A Special Message to the Jewish Community

Dear Members of the Jewish Community,
Shalom and Greetings,

I am writing to you today as the Multicultural Festival of Elmira, Event Organizer and a fellow member of our diverse community. I want to express my deepest regrets and sincere apologies for the oversight made in scheduling the festival on the same date as Rosh Hashanah. We understand the importance of this sacred time for the Jewish community, and it was never our intention to cause any exclusion.

As the founder of H.O.P.E., my primary goal has always been to create an inclusive and welcoming environment that celebrates the richness of our culture. Our main message has always been that we are all welcome here, all voices matter, and to create a more inclusive and equitable community for all. Though the significance of this date was not recognized on our part, we are fully aware of the strength and richness your community brings to our Region.

We want to express our deep appreciation and respect for the Jewish community. Please know that we have taken immediate action to rectify this situation to prevent this from happening again.

• We have ensured that the scheduling of future festivals and other programs and events do not coincide with any significant Jewish holidays, including Rosh Hashanah.
• During the festival, we plan to acknowledge Rosh Hashanah to ensure it becomes a moment of understanding and solidarity for everyone present.
• We genuinely want to learn from you and your traditions, so we are looking to collaborate with local Jewish organizations and community leaders to include cultural displays at the festival that highlight the significance of Rosh Hashanah. This will not only educate others about the holiday, but also foster a sense of unity and appreciation for Jewish traditions and customs.
• We would be grateful to have representatives from the Jewish community share their experiences and insights during our “Cultures United: A Global Journey of Food, Stories and Connections” event taking place at the Waterloo Region Library – Elmira Branch on September 23rd. This way, we can learn from one another and build bridges of understanding and friendship.

Once again, we deeply apologize for the inconvenience this has caused. We sincerely hope that you can join us in helping to make the festival an event that genuinely embraces all aspects of our multicultural community.

If there are any specific suggestions or ideas you would like to offer to ensure that the festival is more inclusive in the future, please do not hesitate to contact us. We value your input and want to ensure that our future events are a true celebration of diversity.

Thank you for your understanding and compassion. We look forward to having you join us at future H.O.P.E. programs and events as we continue to grow and learn together.

L’shanah tovah, wishing you a sweet and prosperous new year.

Sincerely,
Abby Cooper
Event Organizer
Multicultural Festival of Elmira