~ RABBI'S CORNER ~
WHAT DID YOU HEAR AT SINAI?
As we prepare for the coming High Holidays, our focus turns to the themes of change and return: changing direction, bad habits/behavior and returning to the path that leads us to creating lives of sanctity and menschlichkeit. Moreover, the urgency of this task is reflected in the acknowledgment of uncertainty about what lies ahead in the coming year, as reflected in the words of the Untane Tokef prayer, "who will live; who will die?''.
Every year on the Shabbat just before Rosh Hashanah, the Torah portion Nitzavim is read. The text is part of Moses' final adjuration to the people: as you are about to enter the Promised Land, strive to be faithful to G-d's covenant with you:
You are standing here today - all of you - before the Lord your G-d - to enter into the covenant of the Lord your G-d - Not with you alone am I making this covenant and oath; with you who are standing here with us today - and with those also, who are not with us today. (Deuteronomy 29: 9-14)
Moses addresses not only those present but also those not present. From this somewhat unusual expression arose the teaching that every Jewish soul was present at Sinai when G-d spoke directly to the Jewish people. Every single Jewish soul that was, and ever would be created, was present at that moment when the divine Voice addressed entire people.
Moreover, even as the Voice spoke to Israel as a collective entity, every single individual Israelite experienced divine revelation according to his/her own individual capacity to hear and understand. Put another way, while G-d had a message for the entire people, every individual was personally addressed with a message specifically crafted for him/her.
This teaching (legendary or not) may be extremely helpful to those of us who seek to make this sacred season as meaningful and uplifting as possible. We would do well not only to acknowledge the message given to all of klal Yisrael/the entire Jewish people, but also to ask ourselves:
WHAT DID I HEAR AT SINAI?
WHAT DID THE VOICE SAY TO ME?
HAVE I PAID SUFFICIENT ATTENTION TO ITS MESSAGE, OR DO I NEED
TO MAKE MORE OF AN EFFORT?
AND -- HOW DO I LISTEN MORE CLEARLY, WHEN THERE IS SO MUCH "OUTSIDE NOISE AND STATIC?"
Unfortunately, the solemnity of this season often has some people thinking that G-d "has it in" for us. But the liturgy itself reminds us that G-d does not desire that we suffer for our straying off the path, but rather that we return, get "back on track," and work more diligently to be what we are supposed to be.
At this season there is a meme circulating on social media, courtesy of Chabad:
"Before you can find G-d in a synagogue, you must first find Him in yourself."
So, for those of us who are into the spirit of the season and searching, we would do well to ask ourselves: "WHAT DID I HEAR WHEN I STOOD AT SINAI?"
Even though the question recalls an experience from so very long ago, may the new year see each of us reconnecting with it, and responding with an answer that resonates as strongly as this question does today.
Sheryl and I wish each of you a happy and very healthy 5787. May we all be blessed with the ability to both ask and respond to this question with strength and enthusiasm.
-Rabbi Cary Kozberg
~ HIGH HOLY DAYS 5787 ~
Sunday, Sept 6, 11:00 AM
Cemetery Memorial Service
Friday, Sept 11, 7:00 PM
Erev Rosh Hashanah Service
Saturday, Sept 12, 10:00 AM
Rosh Hashanah Morning Service
Followed by Tashlikh Service and Lunch at Temple
Sunday, Sept 20, 7:00 PM
Kol Nidre Service
Monday, Sept 21
10:00 AM - Morning Service
1:00 PM - Afternoon Program/Discussion
3:30 PM - Afternoon Service
5:00 PM - Yizkor Memorial Service
5:30 PM - Ne'ilah/Havdalah
CEMETERY MEMORIAL SERVICE---
Plan to attend this brief Memorial service that will be held in the Reform Jewish cemetery section of Ferncliff Cemetery on Sunday, September 6 beginning at 11:00 a.m. This is a meaningful Jewish tradition during the High Holy Days.
ROSH HASHANAH EVE---
The traditional apples and honey will be served after the service on September 11. We hope you will join us for this service which begins at 7:00 PM and celebrate the sweetness of the new year.
ROSH HASHANAH MORNING---
Friends, we are fortunate to have Dr. Christian Brady, the new president of Wittenberg University, as our guest speaker at our Rosh Hashanah morning service.
Dr. Brady is a fascinating rarity. He has a distinctively "religious'' first name and heads a university with a strong Lutheran background. A practicing Episcopalian, his academic focus has been the study of ancient Aramaic/Jewish texts. He has taught Jewish studies at Penn State and was the Director of Jewish Studies at Tulane University in New Orleans.
Dr. Brady's remarks promise to add a special meaningfulness to our High Holiday observance.
I hope you'll take advantage of this opportunity to hear a respected scholar and a deeply spiritual individual.
-Rabbi Kozberg
TASHLIKH "THROW'' AND LUNCH---
Please join us for the ancient Rosh Hashanah ritual of Tashlikh after the Rosh Hashanah Morning Service on September 12. We will be gathering at Reid Park where Rabbi Kozberg will lead us. We will then meet back at the Temple for a dairy lunch at around 2:00 p.m. Please bring a side dish to share along with the fish which will be provided.
YOM KIPPUR HUNGER PROJECT---
Please bring your grocery bags filled with non-perishable foods for donating to the Second Harvest Food Bank. A table to hold your donations will be set up inside the Social Hall.
YOM KIPPUR BREAK-THE-FAST---
Plan to join us for the annual Break-the-Fast following Yom Kippur services on Monday, September 21. Main dishes and bagels will be served. We ask attendees to please bring a kugel or baked goods to share. This is a wonderful way to end the High Holy Days among friends and family.
~ CONTRIBUTIONS ~
DIAMOND
-In memory of my parents, Irene and Ed Klaben, from Amy Klaben
GOLD
-In memory of Michael E. Stein M.D., brother of Leslie Buerki, from Eddie and Laurie Leventhal
SHARON LEE BROOCK FLOWER FUND
-In honor of Laurie Leventhal's special birthday from Nancy McGregor, Larry and Kim Fish, Phyllis Nedelman, Mary Ann Lahaise, Saundra Hudson, Peggy Noonan
CONDOLENCES TO---
Leslie Buerki on the passing of her brother, Michael E. Stein, M.D., recently on August 18. A memorial service is planned on September 27 beginning at 2:00 p.m. at Temple Beth Or.
May his memory always be a blessing
~ YAHRZEIT LIST ~
SEPT 4: David Krauss (grandfather of Rick Krauss), Minnie Weixelbaum, Louis Dollin, Louis Feinstein, Aaron Isaac Gordon, Jay Shoor, Alfred Stein, Paul Lewis Stein, Henry G. Stern, Moshe Zohar (brother if Itzca Zohar)
SEPT 11: Maurice K. Baach, Rebecca Gerson, Rabbi C. Melvyn Helfgott, Dora Klein, Lena Reich, Julius Singer, Pearl Weinbach, Dan Rich
SEPT 18: Grace Paris Bruser, Sol Dagan, Moses M. Kaufman, Annabel Lapinsky, Max Roy Lapinsky, Louis Leventhal, Dora Salzer, Lina Goland Schiff, Howard Heller
SEPT 25: Estella Greenland, Fannie Neyer Leventhal, Sylvia K. Margolis, Dr. Robert M. Tannenbaum, Alma L. Weixelbaum, Sheldon Leventhal (brother of Eddie Leventhal), Ari Leviatan, Max Levitan
OCT 2: Ida Reva Block, Jane L. Ensten, Walter B. Kleeman, Sr, Ernest Mandell, Ruth Miller, Seymour Miller, Lynn Ruth Schmidt, Lester Stein (father of Leslie Buerki)