Hi, I’m Jen Cheslock. I’m the new Fundraising Chair on Hinenu’s Board of Directors. I’m here today to pray, but also to share a little about me–and, I know you are shocked, I’m also here to make a fundraising request–an ask. Both sides of my family have been in Baltimore a long time. My dad’s side since the turn of the 20th century. My mom, she’s a Jew by choice, and her family has been here since at least the Civil War–probably longer. My parents created a universe that I’m calling Chesapeake-style conservadox. It was chock full of the standard Baltimore Jewish institutions. And we kept kosher right up to the point where…we ate crabs outside the house.
But, what stands out most when I think about my parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents–is how they created, and then strengthened, a culture of giving. Sometimes it was about giving money, but other times, it was giving someone a seat at your Shabbat or Seder table, rides to/from a doctor’s appointment, inviting someone to stay with us to help them out. Some of that was chesed or kindness and other times tzedakah or charity. According to Rav Asi [in Bava Batra 9a verses 12-13], giving charity is equivalent to all of the other mitzvot combined.
This passage makes so much sense to me. When I felt disconnected, I wasn’t sure how to engage in Jewish spaces. During those times, giving charity became my faith in humanity and hope for the future in action. Other Jewish spaces supported my inherited Jewish learning, but did not align with my values or my understanding of the world. I looked for other options–for a while–and then I found Hinenu.
I still hold close to the culture of giving my family created and that is part of what drew me to Hinenu–I see that reflected here. Hinenu created a place and space for us to bring our full selves to this community, and that is so rare. Therefore, it’s not a surprise to me that when traditional Jewish funders in Baltimore look at Hinenu–they aren’t quite sure who we are.
So how do we create stability for this community outside of the traditional structures? According to Isaiah chapter 32: verse 17, : tzedakah brings stability: “For the work of righteousness shall be peace, and the effect of righteousness, calm and confidence forever.”
Organizers know that to build power, they need to move people or money to support their goals. Fundraising isn’t all that different. And, like an organizer, I hope to inspire you to take action and move money into this community. And if I can’t inspire you, I hope one of our major donors can. When I asked them why they give to Hinenu, they said, “I just knew I wanted to put power in their hands.”
We need your tzedakah. I am determined, as your Fundraising Chair, to make sure that Hinenu continues to be an accessible option for the future MEs and the future YOUs – who need a Jewish place that feels open, safe, and welcoming to all. That won’t happen without your help. In different stages of my life so far, I have been a doer, an organizer, and in other times, when I couldn’t devote time or effort, I moved my money into the causes I cared about. We need the doers, the organizers, and the folks donating resources–and those roles are not mutually exclusive.
As promised, here’s the ask:
Take a moment to reflect on this Rosh Hashanah–How are you able to increase your contribution to Hinenu: What can you do, how can you help us organize, and at what level can you donate? How can YOU help strengthen our culture of giving? And depending on who you are–and your individual circumstances–you’ll be able to determine that HOW better than me. Every contribution counts–while, as your Fundraising chair, I’m supposed to focus on dollars, I’m also going to be the person who tells you that to do the Fundraising work I have in mind for this year and the next, we will need doers, organizers, AND donors. We need some combination of these from each of you to fuel this shul.
Everyone can donate something. $3 a month is $36, and for those of you who don’t yet give financially, please make a contribution–even a small one. Those of you who can give more generously than you currently are–we need you to step up.
Increase your monthly membership dues by $3.
Make a multi-year pledge.
Make an additional gift this year of an amount that is meaningful to you.
Make a contribution in honor of a simchah.
Designate Hinenu as the place to receive contributions in memory of someone you love.
If you can’t give Hinenu more money, can you help me make donor thank you calls? Can you help me organize some of the fundraising efforts this coming year? Can you leverage some Jewish Smalltimore knowledge and connect me with someone who could be a new major donor?
The Jewish Baltimore I grew up in–they may not know who we are, but I do–and so do you. Hinenu IS the new Jewish community–and we are not going anywhere. But, we DO need your help to grow, to sustain this place. Hinenu means HERE WE ARE. We are the little Baltimore house that justice built. So help me fuel the shul, power our work, and strengthen our roots here in Baltimore for generations to come.
Good yontif and Shabbat Shalom.