Shana Tova from Tova Ben Dov
Erev Rosh Hashana, 5771
8th. September, 2010
To: Presidents and Chairpersons of all WIZO Federations:
Dear Chaveroth,
תכלה שנה וקללותיה, ותחל שנה וברכותיה
'Let this year end with its' curses
Let the new year begin with its' blessings' (from the Sages)
This year, as every other year, we stand together and try to put our troubles behind us, whilst looking forward to the future. It has not been an easy year. Throughout the world nature has reminded us not to underestimate her strength, and hundreds of thousands have fallen to mud slides, flooding, fires caused by high temperatures and earthquakes. The forces of evil, infiltrate into our 'enlightened' world, and, as throughout our history, the Jewish people are the first to suffer from the regression back into the dark ages of religious fanaticism. The world is also struggling with the aftermath of the financial crisis that shook many foundations during the last year, and stubbornly refuses to disappear.
But, before sinking into despair, and in spite of all our troubles, we are very blessed. Despite the world's bad press and its ongoing condemnations, the tourists, from all walks of life, keep arriving, fascinated by our small country, that refuses to give in to the Goliaths of the world. Our scientists continue to invent new medical procedures, our hi-tech start ups are being bought worldwide, our streets, markets, and real estate are all thriving. Just three weeks ago, Prof. Elon Lindenstrauss, was awarded the prestigious Fields Medal (the Nobel prize for mathematicians under 40 years old)for his complicated work in ergodic theory, a field of mathematics.
And we in WIZO, are celebrating the 90th anniversary of this wonderful enterprise that was set up by our mothers and grandmothers and has become an integral part of our Jewish state. We are a huge machine. The WIZO machine pumps out education to those who were not born into the most intellectual of environments, we pump values into those who have only seen neglect, crime and addiction, we pump out fresh air and new beginnings to
those who have been kept in a world of violence and fear, we pump Israeli culture into those who have come from the most backward of societies.
We pump and we pump. But like any machine, we need oil to keep our wheels turning, and you, in our federations, provide that oil, through your ongoing support and your never ending efforts to raise funds.
Sadly, following the global financial crisis, that flow of support is lessening, and our machine is groaning and creaking, as it tries to keep its wheels turning. Here in WIZO, we are having our own oil disaster, which, to us, is just as threatening as the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
Rosh Hashana gives us the opportunity to once again put our priorities into their correct perspective. How can we make the world a better place? How can we strengthen our beloved State of Israel? ……One child at a time……...
We cannot afford to stand aside, whilst global economics threaten all that we, and our ancestors, have worked for, and that so many rely upon. Now is the time to put a cap on the downward trend, join forces, put on our thinking caps, and pay tribute to our founding mothers, by duplicating their efforts and determination of ninety years ago, so that we can once again see the oil gushing into our WIZO machine.
Together, let us pray and look forward to a better year, a year in which the unity of our people reaches new heights, a year filled with peace and prosperity.
I wish you all a Shana Tova
Tova Ben-Dov
Chairperson World WIZO Executive