Rabbi's Week in Review Blog

With Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah celebrated Monday evening and Tuesday of this week — more traditionally observant shuls outside Israel celebrate Shemini Atzeret on Monday evening/Tuesday, and Simchat Torah on Tuesday evening/Wednesday — we complete what you might call our busy season. Beginning with the month of Elul and our preparation for Rosh Hashanah, Selichot the week before Rosh Hashanah, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Sukkot, culminating in this week’s celebration, it is a lot of chaggim, or holidays, packed into less than a two-month period.

It was wonderful to see people I have not seen for a while, and even more wonderful to see people in our community together for the first time in a long time. When we gathered Friday night in our community garden for Shabbat/Sukkot, celebrating in our new, beautiful sukkah designed and built by Josh Sipp, I was reminded of what I think I have always known. That whatever else we see as the purpose and meaning of synagogue life, it is first and foremost a needed source for gathering in community. 

We are wired to be social beings — to be in relationship and have contact with one another. After all, as Jews, we see our covenant with G-d as a communal covenant. We all stand at Mt. Sinai together to receive Torah. We support each other in celebrating our joys, and support each other through our challenges and sad times. It is in the opportunity we have in community, to serve the needs of others, that gives meaning to our lives.  

I am grateful for all of you who have come together to build our Congregation Kol Ami community. As we have celebrated these many wonderful and meaningful holidays as a community, let us carry this communal spirit into our new year of 5782.