I consider it a great privilege to be part of a people whose tradition and history uniquely capture the human experience in its entirety. Upholding a tradition that bridges the gap between universality and particularity, I find pride in a Torah whose morals, ethics, and legal philosophy have impacted humanity for thousands of years. This tradition directly links my family to the vision of the ancient prophets of Israel. Concurrently, I appreciate how our tradition contributes significantly to finding answers to the big questions of our modern world.

Pride usually stems from accomplishments, but can one be proud of something they didn't work to achieve? In continuing the spiritual traditions of our ancestors and keeping the commandments of our Torah, we create a link to previous generations, their achievements and merits. I believe this enables us to be proud of them, what they stood for, and who we are today as Jews.

However, this pride carries a responsibility: the responsibility to sanctify God's name and strive for unity among the Jewish people so that we can live up to being “a light unto the nations”. While it is not always an easy task, I am confident that we have everything it takes to succeed.