I am glue.  

That is what 17-year-old me wrote in a personal essay to get into college many (many) years ago. At that time, I had not developed a career path, built up a résumé or was gifted in music or sports. I felt quite ordinary compared with my peers.  

Why would a college want to accept ordinary me among extraordinary others? 

I came upon a metaphor that rings as true today as it did then: I was the glue that could bind a community of people who are extraordinary in their specialty. My gifts were and still are curiosity, love of learning and connecting others for shared purpose.  

This is why I feel so bonded (pun intended) to the work of Jewish Federation of St. Louis and am proud to be the chair of  its 2021 Annual Campaign.

My Jewish journey began in college through Hillel, Tel Aviv University, summer internships and a fellowship year in Israel. The common thread is that these programs and opportunities were funded in part or whole by the Federation system. Every year, children, teens and young adults directly or through partner organizations engage in meaningful social and educational Jewish experiences.  

Jewish Federation of St. Louis funds a wide range of student opportunities through its own Israel Center or in collaboration with community partners such as JSU, BBYO and Hillels at Washington University and the University of Missouri in Columbia and St. Louis, just to name a few. You can learn more about all of the ways Federation works with synagogues and partner organizations to address the vast needs of our community at jfedstl.org.

For 120 years, Federation has been the glue that holds us together: the extraordinary individuals and partner organizations connected with a shared purpose for a thriving local and global Jewish community. Federation truly is “For our community – now and in the future.”

Each of us plays an important role in our collective present and future, whether through volunteering at the Jewish food pantry, sending our children to Camp Sabra, serving on our  synagogues’ boards, donating to the community campaign or all of the above. Kol yisrael arevim ze bazeh – all of Israel (us) are responsible for each other.

You are both extraordinary and the glue that binds us all together.