A New Year & A New Beginning
Director of Programming, Jordan Price, offers a reflections and looks ahead to upcoming events
Rosh Hashanah is often called the Jewish New Year, but as we learn from our tradition, the Torah itself never names it that way. Instead, it describes the day as Yom Teruah—a day of blowing the shofar and of remembrance. The rabbis, through the Oral Torah, help us understand its deeper layers: a day of creation, a day of judgment, and a day to begin anew. The shofar’s cry is compared to both a wake-up call and the cry of birth—reminding us each year we have the chance to start again.
This message feels particularly timely for me as I begin my role as Director of Programming here at the Federation. Like Rosh Hashanah, my work is about renewal: creating new opportunities, while remembering and learning from what has come before. As someone who has recently returned to the South Bend Jewish community after many years away, I rely on your insights and conversations to guide this work.
One recent conversation was about restarting our Jewish Art Fair, which hasn’t taken place since COVID (not to be confused with our Fine Art Exhibitions). As someone who wasn’t here for the last few decades, I wouldn’t have known about it without that suggestion. This is exactly how meaningful programming takes shape—not in a silo, but together. So, if you see me at an event, say hi. Send me an email with ideas. Or stop by the Federation—I’d love to meet you and hear what matters most to you.
We recently saw a powerful model of the programming we aspire to: thanks to Bob Feferman’s persistence—after four attempts—we welcomed Dr. Khaled Atalla, Director of the Emergency Department at Galilee Medical Center, who described the day-to-day coexistence of Arabs, Bedouins, Druze, and Jews at his hospital in Nahariya. The feedback from our survey was incredible, and it affirmed that our community values these kinds of people-to-people programs—programs that inspire hope, highlight positive stories from Israel, and connect us with interfaith partners like Sunnyside Presbyterian Church.
And this is just the beginning. Looking ahead:
October 5 — A Conversation with Guy M.: A member of the elite 669 IDF rescue unit and one of the first responders at Kibbutz Re’im and the Nova Festival, Guy will share his firsthand account. Please come—this is a rare opportunity to hear him directly. Due to Israeli Air Force security protocols, this will not be on Zoom.
October 12 – Pizza in the Hut: Our Sukkot celebration for families, with music, Israeli dancing, and arts & crafts.
Rosh Hashanah teaches us that creation, remembrance, and renewal are all connected. Just as our ancestors looked at this season as a time of past reflection and future possibility, we too can see it as an opportunity to reimagine what our community can become—together. May this year be one of growth, creativity, and connection for all of us.
Shanah Tovah U’Metukah —wishing you a sweet and meaningful new year.
Jordan Price
Director of Programming
(574) 233-1164 x1811
jordan@thejewishfed.org