By: Elizabeth Goldberg

 

We count a lot in Judaism: people for a minyan (10), days of the omer (40), number of years land can be farmed before it needs rest (6), and the list goes on. With this year’s Community Campaign theme “I made an impact in the first 100 days” we’ve been counting a lot at Federation recently, too. We counted down days left in our 100 day window, days to events like Super Sunday, number of donors, and of course, dollars.

What does all this counting really mean, though? Ultimately a number can only tell us so much because the implication of that number – the impact that our collective support of the Jewish community and the community campaign has – is immeasurable. 

When I think about what this counting means, I think about Jews in Atlanta, Israel and around the world. I picture the elderly women in the 4 story walk-up in Minsk who hasn’t left her house in a year. We are there to provide her with food and company. I picture Ethiopians in our partnership region in Israel who receive after school programs to ensure they are productive members of society. I picture my nephews who love being Jewish and cannot wait for another summer at Jewish overnight camp. I picture Jews with disabilities being given the opportunity for inclusion, our elderly being able to age in place, children learning about their Judaism, college students engaging Jewishly on campus, and so much more.

Yes, we counted 100 days of impact this year, but as the 100 days have wrapped up and I reflect back, I want to make sure we don’t get lost in the numbers because ultimately they are only that – numbers. The impact that every dollar and every donor makes with a gift to the Community Campaign lasts beyond our lifetimes. Thank you for joining me on this journey to ensure the future of our Jewish community and to provide for those in need in Atlanta, Israel and around the world.  Together we are making an impact and changing lives, even if sometimes it just feels like counting. “To the world you may be one, but to one you are the world.”