As Jews, we often hear the expression, “shver tzu zein a Yid.” Loosely, it’s tough to be a Jew. But what other people, with the exception, perhaps, of the Chinese, have the good fortune to celebrate the new year, not once, but twice. 

Double the pleasure. Double the fun. [Where are those Doublemint twins?] A time for reflection, resolution, course correction and a fresh start.  New year. New beginning.

Much the same is true for our JCC of West Hempstead, as we renew and reinvent ourselves as a dynamic, thriving center of Jewish community here in southwest Nassau.

Over the past few months, your editor, wearing his cyberhat (does this come in an extra large?), has been tinkering with the shul’s website (www.jccwh.org), establishing a presence on Facebook, and exploring this new, and still mysterious world of Twitter (www.twitter.com/jccwesthempstd), where one, or so the hype goes, has the opportunity to converse (in 140 characters or less) — albeit indirectly, by means akin to the tried and true Instant Messenger (IM) — with people and organizations of similar backgrounds holding like interests.

And so, I’ve been tweeting with my Tweeps (gotta learn the vernacular) at METNY, UJA, The Workmen’s Circle, Hillel, the 92nd Street Y, and other familiar folks, as well as making new acquaintances with the likes of Jewlicious, JewishIdeas, YeahThatsKosher, and JewishNewsDaily.

A great way to share and exchange information, news, thoughts and ideas, and to reach out to people, both within our fold and, yes, well beyond the settlement. 

This, of course, is the objective. Outreach. To inform. To cultivate. To enlighten. To entertain. To invite. To sustain. To grow.

Of course, none of this happens, mind you, through the cyber-sound equivalent of one man tweeting. Yes, I know. Many of our fellow congregants are strangers to the Internet. On the other hand, your editor’s contemporaries, the   so-called Baby Boomers, and certainly, Generation Text, are well versed, if not in the intricacies and nuances of the net, then, most assuredly, with e-mail, browsing for websites, and Facebook.

It would be nice to see more of you (or at least some of you) as “friends” on the JCC’s Facebook page (simply click on the Facebook link at the bottom of the shul’s homepage at www.jccwh.org, log on, and click the “like” button), and, indeed, as “followers” on Twitter. [Join, and follow @jccwesthempstd, at www.twitter.com/jccwesthempstd]

Keeping the lines of communication open among our own congregants would itself be wonderful. Opening new lines of communication, within our community and elsewhere, with JCCers taking the lead in reaching outward, would be even better.

True, this generation of JCCers may be somewhat Internet-adverse, a reluctance to log in, sign up, and be out there. Most assuredly, the next generation of JCCers, if there is to be one, will be on the web, surfing, browsing, tweeting, making friends and kindling affiliations through cyberspace. Let us resolve, in the coming new year, to take full advantage of this burgeoning opportunity to let the world know that we, as the conservative center of Jewish community in southwest Nassau, are here!

From the Bykofsky family — Melissa, Francyne & Alex, Joan and yours truly — to your family, a happy, healthy and prosperous new year. See you on the Internet! 

-- Seth D. Bykofsky, Editor/Webmaster  ☺