Photo credit: Fred Levi & Yael Sait
Mazel tov, Kehillas Tiferes Yisroel is celebrating its 39th year! The theme of this year’s campaign is “Bridging the Gap, Bringing our People Together.”
BJH: Why this theme now?
Rebbetzin Goldberger: First, it’s an excellent way of capturing so much of what goes on at Kehillas Tiferes Yisroel. Second, it touches on a lot of our historical challenges, as well as our very current ones.
BJH: Can you elaborate on that?
Rebbetzin Goldberger: Sure. At Tiferes Yisroel, warmth is a constant feature, in the chilling months of winter as well as the sweltering days of summer. Shabbos after Shabbos, Yom tov after Yom tov, people find themselves feeling at home in TY, whether they are entering the shul’s doors for the first time or have been in steady attendance for nearly four decades, or somewhere in-between. The ambience is set in place by the beloved Rav of Kehillas Tiferes Yisroel, Rabbi Menachem Goldberger, who is attentive to all and gives inspiring Divrei Torah. His words are gently yet potently packed with lessons for building ourselves in a balanced way. People who listen to him regularly find themselves becoming both “self” aware and “other” aware, qualities that can help bring people together.
The practice of bridge building among our people has been at the center of the Jewish people’s mission statement since the loss of our Second Temple, which, our Sages teach, was destroyed because of the senseless hatred developing among us. Today, we stand at a painful crossroads, where we await the return of our murdered brethren’s remains and eagerly hope to celebrate the return of living hostages. All the hostages have suffered horribly at the hands of evil that seem to have no end to their cruelty. B’ezras Hashem, very soon, we expect to have salvation from our ruthless enemies. Presently, it is a challenge to bridge the gap between hope and despair.
There are none like the nation of Israel. We have seen tireless devotion and kindness and faith – and a coming together over the last 500 plus days. And still, we have divisions to conquer. It is a challenge to bridge the gap between common ground and divergence.
BJH: What would you say to someone who feels overwhelmed by these complex problems when the solutions seem so far beyond us?
Rebbetzin Goldberger: Rabbi Goldberger has a calming and constant way of guidance that helps each of us in our own lives inch up the chasm and build a bridge. A bridge that encourages patience over judgement. A bridge that values trying to understand another. A bridge that seeks friendship. A bridge that helps us walk across the differences and find shared values without losing – and, in fact, gaining – personal integrity. A bridge that learns your name and hears your plaint. A bridge that demonstrates that where we are willing to give up everything for Hashem is where we discover freedom. Each gap that we strive to bridge on our personal path, each step in the direction of resolving our mighty conflicts, both internal and external, will surely contribute to our national striving of living with complete faith, hope and unity. And may that, please Hashem, hasten our ultimate redemption.
Please take a step in our direction on Sunday, March 16 to help support Kehillas Tiferes Yisroel by contributing to our annual fundraising campaign. Donate at Tiferesyisroel.org
