Rabbi Jaech's Blog

Temple Israel's community made the recent High Holy Days beautiful and uplifting for me.  Here are some of my favorite moments:

• It was wonderful to hear high schooler Jack Eisenger talk about the Torah's story of the near-sacrifice of Isaac and his confirmation classmate Jacob Aronson chant the Yom Kippur morning haftarah reading from the book of Isaiah.  We often have our youth chant haftarah blessings (as they did again this year), but Jack and Jacob put in extra effort to participate in services.  As the last service of Yom Kippur concluded, several members of our youth group walked to the bima holding havdalah candles.  It was a powerful moment. (Special thanks to Rabbi Wendy Pein for suggesting and organizing this ritual.)  One member of the congregation said to me:  "Watching our youth gives me hope for the future." 
• Cantor Lauren Phillips Fogelman brought some beautiful new melodies to our congregation, including one she composed (Sim Shalom).  Our cantor also included compositions from Cantor Ben Ellerin (Ahavah Rabbah) and our talented accompanist, Dina Pruzhansky (Ahavat Olam).  The rock and director of our choir, Eddie Pleasant, again brought the choir to a new level.  There were so many musical moments that moved me, it's impossible to name them all.  Music is so important to our worship at TINW, and this year our choir and our music professionals worked diligently to give us the very best.  
• Standing with the past presidents during Kol Nidre always moves me.  I work closely with the president of our congregation, and I know how important and difficult the role of the president can be.  We have been blessed with talented and devoted leaders over the years.  It's an honor for me to stand beside them.

I begin the year 5779 with a grateful heart.  May it be for all of us a year of goodness, blessing and peace.