FROM THE RABBI
Rabbi Andrea London Over the last several years, we have been refurbishing Beth Emet, a building that was designed when it was first built to be reminiscent of the Tabernacle, low slung and tent-like similar to the original portable sanctuary our ancestors built in the wilderness of Sinai. As we were renovating our space, we wanted to enhance the details in our building to highlight its similarity to this first sanctuary in which the Jewish people worshiped. Some of these enhancements are featured in our lobby and include copper struts and screening reminiscent of those found in the Tabernacle, donor wall plaques reflective of the colors in the Tabernacle, and the verse from the Book of Exodus that instructs the Israelites to build the sanctuary prominently featured over the couch. Just as we were finishing our building renovations, we went into lockdown and many people in the community haven’t seen, in person, the beautiful railing that leads into the building from the parking lot since that was the last part of the building to be finished. I look forward to your being able to do so during these Holy Days. The words etched into it speak about the purposes and values of our synagogue. On the lower part of the railing there are five words prominently etched into the metal (and then repeated in smaller letters throughout). These words are Beit Tefillah—house of prayer, Beit Sefer— house of learning, Beit Knesset—house of gathering, Beit Tzedek—house of justice, Beit Hesed—house of unbounded love. All together they make up Beit Emet—house of truth, the name of our synagogue. After the Second Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed, the synagogue became the center for Jewish life. In addition to the Temple’s role as being a place for ritual, the synagogue took on two more purposes—a place for the community to congregate and to learn Torah. These three purposes have been the cornerstone of synagogue life for nearly 2,000 4
High Holy Day Guide
years. When we were renovating Beth Emet, we wanted the entryway to speak to these purposes and to our values as a community. Thus we added the words Tzedek—justice— and Hesed—unbounded love—to the three traditional purposes of synagogue life to proclaim upon entry into Beth Emet the primary importance our community places on pursuing justice and striving to bring more love into the world. Similar to our building, the wilderness Tabernacle was built and maintained through the contributions of everyone in the community. In the last section of the Book of Exodus, many chapters are devoted to enumerating the material needs and specs for the Tabernacle and then it is constructed as the Book of Exodus concludes. At the beginning of the Book of Leviticus, the Tabernacle is consecrated for the holy purpose of being the spiritual center of the community. Now that we are re-entering the building, it’s time for us, as our ancestors did, to consecrate it for the holy work that our community does—prayer, learning, gathering to develop relationships with each other, pursuing justice and increasing love in the world. As we each brought gifts to create our beautiful physical space, we now have an opportunity to think about how each of us can contribute to the spiritual purposes of our holy community. Over these Holy Days, we will have some time to think about and discuss how we can uplift and consecrate our community to its sacred purpose in the coming year. May it be a year of good health, growth, love, justice, and purpose for all of us, the whole House of Israel, and all of humanity. Happy 5782! L’shanah Tovah tikateivu v’teichateimu (Happy New Year. May you be written and inscribed in the Book of Life), Rabbi Andrea London, Danny, Yonah, and Liora
