Last night, I sat in the Winspear Opera House, surrounded by a diverse Dallas audience, listening to Jewish music played by Itzhak Perlman — joyful, soulful, unmistakably ours. People were clapping, even dancing in the aisles. It was a beautiful moment of Jewish culture, embraced far beyond our community.
And at the very same time, I kept looking down at my phone — our family WhatsApp thread: A message from my brother and his family in Israel: running to a shelter as missiles were being fired yet again. My other brother in Dubai, living under that same threat for weeks — my mother had just been visiting him when it began. My sister and her family in London, just a stone’s throw from this week’s terror attack, where Hatzola ambulances were torched in their neighborhood. Different realities, unfolding at once.
That tension stayed with me long after the music ended. And the more I thought about it, the more I realized: this is not a contradiction. It is our Jewish story. We do not wait for the world to be calm to live as Jews. We carry joy and vulnerability at the same time. We gather, celebrate, and build — even as we remain alert and responsible for one another. That is our strength.
As we gather around our Passover tables next week, we retell the story that has shaped the Jewish people for generations — a story of resilience, hope, and the pursuit of freedom. The Haggadah reminds us: “In every generation, each of us must see ourselves as if we personally went out of Egypt.” This year, I feel that more personally than ever. Passover is not only about remembering our past; it is about our responsibility in the present — to ensure Jewish life not only endures, but thrives.
In my first Passover with this extraordinary community, I have already seen what that responsibility looks like here in Dallas — strength, generosity, and deep commitment to one another and to Jews everywhere.
At a time when rising antisemitism and global uncertainty remind us that security cannot be taken for granted, our community’s role matters more than ever. Together, with you, Federation strengthens Jewish life, cares for those in need, protects our community, and stands with Israel and Jewish communities around the world. That is what it means to live the story — not just to remember it. Thank you for being part of that strength.
Wishing you and your family a meaningful and joyful Passover.
Chag Pesach Sameach. Am Yisrael Chai.
With gratitude,
Robert French
CEO, Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas