Sermons: High Holy Days

I feel blessed to share the High Holy Days with you.  I’m thankful to everyone who makes these services possible and meaningful.  Many people you see and many are behind the scenes.  It’s a group effort with devotion at its core. It's an honor to serve this community which has meant so much to our family and me.  I grew up with Jewish family, culture, education, and service as driving forces- yes, I’m one of those.  For a time before we came to TINW, we were not members of another shul.  We stayed connected through our folks’ memberships in their synagogues, holiday gatherings, and me through playing Jewish music.  We joined Temple Israel when the timing was right for us, which, like many of you, coincided with getting our daughters ready for bat mitzvah.  Sound familiar?  Allison and Cassie each became bat mitzvah, were confirmed and went through the high school program here.  There have been so many wonderful experiences and connections over these past two decades that I find the opportunity to give back very meaningful.  I want to contribute to the future of our congregation, our relationships, and the progressive Jewish movement. I’m along the continuum of Jewish observance, but I recognize and appreciate that many people in this congregation may not have my background or connection to Judaism.  Or, some come from a much more observant experience.  Not everyone here is Jewish, but we all make up a beautiful blend and share our story.  As was said in a great advertisement long ago- “You don’t have to be Jewish to love Levy’s.”  There is no right or wrong about how to practice your faith, what you know, who you love, your gender or ethnicity, or how involved you are at Temple Israel.  The fact that you are here today as part of this sacred community is fantastic, and you are always welcome here. Do any of these questions resonate with you?  What brings you here?  Do you feel engaged, or do you believe there's a party going on and you're on the sidelines?  Do you view this as a sacred community?  Is that important to you?  Do your children like their experience here?  Do you want to connect more but don’t know how? Let’s start right now.  Please turn to someone near you that you don’t know or don’t know well and take a moment to say hello.    

Consider this- the future of Judaism is in our hands, and we can’t take it for granted.  What do we want our Jewish future to be?  Are Temple programs and events relevant?  For many, I think the answer is yes.  For many, maybe no or somewhere in-between.  Possibly something more basic brings you here. You can easily find out that we have programs and activities aplenty.  If these excite you- that’s awesome, because a lot of effort and cost goes into bringing them to fruition.  What’s exciting to me is that many of them came about because someone had a passion, and others supported their idea.  Some examples are the Broadway on Hudson one-woman show; Nosh Jewish food showcase; Steak, Scotch and Cigars; Midnight Run; TINW softball team, and a women’s journa lwriting group.  Our youth also have an impact.  Coby Rinke wanted Temple Israel to create less landfill waste, and he prompted us to switch from paper plates and plastic utensils to reusable options.  Max Frey just finished an Eagle Scout project and engaged congregants and others to build a ga-ga pit. 
 
Aside from activities, the clergy, Temple leadership and I genuinely want to know what moves you to participate.  Why do you want your children to become b’nai mitzvah? Why do or don’t you attend services, or connect in some other way that makes Judaism meaningful to you now and hopefully long into the future?  I'm appealing, not for money- though your financial support is vital- but to sit with you and talk about what’s important.  You can always reach me by email at steve@tinw.org or leave a message for me through the Temple office.  Btw- we just started a group called Community Connections that will help us have these kinds of discussions.  We can talk about this group, too, because you might want to be involved. We’re in a time of celebration and reflection.  I'm so thankful that you are part of this Temple family, and that you help make it unique. To anyone who I may have offended this past year, please accept my sincere apology.  May this continue to be a place where you feel welcome, valued, and safe, where you and your family can find connection, meaning, and comfort, and where you see a future to explore.   I wish you a happy, healthy new year, inscribed in the Book of Life.   Shanah Tovah!