A New Year’s Message from our Chairman
This has been a challenging year for many of us. We have had to deal with major changes in our lives and our society. Jews around the world have experienced an increase of anti-Semitism and our comfort level as accepted members of our local communities has been reduced. At the same time, we have seen other minority groups being challenged to degrees that we have not witnessed in over 50 years. Divisions in our country have been sharpened and civility seems to be disappearing.
This New Year, 5779, presents us with a great opportunity to make a difference. The time has come for each of us to dedicate ourselves to the practical nature of tikkun olam, the healing of the world. We can do this together in Scouting. Scouting teaches its members to be self-sufficient and self-confident. It teaches young folks how to become mensches and provides them with the skills to become the leaders of tomorrow. How do we heal our nation? We make sure that the next generation is raised with the values of Scouting and Judaism. We teach teamwork, compromise for the greater good, good sportsmanship and citizenship.
Scouting is now bringing its benefits to the entire family. With Family Scouting, we can help all of our young boys and girls and young adults to become better persons. Does it work? The answer is a resounding YES! If you want to confirm it for yourself, plug this link into your web browser and see: https://www.facebook.com/officialcubscouts/videos/305325166891732/.
All we need is to commit ourselves to help. The National Jewish Committee on Scouting has created guides to help along the way. The guides to operating a council Jewish Committee on Scouting, how to form a new unit and how to keep a unit healthy can be the catalysts for change. Look them up on this website, www.Jewishscouting.org, download them and use them. They are updated often and provide you with the best methods of increasing the reach of Scouting for Jewish Youth. Let’s work on this together in the coming year.
Bruce Chudacoff, Chair
National Jewish Committee on Scouting