By Heidi Gantwerk
SAN DIEGO — Storytelling is at the heart of the Jewish experience. Stories bind us together; teach us, remind us. Every year, we start anew with the stories of the Torah, and from the story of creation to the death of Moses, we find new depth and meaning each cycle. These past few weeks in particular, I have been reflecting on the profound ways storytelling has woven itself through the fabric of our community’s experiences, connecting our past, present and future.
Several times recently I have had the opportunity to share my own stories and hear powerful testimonies from others, beginning with women from our Pauline Foster Women’s Leadership Institute in an intense and emotional exploration of what it feels like to lead during crisis. Each woman who spoke provided a totally unique perspective on all the ways one can show up as a leader, the balance between strength and vulnerability that leadership demands, especially in crisis, and the ways we are each responding to this moment.
Monday evening, I had the privilege of sitting with our LEADS participants, young adult professionals who are taking a deep dive into Jewish life in San Diego. They asked me about my career twists and turns, the paths not taken, the choices I’ve made, and the lessons I’ve learned, and I heard from them their personal stories and the pivotal moments that led these aspiring leaders to seek out Jewish life.
I think – I hope – that we inspired each other. While I came away worried about the very real barriers they face to fully and proudly engaging in Jewish life, I was also greatly encouraged by their commitment, passion and creativity. Several have been involved in starting new organizations for young Jews that are already attracting big crowds.
Yesterday’s Women’s Philanthropy Brunch Club program focused on some of the most difficult stories of the Jewish people: the Shoah and October 7. The program featured “If You Heard What I Heard,” a nonprofit organization that provides a platform for the grandchildren of Holocaust survivors to tell their Bubbe and Zaydes’ stories.
I shared some very hard stories from our recent Solidarity Mission to Israel where we bore witness to the atrocities of October 7. And we heard, through tears, from our brilliant campaign co-chair, Dr. Sonia Ancoli Israel, the equal parts painful and miraculous story of her family’s survival during the Holocaust. She told me afterward that “it never gets easier” to share. She’s right. But that doesn’t make it any less essential.
These stories of struggle, of overcoming adversity, and the constant and increasing fight against hatred, antisemitism and isolation all tell one side of our story. Let me close with another side:
A few weeks ago, I attended the bat mitzvah of a young member of our congregation. I have watched this girl grow up; my son was her camp counselor in preschool. This young woman sang every prayer, chanted beautiful Torah and Haftorah, and offered an insightful d’var. She was completely at home on the bimah, full of excitement and joy at the chance to participate as an adult in our service. Our youth and teen choir, a talented and devoted (and highly energetic) group of young people, practically ran to the bimah to sing with her. I am not a crier by nature, but I was moved to tears to watch that service unfold amid these tough few months. I can’t wait for her story, and the stories of all of these young, passionate Jews, to unfold.
As we enter Shabbat, let’s remember the power of storytelling. Let’s tell the stories of the hostages still in Hamas captivity, and the experiences of students on our college campuses. And let’s tell the stories that fill our hearts with pride in our community and the joy of being Jewish. Stories have the power to transform, to heal, and to unite. They remind us of who we are, where we come from, and where we hope to go. This week let’s carry forward the stories of our past, the narratives of our present, and the dreams for our future.
Shabbat Shalom.
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Heidi Gantwerk is President and CEO of the Jewish Federation of San Diego.