November 2024 Newsletter

Rebecca

I teach English over Zoom to someone in a country with an authoritarian government, and our frequent conversations have deepened my appreciation for the freedom I enjoy. In reflecting on the idea of freedom, I am profoundly grateful for the autonomy I possess to choose where I travel, whether it's a spontaneous weekend getaway or a simple trip to run errands. As a small business owner and independent contractor, I value the flexibility I have to decide how I spend my time, so I can create a schedule that aligns with my personal and professional aspirations. The freedom to engage with my government is equally significant, from casually encountering my mayor at the grocery store (you need lemons, too?) to writing to my state representatives and receiving thoughtful responses (which has actually happened!). Freedom to me means the ability to explore the world, share my talents, and trust that my voice is heard and valued.

Liz

As a Jewish woman, with a transgender son and a daughter whose father is a naturalized citizen, I am acutely aware of how the upcoming administration’s policies, if enacted, will continue to erode my rights and those of my family. Blurring the separation of church and state; a nationwide ban on abortion; eliminating the Temporary Protection Status for immigrants—the list goes on, and it’s scary. It feels more important than ever to fight to protect the freedoms that actually make America great, and I will be doing what I can to further that cause. But it feels equally important to recognize what I already have. So: I am grateful for the freedom to worship how and where I want, at my beloved Temple Israel in Boston. I am grateful to have walked into my polling station in Cambridge and walked out with my “I Voted” sticker a mere five minutes later. I am grateful to be able to dress how I want, go where I want, love who I want, and say what I want. I am also acutely aware that some of these privileges are more available to me than they are to other Americans. This year, at my Thanksgiving table, I will be paying special attention to what freedom means to me.

Ellie

For me, freedom is women's equality. I am grateful to have the freedom of living a life where I never had to get married or have kids in order to be a contributing member of our society. I’ve worked hard to purchase my own home and to buy and sell real estate investments. Just a century ago, women were barred from owning property, applying for credit, and more; it wasn’t until 1974 that the Equal Opportunity Credit Act granted women in the U.S. the right to open a bank account or get a mortgage on their own. I can’t imagine having to rely on a male figurehead in order to access the financial world and the support it affords. I am also grateful to have agency over my body and my decisions regarding not having kids—this history of birth control in the US is equally shocking. These seem like basic rights, yet they were unavailable not long ago. As the political pendulum swings back towards patriarchy and misogyny, I see how important it is to continue to uphold (and promote) the freedom of women’s equality.

Stephanie

Freedom, to me, is synonymous with choice. The ability to choose where and how we live, what we read, who represents us, and so many other things. The more choice we have, the more freedom we have. As a first-generation Greek-American and wife to a Cuban immigrant, I am especially grateful for the opportunities that allow my family to be together around the Thanksgiving table. This cherished tradition reminds me that despite our varied origins, we share common values.