At the end of Rosh Hashanah, I went with my daughter to visit some nursing homes and people in their houses to blow the Shofar for those who couldn't make it to the Synagogue.
In one location, a nursing home, one of the nurses who loves when we come, asked us if she could join us as we blew the Shofar for residents.
As we blew the Shofar, tears filled her eyes, as she told us how overcome and how powerful this is for her each and every year.
We went to more homes to blow Shofar for people, and saw more tears, as people hugged their grandchildren and cried as they heard their Shofar.
The tear filled eyes of connection in multiple locations and appreciation for the simple yet powerful sounds of the Shofar, with their call to action and hope for a better future, encapsulated the very essence of Rosh Hashanah.
THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR AN AMAZING ROSH HASHANAH!
From the 80 guests at the Rosh Hashanah Community Dinner, to the massive crowd of hundreds of young, old and everyone in between at the Grist Mill, to the beautiful packed turnout at High Holiday services for kids and adults, Rosh Hashanah 5786 was a truly inspiring and powerful way to start off a New Year.
There is so much on everyone's chests and inside everyone's hearts. Yet it was so powerful being together and strengthening each other, as we uplifted each other and prayed for a year of blessings and good health for all especially those who are facing health challenges, for peace and security, for blessings of happiness, life and more, and of course for all of our brothers and sisters in the Holy Land, for their safety, peace and security and the return of the hostages.
Yes there is a lot of bias, challenges, divisions between people, antisemitism and an abundance of it cloaked in anti Israel sentiments, sadly being shown by so many, including leaders of countries and people who will stand up for so many others, besides....
However it is a new day, a New Year, and G-d willing it will be a much better year of blessings for all of our people and indeed all of humanity together!
Each one of us are a walking miracle, carrying a light, that we can use to illuminate the world around us, with kindness, Mitzvahs and goodness, and we know that this energy is what will help us continue to bring light and positivity to the world in the fullest sense.
Thank you to each and every one of you for showing up for whatever event or service you could attend, to Shmuel Freeman for helping lead the services, to Shayna, Chana & Sima for running the children's programs and pulling off the massive beautiful community dinner, and to Chai Security for their services, along with our dedicated in house trained SIX13 team at ChabadSudbury who helped provide security and logistical help over the holidays for all the events.
This Shabbat is known as Shabbat Shuva, the first Shabbat of the year, and one tied in to the theme of "return". It is a return to the essence of who we are and what our core values and perspectives are, as we begin a new year, with so much hopes and prayers.
The services will be indoors over Shabbat. Please do join us for the services and the Kiddush Luncheon.
JOIN US FOR YOM KIPPUR
If you don't yet have plans yet, we would love you to join us for any or all of the services over Yom Kippur.
While the tent was full on Rosh Hashanah, there is plenty space in the tent (or on the lawn if your prefer) to add many more seats. We hope that you can join us for some of the Yom Kippur Services or the amazing Neilah and Break Fast at the end of the services, to stand together with community, neighbors and our people on this holy day.
With best wishes for a Shabbat Shalom & Good Shabbos & a Gmar Chatima.
Yisroel