The wheel of the year turns, and we find ourselves back in Summer, watching our gardens bloom, the sweat form, and for some of us, attention turning to the new year, only three months away.
I write to you on behalf of the High Holy Day Working Group (Danny, Harriette, Heidi, Yona, Lena, Emily, Sara, Rose, Ever, Tyler, Miriam, Debbie, Rivka, and myself) to share about what has been dreamed up, and what to expect. (Consider yourself formally invited to join the working group, just let me know!)
Our 5781 Theme
In this time of global pandemic and revolution, we are called forward to reflect on how our days are marked and spent. The theme for the 5781 Hinenu High Holy Days, and for our year that follows, will explore the theme of זמן//ZMAN//sacred time.
Each year we deepen into a theme that structures our High Holy Day reflections and offers a frame for our congregation's learning and work over the year. מקום//MAKOM//sacred place, our 5780 theme, has been some combination of a challenge and an invitation in quarantine. Our hope is that to connect with ZMAN, as proposed by member Shana, we can connect to Heschel's conception of Shabbat as "a palace in time," making place not by being in physical space together, but through sanctifying time.
We will reflect on questions like:
What is this moment calling for?
When has time transformed into sacred time?
What is the role of rest in our lives?
What has changed in the past year? What has emerged?
What is eternal; what lasts forever?
How do you want this time to be remembered? How do you want to be remembered?
High Holy Day Services--Fully Online
We will be continuing to meet as a congregation online, including for the High Holy Days. The way we turn time into place is more important than ever. It is a heartbreaking thing, to not be able to davven in person with you each Shabbat, pass a challah around, shmooze in the lobby, on top of the loss and fear we have felt in our lives and for the world. And it is a heartbreak that goes even deeper when thinking about not being in physical space together for the Days of Awe--not moving our pews to cram as many people in Homewood as we can, fold programs and greet at the door, sing and sing until we reach the threshold of Neilah, and explode into a dance party of Divine proportions.
I will so miss it this year, and yet, it is not possible for us to safely gather together in such large numbers. L'shanah haba'ah b'Homewood, next year at Homewood!
We began to hold space for the feelings that come up around this with a community conversation on June 9. Please continue to talk with your fellow members and your minyan, and share your thoughts by email or phone with me and the committee members the summer continues. There will be more chances to share your thoughts!
We are planning safer outdoors + offline offerings, like a self-guided ritual walk, art installations to visit, printed resources, and support for Tashlich (time will tell what is the best fit for our community!) in addition.
***If you do not use technology on Shabbat yom tov, please be in touch with our access captains, Lena Amick or Tyler Vile. We are committed to supporting our membership through the High Holy Days and beyond, and want to connect with you if you do not use tech. We are exploring ways to offer tech support and lend hardware for our members and guests for whom technology is a barrier!***
What to Look Forward To
We are a wily and creative bunch! You can expect a lot out of our journey through the Days of Awe this year, including:
* Live services led by our community using gussied up production for Selichot, Rosh HaShanah, and Yom Kippur, on Zoom
* Pre-recorded music (to hear many voices singing together!) sourced from YOU
* Around town GeoCaching scavenger hunts that lead you through a self guided ritual
* A High Holy Days home kit (think Party at the Mailbox) with honey, a prayerbook, a haggadah for offline home practice, and more
* Public art installations
* Sukkot supplies ordering and programming through the week
* Musical Simchat Torah plans being cooked up
* Collaborations with sibling synagogues across the country
* Opportunities to teach Torah, lead meditations, and support one another
* Guest teachers and preachers
Onward!
Psalms 90:12 says:
לִמְנ֣וֹת יָ֭מֵינוּ כֵּ֣ן הוֹדַ֑ע וְ֝נָבִ֗א לְבַ֣ב חָכְמָֽה
Teach us to count our days rightly, that we may obtain a wise heart
With this as our guiding kavvanah (intention), we move forward. May the growing season be fruitful and bring vaccines, justice, and healing. May the turning of the year connect us to the Divine, our best selves, and one another. May we count our days rightly, may we be blessed with wisdom.
With love,
Rabbi Ariana