jvalley.org | brianletter

Executive Director's Message: December 2003

By Brian David Goldberg, Ph.D.
Executive Director, Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley

"Why are you going there?" was the question I was greeted with by friends and family when I told them I was leaving for the General Assembly (G.A.) for the United Jewish Communities being held in Jerusalem. I was a little taken aback by the question and the follow up questions regarding safety. To be honest I am more concerned about my safety when we stop in Kiev, Ukraine for a pre Mission, than arriving in Israel.

I have been to Israel many times; I lived in Israel for a year on Kibbutz Kfar Blum and in all my visits I have never feared for my safety. I have always landed in Israel with a great sense of pride, a feeling that cannot be duplicated any place in the world. That is why I am so proud to be part of the United Jewish Communities, and to be participating in this important mission to physically stand with Israel. I thank you for the opportunity to be one of 13 members of our community to represent Silicon Valley at the G.A. I have said repeatedly that there is no safer place in the world for a Jew to be a Jew, then in Eretz Yisrael.

This mission is an opportunity to see first hand they way our community's dollars touch thousands of lives in the Former Soviet Union. We will visit elder care centers, Jewish schools and centers and witness the rebirth of Jewish life in Kiev. We will see the training centers where our gifts prepare Jews to fulfill the mitzvah of making Aliyah to Israel. We will spend Shabbat with a local Jewish family and share our common faith and traditions. Then we will leave for Jerusalem where we will join over 3,000 delegates from Federations from across North America to celebrate the strength and vitality of the Jewish people.

Once in Israel your community leaders will have the opportunity to visit organizations that provide support for victims of terror; programs that support pluralism and co-existence between Jews, Muslims and Christians, men and women, religious and secular in Israel and of course the absorption and integration of ten of thousands of Jews returning to our homeland.

I am proud to be joined by 13 members of our community, including a Silicon Valley Hillel Student, a congregational Rabbi and the top leadership of the Jewish Federation. I never felt more secure and more proud as a Jew. I look forward to sharing these first hand encounters with you upon my return and to bring back the much-deserved appreciation for all that our community does to support Kol Yisrael!

To reach Brian David Goldberg call (408) 358-3033 x34 or email bgoldberg@jewishsiliconvalley.org.

Mission statement

The Mission of the Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley is to raise and to allocate funds needed to maintain and strengthen Jewish identity, Jewish community and Jewish life, and to work toward meeting the needs and concerns of the Jewish community locally, in the United States, in Israel and throughout the Diaspora and to develop leadership. More

Our staff page includes phone numbers and email links to all staff people, and executive committee board members. Go.

Executive Director's Messages

Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley Executive Director Brian David Goldberg's letters to the community.

President's Message

A letter to the community from Brett "Mad Dog" Borah, President of the Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley

About the Executive Director

Learn about the background of Brian David Goldberg, Ph.D., Executive Director of the Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley. More.

OpenCube Drop Down Menu (www.opencube.com)