As we welcome Rosh Hashanah and the Jewish new year of 5785, I am writing to wish our cherished JCUA members, supporters, partners, and allies a meaningful year ahead.

Over the past three and a half months as Executive Director, I have had the privilege of talking with many of you about your unique connections to JCUA and the inspirations behind your justice work. With each conversation, I have gained deeper insight into this remarkable community – a community that is thoughtful, inclusive, and passionate, and profoundly caring of one another.

I have been especially struck by this community’s vulnerability and strength during this year of great grief and loss. Committed to our core values of Tzedek (justice), Makom (place), and Tikkun (repair), we have stood alongside one another and our neighbors, leaning into the principle of solidarity that we hold dear, and that we know is central to a future where everyone is safe and can thrive.

This year, as JCUA continues celebrating 60 years of pursuing justice across Chicagoland and Illinois, we are reaffirming our commitment to building a city and state that is a haven for all. We are marching onward in our fight toward permanent and affordable housing for all; community-sourced public safety solutions that prioritize care over criminalization; and access to healthcare for all of our neighbors, regardless of immigration status. We know that these goals are only achievable if we all work together, so will you join me this year in the fight for justice and equity on behalf of all Illinoisians? 

Let’s make 5785 a year of dignity and safety for all, and let us continue to find strength from one another as we co-create a multiracial democracy where everyone can flourish.

Shana Tova U’Metukah. Best wishes for a year of peace, joy and renewed energy for the hard work ahead.