Shabbat Shalom from Seth: What Brought Me Here

Dear Greater Raleigh Jewish Community,

During the Amidah (The Standing Prayer), my father (z"l) and his best friend had a long-standing (no pun intended) tradition of remaining standing until the very last person in the sanctuary was finished. Then, and only then, would they sit down. This was, of course, so that no person was left standing alone while praying.

As my first week as CEO comes to a close and with Shabbat beginning in just a few hours, I find myself finally having time to reflect on what got me to this point in my life and my career. Maybe it was the events of October 7 or the flood of antisemitism following that led me back to working for a Jewish organization. I know that it impacted my decision, but my Jewish identity was formed long before that.

Was it because my mother taught preschool for the JCC in Cherry Hill, NJ and art for a local synagogue? Was it the basketball league and soccer at the JCC, or going every summer to the JCC camp? Was it the NFTY youth group camaraderie, events and trips to Camp Harlem in Pennsylvania? Perhaps, but I know the 10 years I spent involved at all levels of the JCC Maccabi Games helped me form so many Jewish experiences and memories that I can’t even count.

I’m sure it is because of those experiences and so many more that I was drawn to work in the nonprofit and Jewish sector, having worked for JCCs, synagogues, Federations, and even a Jewish nursing home.

We are all the sum of our life experiences.

Which leads me to today. Packing up all my belongings, driving 1200 miles from Texas to Raleigh, moving to a new city, and starting a new job. I am certain I wouldn’t do any, or all of that, if I didn’t believe in what I was doing, or where I was doing it.

I see true passion in the Jewish community of Greater Raleigh and so much potential! No one can do it alone and it is going to take all of your support.

This core value—that no one should stand alone—is at the heart of everything we do at the Jewish Federation of Greater Raleigh. Whether it’s supporting the people of Israel or caring for seniors in our own community, we believe in standing together. We do this not only for those in our community, but for those in other US cities, in Israel and around the world.

I look forward to meeting and working with all of you.

L’Shalom,

Seth Malin

CEO

Jewish Federation of Greater Raleigh