I read an article recently that really struck a chord with me. The author pointed out how challenging it is for parents right now to try to teach values such as honesty, integrity, compassion, and reverence for justice and truth when children are exposed every day to leaders and others in positions of authority who represent the antithesis of those values.
As faith leaders and other valued members of the interfaith community, we who are an integral part of HARC and believe in its mission are needed more than ever to resist the headwinds that are threatening to blow our society and our culture so far off course that we may never find our way back.
One of our great Jewish theologians, Abraham Joshua Heschel, wrote these words prior to his untimely passing in 1972. He wrote: “that in a free society, some are guilty, but all are responsible.” In the face of so much adversity let us never throw our hands up and think that the continuation of the current trend is inevitable. It is not. I am proud of this organization and the fact that even though we all know we cannot save the world, we are doing everything we can to make our corner of it better each and every day.
As we head into summer, HARC has accomplished so much under the leadership of our extraordinary executive director, Kathy Powderly, that it truly boggles the mind. We owe Kathy, Elizabeth, as well as all our outstanding members and volunteers a great deal of gratitude.
I am honored to be your current president and salute all of you for not only talking the talk (because talk can be cheap) but also walking the walk. We are making a difference and when those winds begin to shift in the right direction we can all take comfort in knowing that we played our part in making that happen.
Shalom (Peace)
Rabbi Mark
HARC President
