At this time of the year, it is natural to view the Foundation’s activity by contextualizing it within observance of Passover. For Jewish foundations, the themes of Passover—choice, renewal, inclusion, ritual—are worthy of reflection.

Passover’s dramatic story of the Jewish exodus from that “narrow place” (Mitzrayim, i.e, Egypt) is a riveting narrative of a people liberating themselves from slavery. Today, the arc of freedom for American Jewry has reached its zenith. Jews enjoy unprecedented access to corporate offices, private spaces, and the public square. For the Jim Joseph Foundation (JJF), this reality necessitates understanding that Jews’ participation in Jewish education is voluntary, fluid, and self-directed. Concomitantly, the Foundation recognizes that Jewish educational experiences must be deeply engaging in order for young Jews in particular to choose to pursue Jewish learning.

From JJF’s perspective, another lesson embedded in Passover is that we must value traditional education while also respecting contemporary efforts to invigorate Jewish learning with novel approaches. By way of compelling example, the ritual seder itself has been continuously reinterpreted over the centuries, evident today in a burgeoning Haggadot literature. At seder tables throughout America, observance of Pesach is creatively renewed in myriad ways as families construct their own meaningful connections to Judaism.

Passover’s injunction on inclusivity is emphatic and unequivocal: “Let all who are hungry come and eat; let all who are in need come and share our Passover meal.” This hallowed Jewish value is one of obligatory responsibility to act with openness and loving kindness toward others. For JJF, the spirit in which the Foundation conducts its affairs and the way in which JJF professionals give of themselves, sharing expertise with colleagues and prospective grantee partners, complements JJF’s awarding of grants. We aspire as a Foundation to be inviting, hospitable, open, and pluralistic and to complement granting of funds with contributions of professional excellence.

Passover ritual is perhaps a more elaborately prescribed observance than any other Jewish holiday. But in contemporary American Jewish homes, what is significant here is not ritual per se but ways in which families choose to demonstrate their faith, routines they adopt to express their beliefs, and the consistency of their practice. Similarly for JJF—and especially in its first years of grant making—I suspect one of the key ingredients of the Foundation’s success will be the regularity and discipline with which it executes JJF strategy.

The Foundation is more than a year into its existence. We are talking with numerous prospective grantee partners. JJF’s Mission and Vision guide us; sacrosanct Jewish values anchor the Foundation.

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