SEEDS OF CHANGE Introduction
Judaism offers a blueprint for a just and ethical society, where everyone helps and protects one another. As children of immigrants, Jews are part of the American story. When they arrived in the US, their priority was to learn English and express their patriotism for the freedoms offered here. Jews are guided by the principle of treating people with kindness—helping neighbors.
The world has changed dramatically since the early days of Central Florida. Political revolutions and world wars transformed us over the past 100 years, highlighting humanity at its highest and lowest levels. Medical discoveries extended the average life span. Advancements in transportation and unimagined technological breakthroughs instantly linked people living far apart. Changes in social norms have followed, though not without struggle.
As active leaders and participants, members of the Orlando Jewish community have nurtured the seeds necessary to adapt to this new world. Jews fought to protect their country in wars, supported the founding and growth of the State of Israel, promoted civil liberties in the US, rallied for freedom in the former Soviet Union and other countries and donated countless hours of volunteer time and money to uplift those less fortunate here in their own city.