Well, The High Holy Days are now behind us, and we can enjoy the next Holiday of the year, Sukkot. Betti and Mark thanked all those who worked so hard to make the Holy Day services so special and I pray inspiring. I must, however, give a soul-felt thank you to our Cantor Shir and her incredible choir. We have truly been given a gift from God with this vocal star who has shown how she brings her musical ability and beautiful Neshamah (soul) to every piece she shares with Temple Sinai, be it on the Holy Days or every Shabbat. The choir under direction of Susan Buck, whose Shofar was magnificent as always, sounded so good with strong voices dedicated to having the prayers ascend to the heavens. So, THANK YOU, to all. Temple Sinai is truly a blessed and holy congregation.
Most people see the holy days of Rosh HaShanah (R.H.) and Yom Kippur (Y.K.) and Sukkot and its concluding holiday of Simchat Torah, as being four separate religious events. This is the reason that many come to one of the four, a couple of them. If, however, you were to understand that actually all four of them are tied together by a common theme by which the physical and spiritual worlds are drawn together by the common thread of God and tradition, than one would have to attend all of them and not pick and choose, however that is accomplished.
This common thread is taught to us by Tradition in a very interesting way. Most people assume from their upbringing and attendance at a Hebrew School, that the Book of Life is opened on R.H. and closed on Y.K. Our prayer book actually says this. However, the actual teaching is that while the Book of Life is opened on R.H., it is NOT closed on Y.K. but rather kept open until the last day of Sukkot which is observed in the Reform tradition on Simchat Torah. This is the thread that ties ALL the Holy Days and Holidays into a whole.
Also, it should be noted and studied how these four Jewish observances beautifully weave the celebration of the physical and spiritual. R.H. is the birthday of the world and so it is a time of giving thanks to God for life and the world in which we live. On Yom Kippur we are turned inward to evaluate and define our inner spiritual and moral world. Sukkot is, of course, a very physical holiday and it is the celebration of the fall harvest and the foods by which we are physically blessed. Finally, Simchat Torah turns us back inward to the teachings of the Torah that is are our moral compass given by God through Moses by which we are to live our lives.
Now knowing this, I look forward to seeing you at Sukkot services tomorrow night (Monday) and Tuesday morning, our Temple and Brotherhood/Sisterhood celebrations in the Sukkah, and of course, Simchat Torah (Monday night the 13th). This will be a most joyous and festive time of our Jewish calendar year. What better way to celebrate this, than to celebrate it together?
Even as we celebrate the joy of Sukkot, during our Tuesday morning service on October 7th we will take time to pause and remember the tragic events of October 7, 2023.
Just to remind everyone that this Thursday, October 9th, I am beginning a three-part class on “God and Judaism”. I am hoping, weather permitting, to hold this first class in the Sukkah. This first session at 3 pm will deal with the depiction of God as found in the Bible. The next class on the 16th will deal with God in the rabbinic period and the Middle Ages. The third session on the 23rd will deal with God as seen by modern theologians such as Martin Buber, Mordecai Kaplan, Eugene Borowitz. The class will be offered both in person and online so sign up by calling 561-276-6161 Ext. #204, Temple Sinai’s Adult Education extension.
Also, on Thursday October 16th at 11:30 am there will be an orientation meeting for those interested in becoming an Adult Bat Mitzvah. The only requirements are to be a Temple member and a willingness to learn. Please let the office know at 561-276-6161 Ext. #100, if you are interested in participating in this wonderful Jewish experience.
Look for the weekly What’s Happening emails and the Shabbat pamphlets and you will see all of the educational, spiritual, social, and cultural programs Temple Sinai has to offer. There is something for everyone.
Hag Samaeach, Happy Holiday.
Your Rabbi Steve
P.S. In the spirit of the beautiful seasonal holiday of Sukkot I want to thank
Dahlia Manaker and Jim Pugh for donating the beautiful landscaping in the Temple gardens and overseeing the work done. I also want to thank our Jewish Family Experience Delray families: Jasiah, Maya, Kathryn, Jason, Susan and Stuart for decorating our Sukkah so beautifully for the holiday, under the guidance of
Rabbi Joyce Siegel. Lynne Weinstein and David Cotton.