Tishri The Busy Season

            If the Jewish Calendar Year has a “busy season”, then certainly the month of Tishri is it!  From the deeply spiritual recent High Holy Days, followed by the historically and agriculturally significant Sukkot, to the separate but connected Holy Day of Shemini Atzeret and the unbridled joy of Simchat Torah…congregations the world over experience a vibrancy and energy unique to this time of year.  In addition, nature does its best to impress as October days refresh us with cooler temperatures and fall foliage dazzles with an array of color.  Spending time in our temporary sukkah dwellings reconnect us to our history and allow us to pause and take in the beauty and serenity of our Creator’s handiwork that we too often take for granted.

            Coming up soon is another meaningful calendar opportunity event to savor which is Simchat Family Torah Night.  A fun and unique evening allows us the chance to be in immediate proximity to a completely unrolled Torah as our rabbi provides brief insight into each section. It is a perfect example of community as together with many hands we are able to accomplish the task of holding aloft the sacred texts in a huge circle. It’s quite a sight! October has still more for us to enjoy including another fun and educational CSI Rockin’ Shabbat for our very youngest later in the month on October 23rd.  A few days after that another enjoyable Adult Education event is the presentation of a movie called “The Farewell Party” taking place Sunday, October 25^th (location and RSVP details in this Shofar bulletin edition). It is the compassionate and unlikely funny story of a group of friends at a Jerusalem retirement home who help their terminally ill friend. 

            The Jewish calendar of weekday, Shabbat, and holiday services, and customs that fill our years are intertwined with the continuous sum of our individual life experiences that together shape our memories on this remarkable journey.  The creation of shared experiences unites our kehilla in a way that is profound and uplifting.  Some of the famously quoted rabbi’s over the ages have noted that a person can respectfully daven daily, faithfully light Shabbat candles, adhere to the laws of Kashrut and more…yet sadly may be missing out on one of the very easiest aspects of our faith to accomplish.  In a word…fellowship… that sense of community with others who embrace Judaism as their faith.  Thank you to those volunteering your time and enthusiasm to ensure that services and special events take place each month to enhance our spiritual journey. As you take those warmer clothes out of storage and enjoy the delights of the season, be sure and treat yourself to the good things happening at shul!

            See you around!

            Theresa