CBI Blogs

Moadim l’simchah!

Since Yom Kippur I have been approached by many people who have said “aren’t you happy the holidays are over?” or “I bet you have a lot more time to do other things now that the holidays are behind you.”

The truth is, we are still “in” the holidays! They just keep coming!

Two days after Yom Kippur our remarkable brotherhood members had put our beautiful sukkah in place. Last Friday we officially welcomed in the holiday of Sukkot with dancing and shaking of our lulavim and etrogim. All week long I enjoyed meals in our Sukkah. On Tuesday, many on the temple staff had the privilege of lunching with our friends from St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church. While they were here, we took them on a tour of our beautifully renovated Transitional Prayer Space in Smith Auditorium and shared our closed sanctuary space with new-to-St. Matt’s staff members.

Later that day, along with those members of our choir who were able to attend, I was able to celebrate their hard work by sharing dinner, conversation, and memories of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur in the Sukkah. Together we participated in the mitzvot of hosting guests, eating a meal, and shaking the four species.

It has been so special watching our youngest members, those children in our Child Development Center along with their educators, sing, play, snack and decorate our sukkah. During his sermon this past Friday evening Rabbi Folberg emphasized the joy that is supposed to be experienced during Sukkot and it has been so much fun to be a part of this with our greater temple community and beyond.

Tomorrow evening, Friday, October 6^th, we will enter into the holiday of Simchat Torah. Our service will begin at 6:00 p.m. (not the usual 6:30) to give us all the time we need to dance, sing, and celebrate both Shabbat and the gift that is Torah. Rabbi Folberg and Rabbi Levy will read from the end and the beginning as we prepare to start our annual cycle of Torah all over again next week with B’reishit. We suggest you wear your dancing shoes and comfortable clothing as we participate in three hakafot!

On Saturday morning the observance continues. Rabbi Levy and I will lead shabbat morning worship that will include a few extra psalms as well as prayers of Yizkor. If you have lost someone in the past year OR years and you would like to memorialize them, we invite you to join us (either in person or online). I happen to know that Rabbi Levy is going to give a beautiful teach on the power of Yizkor during our service.

When the sun sets on Saturday evening our High Holy Day season for 5784 will officially be at an end. I will be on an airplane with my husband, headed to Seattle, for a week of clouds, rain, cooler weather, long walks, lots of coffee, wine, good food, and napping. I am so grateful to all my colleagues who supported me through the past month, especially my clergy partners Rabbis Folberg and Levy, and Trish Ivey, our assistant here in the clergy suite along with the unstoppable Dr. Maimy Fong. I am deeply grateful for this opportunity to refresh and return ready for the months ahead.

Chag Sameach and Shabbat Shalom!