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High Holy Days: Our Time For Connection And Meaning, A Message from Rabbi Edery

A Jewish community, our congregation, is much more than a gathering place for people of common origins. It is a place where people with a shared vision get together to make it real; it is where we join to live enriched by each other’s presence and support, and be inspired by our values and  ideals.

The High Holy Days are central to Jewish life. We take time to pause and take stock of how we are doing at this moment in life. We reflect privately as individuals; we review our relationships, clarify our goals, and renew our sense of purpose and order our priorities. These are important days to be connected within Judaism, for the feeling of belonging in this tradition and this community. This is not meant only for those with Jewish family origins — our message, our inspiration, and our community are meant for all, and are open for all who gather with us. We embrace that notion, by which  “A Jew is that person I want to become." It is not just about our origins but about our present cares, aspirations, and goals.

These are some of the key ideas that have stayed with me after this season of holy days:

A Jewish community, our congregation, is much more than a gathering place for people of common origins. It is the place where people with the same vision get together to make it real; it is where we join to live enriched by each other’s presence and support, and be inspired by our shared ideals. 

Whether we were born in a religious home or not, into a Jewish family or not, we all still have the same choice before us: Do we relate to Jewish tradition and its message of social responsibility, ethical requirements, personal and social values? If you feel the Jewish tradition, in any of its ways, appeals to you, then our congregation is the place for you. At the High Holy Days — and beyond them — we make Judaism real and meaningful to us through education, Mitzvah projects, celebrations, being there for each other, and engaging in Tikun Olam (repairing our world). 

In our holy days, we were invited to review our personal values, to consider Judaism’s message to us, and then to set our priorities by making meaningful choices. The new year has began, and now is the time to act. 

Click here, or use the navigation menu under "HIGH HOLY DAYS 2022/5783" above, for our full schedule of events.

May this year bring us blessings, and may we be moved "to be a blessing."

--Rabbi Ariel Edery

Thu, March 28 2024 18 Adar II 5784