With the start of the Hebrew month of Tishrei and the Jewish new year - 5785 - OLAM CEO Dyonna Ginsburg reflects on all she's come to appreciate more deeply, after a year filled with complexity and pain that has tested many of us in ways we never anticipated.

Although commonly translated as repentance, the Hebrew word teshuvah – a key theme of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur – literally means “return.” In this sense, teshuvah is not a radical break with the past; rather, it is an invitation to reconnect with our authentic core, to rediscover truths that may have been forgotten or obscured, but never fully lost.  

As we approach the end of a year marked by profound upheaval, I’ve chosen to reflect not on what has changed. Instead, in the spirit of teshuva as a form of return, I’ve chosen to focus on 10 truths I have known, but that I’ve come to recognize more deeply this year: about the world, the Jewish people, and OLAM’s network of Jewish humanitarians.      

The World

1. Our world is fragile. My first-hand experience of vulnerability, living in Israel at war, has reinforced my understanding that life is precarious, and the world is at a critical juncture. Whether here or in Ukraine, in the face of the climate crisis or threats to democracy worldwide, we stand at a tipping point, and it’s up to us to tip the scales in the direction of goodness.

2. Healing begins with understanding. I’ve lost count of the number of people I know who lost loved ones on October 7th and in the subsequent war. Surrounded by grief, I’ve re-learned that suffering is a feature of the human condition and have pondered: What if we lived with an acute awareness that everyone we encounter is carrying pain? Imagine how this type of understanding could foster empathy, and enable us to offer not only comfort, but also tangible support.

3. Hope is hard, yet essential. In the face of overwhelming challenges at home and around the world, it has been hard to hang on to hope. Yet I’ve learned that there’s nothing more important than engaging in the daily task of cultivating hope, for ourselves and for others. As Rachel Jacoby Rosenfield of the Shalom Hartman Institute beautifully expressed in an OLAM blog last month, “Hope demands the humility to recognize that we just don’t know what will be, and the audacity to own our role in shaping it.”

The Jewish People

4. We stand on the shoulders of giants. Since October 7th, I’ve gained a new appreciation for my late grandmother, a survivor of Auschwitz-Birkenau and Bergen Belsen. I’ve thought about her often this past year, wondering in amazement how she found the strength to go on. The story of the Jewish people is one of intergenerational resilience. From my grandmother, I learned that one of the best ways to build resilience is to live a life in service to others.  

5. We are not alone. Although there’s been a disturbing rise in antisemitism, I’ve also witnessed expressions of solidarity that have reminded me of our shared humanity. After October 7th, OLAM’s team received a note of support from a staff member of a former partner organization: “Being Sudanese, I have just recently been through a similar situation ... praying for you and all your loved ones.” A Rwandan colleague messaged me on the eve of the Iranian attack on Israel, expressing concern about my safety and reflecting on the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi: “I always thought it would get easier with time, but... It’s a continuous healing journey.” Jews are not the only ones who have experienced trauma; nor are we alone during our time of need.

OLAM’s Network

6. Global and local needs are interconnected. Prior to October 7th, many of OLAM’s Israeli partners had not worked locally. Within days of the Hamas attack, however, 17 of our partners sprung to action. They leveraged their global expertise in psychosocial support, agriculture, work with displaced populations, and more to respond to the urgent needs of Israelis directly impacted – Nova survivors, evacuees, farmers in southern Israel, etc. They clearly demonstrated that meeting global and local needs is not a zero-sum game; rather, it’s a “virtuous circle” where knowledge gained from global crises deeply enhances our ability to respond at home, and vice versa.      

7. Living our values is complicated, but necessary. Just as many OLAM partners supported those impacted in Israel, I’ve watched in awe as some of them simultaneously navigate complex logistical and political challenges to improve humanitarian aid for Gazan civilians. They have stepped up in a variety of ways, from providing aid directly – such as clean water solutions, shelter and lifesaving maternal and infant healthcare – to solving bottlenecks in aid delivery and serving as a bridge between Israeli authorities and the broader humanitarian sector. I am inspired by their commitment to living out their values – with sensitivity and courage – as proud Israelis, Jews, and humanitarians.        

8. Relationships matter. October 7th has had a profound impact on OLAM’s individual members – Jews working in international development and humanitarian sectors outside of a Jewish context. Many have faced isolation, a lack of empathy from colleagues, and even antisemitism. Yet they continue to lean into their unique roles as bridge-builders, leveraging relationships with decision-makers in the sector in order to foster greater understanding of the Jewish community and Israel. This has been a stark reminder that building bridges begins with a willingness to talk to those whose perspectives differ from your own.    

9. Trauma can be a bridge to empathy. Jewish tradition teaches that trauma should not serve as an excuse for retreating into insularity but should open us up to empathy for others. As is written in the Torah: “You shall not wrong or oppress a stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.” A CEO of one partner shared how the events of the past year fostered a deeper connection between her Israeli and Ethiopian staff members, all of whom are now living in the shadow of war. Another CEO noted that the experience of being forcibly displaced from her kibbutz on the Lebanese border enhanced her appreciation for the experiences of the communities with whom she works in India. These stories exemplify how shared vulnerabilities can deepen our bonds and strengthen collaboration not only within our own communities, but also with those we serve.

10. I work with some of the most inspiring people. October 7th and the subsequent war is not the only global catastrophe that has impacted OLAM’s network this year: the ongoing war in Ukraine, drought in Ethiopia, mass violence in Sudan, and the hottest year on record are just a few of the crises that have shaken our world. OLAM’s partners and members continue to meet the needs of people impacted by these crises, even as many navigate their own personal traumas. They embody the best of who we are and what we stand for as a people. Ashreinu mah tov chelkeinu, I’m so grateful to be in their company and learn from them each and every day.

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