Rabbi’s Message

September, 2010

What is it about the High Holy Days that bring Jews to temple in vast numbers? I’m sure it won’t come as a surprise to you to learn that there are many pundits who treat this phenomenon with dismay, even ridicule: “Where are they the rest of the year?” “It’s nothing but a fashion show!”

These are but two of the many “criticisms” of those who attend at Holy Days and virtually no other time of year, unless maybe a family member or friend is celebrating a Bar or Bat Mitzvah or they are reciting Kaddish on a love one’s Yahrtseit.

I am not one of those finger-pointing pundits.

There is a majesty to Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. They address essential issues for us individually and as a people. The single pivotal issue around which all the others revolve is that of free will, the ability each of us has to become the person we want to be. We all know that there are forces in our lives beyond our control: a company downsizes and you lose your job; one of your children decides to not speak to you; your spouse walks in and announces he/she is leaving
the marriage. Indeed, those external forces are powerful and can devastate us.

But we are not puppets, and we are not powerless in the face of those events. Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur offer us the opportunity to examine our lives in the light of our 3500 year history. Special musical themes lift us, arouse us, stimulate our souls. Prayers are added to the regular liturgy aimed at urging us to ask ourselves hard questions. Rabbis present diveri Torah aimed at stimulating our minds, our hearts and our souls and moving us in the direction of putting our lives in perspective.

And no less valuable than all these is the power of being together in large numbers. We energize each other. I can tell you that from the pulpit I can feel the energy of a sanctuary filled with people praying together aloud; surely it sounds no less powerful if you are sitting in the pews surrounded by each other joined in prayer.

So while some are acid-tongued about why Jews are not in synagogue other days of the year, I am stimulated on the days when we are. Do I feel there is value in attending more often? Of course. But I don’t denigrate in any way what it means for us to be together on our special Holy Days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur because you may not be there on other days. The rabbis, the cantor, the entire staff focuses on creating a meaningful experience for every person who attends because the days have meaning for us as well. Sharing them with you energizes us.

So, whether you are a once-or-twice-a-year Jew or an every-Shabbat Jew, I hope being together again this yontif is inspiring, is meaningful, is uplifting. As well, I hope it moves you closer to seeking those ways you can look back at the past and see where you have fallen short, accept personal responsibility for change and lift yourself to being the best, highest person you are capable of being.

L’shanah Tovah. Please God, it will be a good year for all of us.