Dear friends,

It’s the last day of our “Jonah-Inspired” campaign. And since we’re not above groveling to get a few more dollars from you, consider us down on our knees as we tell you, “We’d love to accept your donation on this December 31st final day of the year.”

Jonah would have loved this part. He loved money. He rarely spent any, mind you, because he was a saver. But he really enjoyed having it, so a subject line like, “last ditch effort to, you know, take your money” would have evoked that great smile of his. And like his old man, he’d have feigned disappointment that none of the money is actually for him, but he’d secretly love all the good that’s being done with it. And in his name — that would have just taken the cake!

Dear friends,

It’s the last day of our “Jonah-Inspired” December campaign. If you haven’t yet done so, we’d be honored to welcome your gift at jonahmac.org.

Not quite ready? Here’s something to get you in the mood.

A week ago, we welcomed into our home accomplished guitarist and singer-songwriter Larry Milder. Larry, a rabbi, has been on sabbatical and is traveling cross country performing his music. We asked him to stop by our home and join us in raising funds to assist a local church engaged in a beautiful and important project.

South Presbyterian Church in Dobbs Ferry, NY, has been an activist congregation for many decades so, during this current political climate filled with acts of repression against America’s immigrant community (is anyone NOT an immigrant?), South Church declared itself a sanctuary church. Since then, they’ve been working to raise the money to create housing. Residents of Dobbs Ferry and its surrounding communities have been pitching in to help.

And so did we.

Dear friends,

Jonah didn’t know how different a world he lived in. Columbine happened when he was 9 years old. Virginia Tech when he was 17. He didn’t live to know about Sandy Hook in Newtown, or Charlie Hebdo in Paris, or Emanuel Church in Charleston, or the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, or the country music festival in Las Vegas, or the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. 

Had Jonah lived, he pretty likely would have shared the outrage of his peers that the adults who run this world do nothing to make things better. I imagine he’d have applauded the decision that young people would have to lead the way. I also imagine he’d have joined the movement.

Dear friends,

It’s Maccabee season. At our house, we have a large collection of hanukkiyot and dreidles, and a refrigerator door filled with magnetic photos of 31 years of family Hanukkah celebrations.

At this time of year, it is particularly wonderful to illuminate the darkness around us with stories of light and the real-life heroes whose work will change our world, candle by candle. We are delighted to share with you one more of the many ways in which your donations are bringing light into the world. We hope that you’ll be inspired to join us on our journey and that you will donate to our December campaign, “Jonah-Inspired.”