By Richard Friedman, Executive Director

While Update has amply covered our recent Jewish Community Relations Coalition (JCRC) annual meeting, held last Sunday at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, I wanted to offer a personal perspective -- and take the long view.

I had the privilege, as one of the speakers, of sitting on the stage as the program took place in an inviting, circular setting, which created a sense of close connection between the speakers and the standing room only audience. The theme of the afternoon was "Honoring the Past, Embracing the Future" -- and we did both. (Click below for brief YouTube highlights.)

I sat there and marveled at the array of speakers, what they individually and collectively represented, and found myself thinking about our Jewish community 100 years from now. For me, the circular nature of the room gave me the feeling that I was part of a powerful human wheel -- and from where I was sitting I could see faces from every angle.

In those faces, I saw the love, pride and passion that unites and energizes the Birmingham Jewish community and pondered how can we bequeath this magic to those who will come after us? How can we help make sure that there will be JCRCs, Tikkun Olam awards and an extraordinary Birmingham Jewish community 100 years from now?

The answers came quickly: We can lead Jewish lives, raise Jewish children, celebrate with joy our connection to one another, and embrace with passion and purpose all that our Jewish community has to offer. And, we can further strengthen our community's future by participating financially in Our Next 100 Years.

Through Our Next 100 Years, a historic BJF-led initiative, scores of families have made transformative financial commitments that will help ensure the creativity and vitality of our Jewish community for generations to come.

When it came my turn to speak Sunday, I had a wonderful assignment -- installing Lisa Engel and Amanda Weil together as our new JCRC Chairs. The pairing of the two is a reflection of The BJF's new Inter-Generational Leadership Strategy, which provides volunteers of different generations the opportunity to work together and learn from each other.

Lisa, in her remarks, was inspiring. She invoked the biblical word "Hineni" -- the word Abraham used to answer when called upon by God to sacrifice his son Isaac. Hineini, Lisa explained, means that "I am here with all of my being, physically, and spiritually, ready to do what I need to do at this very moment." (See below link for more of Lisa's talk.)

I have been thinking about Lisa's words ever since the meeting. In a sense, "Hineni" is what Our Next 100 Years is about. For through this growing effort, we are saying to those who will come after us that we were here, with all of our being, physically, and spiritually, and we did what we needed to do.