Dear Friends of DJCF,
History may not repeat itself, but it often rhymes. Some days the experience of “living through historic times” is more than I’m capable of absorbing, especially in a perennially online world full of hot takes on complex global affairs, and so I go back to my analog comfort strategy of reading books to unwind (or bingeing videos of Punch the monkey and his orangutan stuffed animal at the Ichikawa City Zoo in Japan). As such, I recently finished a book gifted to me called Living Life Backward: How Ecclesiastes Teaches Us to Live in Light of the End by David Gibson. Gibson says, “Ecclesiastes makes a very simple point: life is complex and messy, sometimes brutally so, but there is a straightforward way to look at the mess. The end will put it all right… We do not know the future, but we plan and hope and dream of where we will be. Ecclesiastes encourages us to take the one thing in the future that is certain – our death – to make sense of our journey.”
Ecclesiastes starts with, “Vanity of vanities, says the preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity. What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun? A generation goes and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever.” Gibson points to the Hebrew word hebel which is frequently translated as meaningless/vanity, but in fact, hebel is also accurately translated as fleeting/breath. In Psalm 144 we read, “Man is like a breath [hebel]; his days are like a passing shadow.”
Joy is strength. In early March we celebrate the Purim holiday, observed during the Jewish calendar month of Adar. When Adar enters, joy increases. It is a time of great mirth, miracles, and strength of the Jewish people. One Kabbalistic view is that Amalek (the most ancient enemy of the Jews) of the modern era represents doubt. It serves as a desperate sensation that everything is a coincidence, that we are rudderless, without direction, and alone. Purim is ultimately about erasing that doubt, and joy (simcha) is how we do that. Physiologically, when you are joyful, your nervous system relaxes, a cascade of “feel good” neurotransmitters are released, such as dopamine, serotonin, endorphins, and your body is prepared to function more efficiently. Perhaps this is one reason why we exaggerate everything in Purim celebrations, we celebrate loudly with noisemakers and shouting, we give unconditionally and generously, and even when logic tells us otherwise, simcha carries us into faith. Last month, I wrote about how Miriam and the women of the Exodus thought to bring tambourines into the desert after escaping Egypt. This month, we see proof that joyful expression isn’t a denial of reality – its trust that goodness will come. In the book of Ecclesiastes, joy is presented as a defiant, divinely-given response to a crooked and unpredictable world.
Faith beyond logic. In Hebrew, the word that describes that concept is emunah. Despite God’s name not being mentioned once in the book of Esther, the miracle of Purim, when the Jews defeated Haman thanks to the courageous acts of an assimilated Jewish queen, Esther, was concealed behind chaos. The story of Esther teaches that when we trust (emunah) and act in faith, even when the situation seems dire, we will find deeper connection to God. Some refer to emunah as the “sixth sense” of the Jewish people, the ability to see ourselves as part of a bigger plan, and divine providence.
The famous “time for everything” passage from Ecclesiastes places joy (laughing and dancing) right next to sorrow (weeping and mourning) as essential parts of the human experience. When our hearts are occupied with joy, we’re able to fully embrace the present and not fear the brevity and inevitability of our days.
We are once again, living in biblical times. 2,500 years after the Book of Esther took place, Israel is once again battling against a despotic regime driven by the spirit of Amalek. Israel and the US need courage, and wisdom and determination, just like our biblical queen, to see this through to a decisive victory. We must have Emunah, trust that the people of Israel (and our entire world) will be delivered from this evil. The days and week to come remain fraught – we have already seen devastating news close to home in Austin. There are more dangerous and distressing events as over 200 rockets were fired by Iran toward Israel and dozens more from Hezbollah in Lebanon.
If you’re looking for a place to start on where to support current needs philanthropically, please consider our crisis response page, which is continuously updated to reflect the evolving situation. We stand shoulder to shoulder with our loved ones in Israel and pray for a swift end to this conflict, for the safety and success of our armed forces, and for the freedom and peace of all who reside in Iran, Israel and around the world.
Who We Are: Inside the DJCF Mission
I’m excited to share something special with you.
Over the years, many of you have asked thoughtful questions about how the Dallas Jewish Community Foundation (DJCF) works to support our community – stewarding charitable assets, supporting donors’ philanthropic goals, and strengthening our partner nonprofit agencies to help ensure a vibrant Jewish future. To bring greater clarity to our mission, we’ve created a short informational video designed to demystify our role and impact within the communities we serve.
Please click the video below to gain a clear, accessible look at what our team and volunteer leaders do to:
- manage and grow philanthropic funds responsibly
- partner with professional advisors to help donors achieve their philanthropic goals
- support vital programs and communal institutions
- plan for long-term, evolving community needs
I hope you’ll take a few minutes to watch and share it with others who may be interested in learning more about the Foundation. Thank you for your continued trust, partnership, and commitment to our community. Your support makes our work possible.
Israel Summer Experience Scholarship – Coming Soon!
The Dallas Jewish Community Foundation (DJCF) and the Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas (JFGD) are are honored to collaborate to administer Israel Summer Experience scholarships for teens participating in Israel trips this summer. Please check our website using the button below – registration will be opening soon!
Employee Spotlight: Suzanne Massey
Social Media
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