2 minute read
FROM THE RABBI Rabbi Amy Memis-Foler
There’s a Chasidic story about a student who goes to his Rabbi to talk about his feelings of sadness. As they talk in front of the fi replace, the fi re begins to die out until the rabbi reaches over to stoke the coals.
“Do you see,” pointed out the rabbi, “what happened when I gathered the embers close together? They came back to life. When the coals were separated, they generated little heat; but when they were close together, they received warmth from each other, and the fi re was renewed.
This story inspires me as we get ready to gather in person this year for the High Holy Days. During the past 18 months we’ve been separated from one another in ways which may have led to feelings of being disconnected from our Jewish community. I can sense these feelings are changing.
It’s time to reconnect. When we can be together, albeit in smaller groups than years past to keep everyone as safe as possible, like the embers collected close again, we will feel that warmth and comfort. Understanding that members of our community might not be able to be present in person, we can still look to reconnect at this time of year. With the blessing of technology and hardworking staff and lay leaders, we are bringing our High Holy Day worship via video in real time, through LiveControl, and in this way we will feel that sense of being together again.
It’s time to renew. When the rabbi in the story gathered the embers together, the student saw that his hope could be renewed. At the new year especially, we talk about starting with a clean slate. We acknowledge what’s behind us, and we turn toward a new year with that hope and knowledge that we can renew our Judaism. We can come back as we once were, and we can continue to grow in our Judaism.
It’s time to refresh. As the student in our story saw the gathered embers reigniting one another, he understood that his spirit need not die out. By going back and being together with his Jewish community, he could refresh his ruach, reignite his spirit. The same is true for us. The past 18 months have been a challenge for each of us on so many levels. The Jewish New Year becomes a time where we can restore our souls. During this season, when we sing and pray the prayers and do the work of teshuvah, returning to our better selves, so we can each feel our ruach refreshed.
Wishing you and your loved ones in 5782 a year of reconnection, renewal and restoration.
High Holy Days Continue...
L’shanah Tovah, Rabbi Amy L. Memis-Foler, Dave and Maddy Foler
Sukkot starts Monday, September 20
Erev Sukkot Services - 7:00 pm
Tuesday, September 21
Festival Morning Services - 10:00 am
Simchat Torah - Monday, September 27
Erev Simchat Torah Services - 7:00 pm
