Days of Awe

Rabbi Yitzhak & Rabbi Boris, September/October 2012

As summer draws to a close, ripened apples tumble into backyards and our thoughts turn to the changing seasons. We are stirred by the cycles, ever-present, pulsing inside the earth, pulsing inside ourselves. It is a time of shedding layers, of reflecting on the harvest of our year, and of considering the cycle on which we now embark.

At this time of the year, when the new moon of Tishrei awakens as a silver sliver in the sky, we move forward in our annual tradition of communal celebration, inner reflection, prayer and contemplation. It is a time for gratitude and appreciation for what we have accomplished in this past year, a time for embracing the “now” of our current state, a time for visioning our individual and collective future. What will we set our aspirations towards? What is the inner work we must do to improve our family and relationship dynamics, our contributions to our larger community and the world? What will we shape as our collective vision for our congregation’s wellbeing, and how will we focus our collective efforts towards tikkun olam (healing the world)?

There is much work to be done. Our world is calling us into action, but also we must do the individual work of our inner selves, as each of us yearns for healing on many levels.

We invite you all to join us with open hearts, a spirit of reflection and meaningful engagement as we usher in the New Year together. With warmth and kindness, compassion and acceptance, together we will shape a sacred space creating a vessel for experiencing the Days of Awe.

Together we will celebrate the High Holy Days, the Yamim Noraim, as a time for transformation of ourselves, our congregation, our world. We are excited to embark on this next new cycle of our life, and look forward to greeting you with candles and wine, ancient and newly born melodies, and warm hearts.

L’Shana Tova Tikatevu – May you be inscribed in the Book of Life for a good year.

Rabbi Yitzhak & Shonna
Rabbi Boris & Sarah