Debt Free In 5767

When the Ark was to set out, Moses would say: Rise up, O Lord! May your enemies be scattered, and your foes flee before You! And when it halted, he would say: Return, O Lord, You who are Israel 's myriads of thousands!" (Numbers 10:35-36)

How and why would Moses have the audacity to command God? Rabbi Shlomo Ben Yitzchak (aka Rashi), the 11 th Century scholar of Troyes, France, addresses Moses' calling God to attention, to "rise up" (kumah, in Hebrew). He suggests that, "Since God was leading the people by a distance of three-days journey ahead of them, Moses would say periodically, 'Hold up and wait for us, and don't move too far ahead of the people!'" Rabbi Matthew Berkowitz (a Florida friend of NK) explains that leadership, as Moses "teaches" God in these verses, is about staying just slightly ahead of one's flock. While one must lead, one cannot make the mistake of leading too quickly so as to leave the followers behind. Doing so results in an isolated and lonely leader, and a group wandering in chaotic directions.

Can the six reservoirs at Neot Kedumim survive another dry season? Look at the before and after photos of the Pool of the Willow. Notice how much water has seeped back into the earth. The pools must be rehabilitated, or they will cease to be part of Neot Kedumim's ecological environment.

Reflecting on these verses, I think about all that we have accomplished as friends of Neot Kedumim and find myself asking where on the leadership continuum do we, as supporters, fall.  The answer is less than satisfactory.  American Friends of Neot Kedumim provides only about 5% of Neot Kedumim’s annual revenue.  That’s not staying slightly ahead of the flock.  That’s falling woefully behind. 

Indeed, because our contributions are not “slightly ahead” of the operational costs of Neot Kedumim, needed repairs and maintenance are not being carried out.  Staff salaries, while never even approaching the high-end levels of those offered by other Israeli organizations,  have become non-competitive to the point that we are at serious risk of losing both our veteran and younger teaching guides.  They simply can no longer afford to work at Neot Kedumim and provide for their families.

Optimistically, I believe we have the ability to move forward—and approach a position slightly ahead of some of Neot Kedumim’s needs.  For example, $250,000 would eliminate Neot Kedumim’s debts immediately.  In America , we are well aware of the crushing, destructive effects of constant debt, and the enormous sense of empowerment of being debt-free. 

In this new year of 5767, let us work together with the goal of eliminating Neot Kedumim’s debts,  so that the staff and the grounds may flourish. Shalom.