If ever there was a time to vote, the time is now.

The future of our community – and indeed, our country – is at stake. What we do in this moment matters. It’s no longer enough to care quietly or hope from the sidelines. Each of us has a sacred responsibility to step forward, to lend our voice, and to cast our vote.

This is not about politics – it’s about purpose. It’s about the collective well-being of the people we love and the values we hold dear. It’s time to think beyond ourselves, beyond our comfort zones, and remember that our participation is our contribution to the greater whole.

For those of you who know me, you know that my life’s work is devoted to our sacred community – to nurturing, protecting, and uplifting it. That dedication was born years ago, after I visited Poland and learned, in a way I never had before, about the atrocities that occurred there. Until that visit, I had always thought such darkness belonged to another time – something that could never happen again.

Until today.

Seeing the rise of antisemitism, the distortion of reality and truth, feels eerily familiar. We must learn from our past and do everything in our power to ensure that history does not repeat itself. Silence and complacency are not options.

There’s far more at stake right now than a class card or a passing inconvenience. What’s at stake is the moral compass of our society, the safety of our families, and the strength of our shared humanity.

Please understand how vital our relationship is between our community and our elected officials. We work hand in hand – for the betterment of our neighborhoods, for safety, for education, for the overall quality of life that we all cherish. When we vote, we affirm that partnership. We remind those in power that our voices, our values, and our community matter.

Voting is not just a civic duty – it’s a sacred act of love and remembrance. It’s how we honor those who came before us and safeguard the generations yet to come.

So please – make your plan to vote. Bring your friends, your neighbors, your children. Let’s stand together, strong and united, and let our voices rise with courage, conviction, and hope.

With deep gratitude and faith in our community,

Gladys Haddad