The flurry of recent executive orders from the White House have left many in our Bender JCC community feeling apprehensive. Regardless of your political affiliations or beliefs, we acknowledge that these executive actions will directly impact individuals and families we proudly call our neighbors.

Our members with disabilities, particularly the families of children with disabilities, have expressed concern that budget cuts at the federal and state levels will restrict or eliminate their access to critical benefits and resources. Government workers in our community, including parents and caregivers in our Bender ECC and Lessans Camp JCC communities, are leery of widespread layoffs and are uncertain how they will access and afford childcare, education, or healthcare for their families should their employment be terminated.

Amidst the uncertainty, the Bender JCC’s universal values of inclusion and respect ground our community, providing us with clarity, direction, and renewed purpose. One thing remains constant among the changes: the Bender JCC is here for you! We will always be a community where all are welcome.

The anxiety our friends feel now reaffirms the importance of belonging to a community that cares for one another. During these unpredictable days, we encourage you to connect with your neighbors and lean into our community’s deep wells of comfort, guidance, and joy. We also encourage you to prioritize self-care and remind you that the Bender JCC offers myriad opportunities to nurture your physical, social-emotional, and spiritual well-being.

Jewish tradition intends for individuals to experience life together in community, and ours is a community where everyone — regardless of ability, background, or identity — truly belongs. We are here to support each other through life’s challenges and rejoice in life’s celebrations. Please know that we are here for you in any way we can be as we strive, now more than ever, to be a community that cares.