Category: Featured

If God does not build the house, the workers labor in vain… (Psalm 127).

There is an ancient Jewish tradition: when building a house, to leave one corner, one tiny bit unfinished. To let a little bit of brick show through plaster in the corner, to have something left not fully painted. Our ancestors did so in order to remind ourselves that the world is not complete, that there is far too much suffering and destruction in the world for us to sit comfortably in our home and think that all is good…

Over the course of this summer there was a lot of renovation activity at Temple Emanuel – the new floors were laid in the social hall and the entrance, ceiling was painted in the swing space, a new layer of shingles was added to the Sanctuary building roof, new gutters are being added to both buildings – wonderful, exciting, much needed actions to upkeep the TE physical ‘body’. This is perhaps the biggest number of projects undertaken in quick succession over the last few years – much of it delayed or scheduled maintenance. There are still things that need fixing – the social hall ceiling and acoustics, the board room in the ‘house’ that suffered major water damage and will need to be almost fully re-built to name but a few – but many of the things we did, like the floor and the roof, allow us to ‘tick it off’ as completed – a great feeling of accomplishment for TE leadership – and for all of us! There’s still plenty of ‘unfinished corners’ around TE, of course, but at least the projects that have been completed give us a sense of – well, completion!

The buildings are important, no doubt about that. Yet they are merely the tools in our real efforts: the building of a community! The relationships that are forged, the learning that takes place, the prayers that are offered, the traditions observed, the caring and the deeds of loving kindness performed daily by members of Temple Emanuel… That’s what we are REALLY building – the fabric of our Jewish present and the foundations for our Jewish future. Thanks to the generous vision of the Second Half Century fund we are also supporting our school and educational programs through new curricula and exciting initiatives, the school building is buzzing with excitement! New members join and past members are coming back – what better testament can there be to our community-building efforts?

This kind of building is at times harder to see, unlike the bricks and mortar – but it can be felt and experienced at so many things we do throughout the year! Above all, this is not the kind of ‘building’ that can ever be finished – just as relationships, the community needs what was built in the past as a foundation, but needs continued efforts to keep it alive and well.

I hope you get to see for yourself all the wonderful renovations that took place over the summer and take pride in them. I also hope that you will take an active role in being a part of the community-building that we do and find a way to engage and lend a hand. I look forward to seeing many of you as we build the sukkah on October 9^th, a temporary structure that reminds us of the fragility of our lives and our buildings, and of the strength of our human bond with each other and with God. I also look forward to continued celebrations of Sukkot and Simchat Torah, (Oct 12^th and Oct 19^th), extending the special season of High Holy Days with the joyful celebration of our heritage and our Torah!

Wishing you all a shanah tovah u’metukkah, a sweet, happy and fulfilling new year 5772!

In our tradition, the Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are known as the most awe-inspiring and powerful Holy Days. In our modern reality, the High Holy Days continue to serve as a draw for the Jews who rarely set foot in the synagogue during the year, but who nonetheless make big efforts to be a part of a community on the Days of Awe. Of course, if you have not been coming to the synagogue regularly, you may find the experience alienating (and great many Jews do!), since you do not know the prayers and may not be quite as comfortable with Hebrew (or don’t know how to read), the services may seem far too long and hard to cope with. If you go to a bookstore or search online, you will quickly discover dozens of books with titles such as ‘how to survive the high holidays’, ‘Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur survival kit’ and so on.

Somehow, this most profound experience of the Jewish year is also one of the most difficult ones for the majority of modern Jews – and yet the synagogues continue to open up walls to social halls and rent additional chairs to accommodate all those who come just for those few days… For so many Jews, coming back to the synagogue to hear Kol Nidrei and Avinu Malkeinu and the sound of the Shofar is still one of the most important moments of the year. I know for certain that those who attend the services regularly feel much more at home in the synagogue during the High Holy Days, but I also know how much comfort the High Holy Day services give to everyone who comes back year after year…

The Days of Awe, Yamim Noraim are technically the ten days that connect Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. It is the time for reflection, for introspection. The time to conduct what the rabbis call heshbon hanefesh, the accounting of the soul. It is a time to seek forgiveness for the wrongs we have done – first from people, our loved ones, our families and friends, as well as people we barely know but may have hurt, and then from God. But as much as we all accept the need to come together and to pray and to say the words of supplication (slach lanu, mechal lanu, kaper lanu – forgive us, pardon us, grant us atonement) we often forget that this process does not begin on Rosh Hashanah, the New Year – but it begins in the month of Elul that precedes it!

The Selichot prayers, the ‘prayers of forgiveness’ are recited in the month of Elul, before the New Year even begins. In Sephardi tradition the selichot are recited throughout the month of Elul, whereas the Ashkenazim begin the selichot prayers at the end of Shabbat preceding Rosh Hashanah. Traditionally, the penitential prayers are recited at midnight, physically reminding us that this is the time to look at our lives and ourselves in a different light…

For many years now the Greater New Haven area Reform synagogues have been coming together for the Selichot services. It gives us a once-a-year opportunity to share our worship with each other and to be together as part of a bigger Jewish community and family – a very special feeling indeed. This year, as we begin to celebrate Temple Emanuel’s 50^th anniversary, we are also honored to host the Selichot services at TE! On Saturday, September 24^th at 7.30 pm members of Reform Congregations in Hamden, Cheshire, Southbury, Madison and Chester will come and join TE members for a very special service that will help us set the mood for the upcoming Holy Days.

Professor Paul Bloom from Yale will talk about ‘Just Babies’ and share with us the results of his research into innate morality, the fascinating subject that seems to confirm some of the key beliefs in Judaism!

If you would like to sing in the combined choir, please contact Laurel Shader asap! We also need help with parking and food, please let Leona know if you are available to help, but above all, I hope we use this opportunity to come together and experience the incredible spirit of the selichot service, especially if you have not done so in the years past!

Last but not least, I hope you will take a moment to follow the link in the shofar blast (or the shofar) and tell the High Holy Day committee what mitzvoth (honors) you would like to have in the services, as well as how and when you are able to help – we really want to make sure that every member of our congregation has a chance to participate in the most meaningful way!

Wishing you all Shanah Tovah U’metukah, a sweet and happy New Year 5772 ahead!