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March 29, 2002/Nisan 16 5762, Vol. 54, No. 28
DayenuEditorialThe beauty of the Jewish calendar, cycling from season to season, holiday to holiday, becomes ever more clear. If Pesach, the celebration of freedom, is here, then Shavuot, a reminder of freedom's concomitant responsibility, is not far behind. Each holiday, and especially Passover, which turns on the retelling of the Israelites' journey to the Promised Land, allows us to reflect on the role we play in the continuing Jewish - and human - story.At the seders, and during the intermediate days of Passover when we abstain from certain proscribed foods, we are forced to think about the precious joys of freedom. We are called on to remember what it was like to be slaves in Egypt, and to transfer our remembrance of that experience to our contemporary reality. Egypt, Mitzrayim, is translated as a narrow place, and it is this narrowness that endures for many people in many ways, those mired in the narrows of desperate circumstances, those diminished by need, those lessened by want. On Page 1 of this issue, Editor Barry Cohen lays out dire post-Sept. 11 ramifications for local nonprofits that depend on a combination of state funds and private contributions. The economic downturn, pending state budget cuts and constrained private giving do not bode well for agencies and programs that serve Arizona's needy populations. "It's a difficult time for our nonprofits," comments Jewish Family and Children's Service Executive Director Gail Parin in classic understatement. This is not a time to pass over - or pass on - our responsibility. It is critical to tell our lawmakers our priorities on spending and to monitor pending legislative cuts. Updates are available online at www.azleg.state.az.us. E-mail, phone or write letters stating your concerns. In addition, this holiday season, coming just before the looming April 15 deadline for filing income tax returns, compels us to consider how we've met our individual obligations to those in need. The financial accounting becomes a spiritual accounting, as we list the charities we've supported in the past year - and to what extent. The exercise pushes us to consider how we make these decisions - and whether our giving is a reflection of our true values. Unfortunately, for many in need this year, even as we profess dayenu, there will not be enough. Let's resolve that for next year, in our community, we will work to make it so. |
