Several times over the last few days, I pulled up to the front door of people's homes to share some hand delivered Rosh Hashanah joy and homemade Honey Cake, and the recipients were overcome with emotions and started crying.
The visits have included deep conversations about life and the year that passed, the concerns for what Israel and the Jewish people are enduring, concerns for what is happening here, and also encouragement and hope for the upcoming year, which we know will G-d willing bring lots of new blessings.
From affixing Mezuzah's to planning a Bar or Bat Mitzvah, or planning a follow up visit to a home or their relatives, these visits have been an eye opener into how so many are feeling as we end this Jewish Calendar year of 5785.
Alongside that it has been a powerful week of events, classes, lectures, Hebrew School Launch, prayer services, baby namings, Shiva visits and more as you can read about below.
The Rosh Hashanah energy is certainly in the air, as we end of 5785 and prepare for 5786.
Community is always important, and being connected with one another as a people, no matter how different we might be or even think, is as important as ever. Our people and our children need us to come together, to give each other strength, to recalibrate, and to inspire one another as we pray for the upcoming year, pray for peace, pray the return of the hostages, pray for Israel, pray for the USA and pray for all of humanity, that goodness, kindness and morality shall prevail and be an abundance.
Indeed tomorrow on the final Shabbat of the year, we read the portion of Nitzavim, in which Moses reminds the Jewish people on the final day of his life, about the intrinsic unity, no matter which category of person they like to define themselves as. Not only that, he reminds them, that precisely their differences are what build the unity and success of their mission as a people, looking to follow the word of G-d, do Mitzvos and good deeds, and to make a world of kindness.
If you don't yet have plans for Rosh Hashanah, please do join us for any of the prayers or services, Rosh Hashanah Dinner, or the beautiful Shofar & Tashlich at the Grist Mill and help us strengthen each other and the Jewish people this Rosh Hashanah.
Let us come together and usher in a new year of goodness and blessings for us and all of humanity!
Shabbat Shalom & Good Shabbos
Yisroel