The Publisher's Perspective - 9/12/19

The following is my piece in the inaugural edition of the Philadelphia Jewish Link, which came out on September 12, 2019:

The Publisher’s Perspective

It sometimes feels like our world is descending into chaos. We are witnessing a degree of political strife that dominates the news cycle on a daily basis, and all too often we find ourselves discussing yet another mass shooting and mourning lives that were tragically cut short. The frightening rise of anti-Semitism is foremost on our minds and anti-Israel animus is becoming all too prevalent.

With the degree of dissension in the world today reaching dangerous proportions, we must do our due diligence and strive to overcome the discord that is tearing the fabric of our society apart. In the face of tremendous and sometimes terrifying challenges, it is imperative that we maintain our focus and not lose sight of what is most important.

As Jews, one of the most fundamental elements of our faith is the importance of community. The notion of kol Yisrael arevim zeh bazeh, that all Jews are responsible for one another, ensures that community perpetually remains a constant and central force in our lives.

Building communities is one of the hallmarks of Judaism, and it is a critical exercise that binds us together and provides us with the spiritual nourishment needed to survive. Jewish day schools, shuls, institutions dedicated to limud Torah, and community-wide organizations are key elements of any religious Jewish community. We are extremely fortunate that the Greater Philadelphia area and South Jersey are blessed with an abundance of these types of entities.

We are a vibrant and robust community, one which is replete with everything we need to maintain our Jewish lifestyle and ideals. There is a plethora of engaging educational opportunities, pertinent programs, and exciting activities, all of which are offered on a regular basis. As a Jewish community, we have it all.

That is precisely why I am so thrilled to be launching the Philadelphia Jewish Link. We will serve as a medium through which schools, shuls, and community-based institutions can broadcast all their wonderful programs and happenings to a larger audience in one unified publication. We will provide full-color news coverage, event photos, relevant ads, exciting features, columns, opinion pieces, and divrei Torah written by contributors with strong connections to our Jewish community.

The Philadelphia Jewish Link is committed to highlighting the best of our dynamic Jewish community by actively promoting a sense of achdut, unity. By bridging the gap between like-minded neighborhoods that may be separated solely by geographic distance, we will be bringing people together in a new and exciting way.

My hope is that the paper will be able to accurately convey what makes the Greater Philadelphia area and South Jersey unique and play a pivotal role in further building and strengthening our community in the future. Let us work together to make the bond that links us stronger than ever.