Approximately 2,600 years ago the prophet Jeremiah, when delivering the Lord’s vision for the people of Israel, proclaimed, “They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought, and never fails to bear fruit.” (Jeremiah 17:8)
I do not proclaim to be capable of answering these questions on a global level, I’ll leave that to others. The topic is too general, too broad, too esoteric. What I do know is that when the world is spinning out of control we turn to our own communities for support. That is how it has always been and always will be.
Personally, when I think about community, I think about my community, Ramah, and I have to tell you – Ramah is a wonderful model for the world.
About the Author
Jonathan Madoff is the director of Tichon Ramah Yerushalayim (TRY), a high school study abroad program in Israel. Jonathan grew up in Owings Mills, Maryland and made Aliya in 2009. He holds an MSW from Bryn Mawr Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research and worked as a foster care and high school social worker in Southwest and North Philadelphia before moving to Israel. Jonathan lives with his wife Roni, and son, Yuval, in Jerusalem.