Lawrence Family JCC CEO Reflects on Shared Stakes in US and Israel Elections
With elections in Israel and the United States scheduled just one week apart, Lawrence Family JCC CEO Betzy Lynch examined the shared responsibilities and distinct anxieties facing Jewish communities in both nations. Lynch noted that while the electoral outcomes hold profound existential weight for Israelis, voters and community members in the United States grapple with distinct concerns regarding safety, antisemitism, civic belonging, and democracy.
The overlap of these two political cycles places intense focus on government leadership. However, Lynch questioned whether contemporary communities rely too heavily on state actors to secure the future while overlooking grassroots agency. Citing historical precedent, Lynch observed that ancestors survived eras under rulers they could not elect and laws they could not change by sustaining internal education, caring for one another, and community structures without formal political power.
Itaruta d'letata teaches that transformation begins with human action
Rooted in Jewish mysticism, the concept of itaruta d’letata—an awakening from below—suggests that transformation does not always begin in heaven; sometimes it begins with us. This principle frames contemporary opportunities differently than past struggles. While prior generations often had to create Jewish life in spite of the world around them, modern communities maintain the privilege of helping shape that world while creating Jewish life within it.
Governments retain fundamental obligations regarding safety, rights, and freedom. Yet, governmental bodies cannot manufacture internal confidence, shared purpose, interpersonal relationships, or a sense of belonging. Lynch pointed to daily operations at the Lawrence Family JCC in La Jolla, California, as evidence of community-driven resilience that persists regardless of electoral outcomes.
A Communal Prayer for Shared Futures
Concluding her reflections, Lynch offered a formal prayer acknowledging the civic privileges of voting, speaking, questioning, disagreeing, and participating in determining a collective future. The text asks for wisdom to those who lead, compassion to those who disagree, and the internal courage to build communities anchored in justice, belonging, and hope.
- Dual Electoral Timing: Israeli and United States elections fall just one week apart, creating a concentrated period of civic reflection.
- Historical Parallel: Past generations sustained Jewish life without political power, offering a model for modern community agency.
- Core Responsibility: Government entities secure safety, rights, and freedom, but communities must build internal belonging and shared purpose.
Who authored the reflections on US and Israeli elections?
Who authored the reflections on the US and Israeli elections?
Betzy Lynch, CEO of the Lawrence Family JCC in La Jolla, California, authored the essay and accompanying prayer.
What historical and mystical concepts did the Lawrence Family JCC CEO cite?
Lynch referenced the historical endurance of Jewish communities under rulers they could not elect and the Jewish mystical concept of itaruta d’letata, which teaches that transformation begins with human action from below.
What specific local institution is connected to these reflections?
The Lawrence Family JCC located in La Jolla, California, serves as the organizational base where Lynch observes daily community-building and shared purpose.
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