We are encouraged today, and I am happy to report of our increased resumption of in-person programs and activities, highlighted by the renewal of our day camping program. The return of campers and staff has been nothing short of joyful after 16 months of relative isolation. Throughout the pandemic, we have put the care of our children and the needs of our families first, making it possible for them to endure this crisis with the knowledge that our children are in the best of hands.
Philanthropic support and grants have played an extraordinary part in making it possible for our Friedman JCC to surmount the financial challenges created by the disruptions to our business.
Our staff will soon be engaged in ongoing scenario planning predicated on the expectation that lessons and opportunities brought to light by our experience over the past 16 months will be part and parcel of the continuing growth of our Friedman JCC.
We are entering a new chapter in our history, and not a return to the status quo. Instead, the emerging path will likely be defined in part by a growing commitment to partnerships and collaborations with like-minded organizations within and across our community. A growing commitment to working together in joint pursuit of our mission should it prove durable, may turn out to be the most significant development of all.
Our ongoing recovery is taking place against the backdrop of a surge in anti semitism, at times in the disguise of anti-Israel activism, which has emerged among extreme elements of our society on both ends of the political spectrum.
The Friedman JCC is about bringing people together and gathering in ways that celebrate and accentuate the fact that what binds us together as a Jewish community is far more significant than the narrower issues that may divide us.
The recent Pew Study clarifies the belief that more and more Jews are less formally identifying themselves as belonging to a particular denomination or sub-group. I believe that the solution to engage our people more effectively is to provide them with access and exposure to the richness our community has to offer.