama of crisis into the steady, sustaining work of rebuilding and renewal.
In Israel, this is the month when the first rains arrive after the long, dry summer. Those initial drops – so desperately needed – bring life back to the parched earth. Our tradition teaches that rain is never taken for granted; we pray for it, celebrate its arrival, and understand that every drop sustains the land and its people. Similarly, every act of kindness, every moment of support, every gesture of care sustains our community and helps it flourish.
Mar Cheshvan also holds the memory of Noah’s flood – a time of overwhelming destruction followed by covenant and hope. When the waters receded and Noah emerged, God placed a rainbow in the sky as a sacred promise: never again would the world be destroyed, and humanity would become partners in its renewal. That rainbow reminds us that even after devastation, transformation is possible. From hardship comes compassion. From loss comes connection. From endings come new beginnings.
At JFCS, we witness this truth daily. Your partnership allows us to meet people in their moments of need and walk with them toward steadier ground. During our recent High Holiday food drives, synagogues, day schools, and individual donors filled our shelves with an extraordinary abundance of kosher food – drops of kindness that sustain families throughout our community. Like the first rains of Cheshvan, these gifts bring nourishment exactly when it’s needed most.
Through our Supported Employment Program, we create partnerships with local businesses that transform lives. Adults with disabilities discover meaningful work, build confidence, and contribute their unique talents to our community. On November 21, we’ll celebrate these achievements at our 19th Annual Dubrow Vocational Celebration – a joyful reminder that when we invest in one another, everyone rises.
Our upcoming staff retreat on October 29 offers time to honor the dedicated team members who bring compassion to life each day. In this quiet month, we’ll pause to recharge, learn, and celebrate the people whose commitment makes everything we do possible. Just as the land needs rain to flourish, our staff needs moments of renewal to continue their vital work.
On November 11, our Board of Directors will gather alongside community partners who have made Life & Legacy commitments or established endowment funds through the Jewish Community Foundation. Together, we will share a meaningful evening featuring a special screening of Looking Up, presented as part of the Katz JCC’s Festival of Arts, Books, and Culture. This powerful documentary follows Eitan Armon, who lost most of his vision to Retinitis Pigmentosa during his IDF service — yet went on to summit Yosemite’s El Capitan with extraordinary determination. Eitan’s story embodies the message of this moment: that even in the face of profound loss, the human spirit can rise, rebuild, and inspire us all to reach higher.
The rainbow that appeared after Noah’s flood required both sunlight and rain – darkness and light working together to create something beautiful. In the same way, the work of JFCS depends on our entire community coming together, especially during challenging times. In a month that begins with memories of hardship and ends with the promise of hope, we’re deeply grateful for your partnership in bringing light to those who need it most.
As Mar Cheshvan’s quiet days unfold, may we all find moments to turn our ideals into impact, our prayers into action, and our concern into connection.
With heartfelt appreciation and hope,
Melanie & Jill, JFCS Associate Executive Directors
