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The story is told of the rabbi, the chazzan, the president, and a congregant who were meeting in the shul late one evening. A thief entered the building and suddenly came upon them. Since they had seen his face and could identify him, the thief would have to kill them all; but he would give each one last wish. The thief turned to the Rabbi. The rabbi stroked his beard and said that three years ago he had given the most wonderful sermon on Yom Kippur, a full hour and a half, and he wanted to give it one last time with no one coughing or interrupting. The chazzan said that two years ago he had chanted the most beautiful Kol Nidre. It also took an hour and a half, and he wanted the chance to do it one more time. The thief looked at the president and asked his last wish. After pondering for a moment, the president decided to share a speech he made on the state of the synagogue referencing each of its congregants. The thief turned his gaze to the congregant, who without hesitation quickly replied, "Kill me now!" You’re not here just to hear me speak, or the chazzan chant, or, to the Rabbi wax eloquent. So the question is, “what is it about Rosh Hashanah that got you out of the house, and landed you here today?” From a young age we learn that Rosh Hashanah, the beginning of the Jewish New Year, celebrates the birth of the world, and that Rosh Hashanah is also the Day of Judgment. Yet, rarely during the prayers did we mention our past, or asked for any kind of forgiveness. Hmm … we’re being judged on Rosh Hashanah, but we don’t ask for forgiveness until Yom Kippur. So, why are you here today? For some, you are seeking spiritual, ethical and emotional renewal. And you know that your Jewish values can offer us more meaningful lives. Maybe, just maybe some of us aren’t real sure why we’re here. We know we’re supposed to be here; it feels like the right thing to do, and we hope to seek out something truly meaningful, truly spiritual from the prayers or the sermons. Rosh Hashanah is about the opportunity to clarify for ourselves what our priorities are in life. No time is more appropriate than today for asking ourselves some basic questions in order to clarify and remind ourselves what it is that is truly important to us, and who we ultimately want to be. Before we can be judged, we are required to deal with our past, and contemplate our present and future. Given the demands of today’s complex world, there are nearly an infinite number of opportunities competing for our time, energy and resources. We have become programmed to expect many things to come at us at once. Consider advances made in the entertainment world alone – from the radio to the black and white tv, computers, vcr’s, video games, dvd’s, high definition, x-boxes, and smart phones to name a few. Can you imagine taking a trip in the car with kids or grandchildren, and not having a full complement of gadgets to keep them busy? Not only for children, but for us all, there is so much going on around us. The dizzying array of options available without ever leaving the home requires the Jewish experience to be compelling and relevant if it is to be successful. Rosh Hashanah is a time for questioning, redefining, and reaffirming who we are. I would suggest that our Beth Tikvah community can help answer those questions. Community. It is this essence of community that runs through even our time for prayer – our services being not merely a personal moment but a communal experience. It says so much about us and our values when we say together a mishaberach for family and friend, or when we join in welcoming home those who went on trips or vacations or returned from illness, or recognize anniversaries and birthdays with a special aliyah, or as we create the minyan so that someone can stand amongst us and say kaddish. It is all part of that connectedness with others and the human need for a shared sense of identity and shared value that makes each of our lives whole. We as Jews are social beings, and our Judaism teaches us and demands of us that we be socially engaged. We are more than ourselves. Beth Tikvah is a warm welcoming community. It is gratifying to hear from so many that BT has been a wonderful and welcoming experience, whether you are passing through town or have been with us from the start. No more be said about that, its simply something to be experienced. Beth Tikvah is a diverse community. While we may all enter the Synagogue through different doors—connect in different ways—on different terms—at different times—everyday of the year or just once in a while. Some of us are engaged by the spirituality of davening. Others are more engaged by Torah class, attending guest speakers, or concerts. Some of us connect by watching the sunset, others by working in the kitchen, building a succah, playing poker, or watching the Superbowl together. Some of us like capers on our smoked salmon, others do not. Beth Tikvah is the glue that allows us to share core values of our Jewish heritage. Beth Tikvah brings us all together. May each of you find a place of connection, and may those connections grow and develop, as we expand our horizons and experiment with new ways to participate in the life of our community. Beth Tikvah is a community of doers, and our congregants really do like to help. We are told that the word “Jew” is really a verb. Being a Jew requires action. Here at Beth Tikvah, we can always find people ready to spring into action. May each of you find a way to contribute his or her unique talent. Beth Tikvah is a “kvelling” commuity. Each Shabbat, it’s as if we turn into a congregation of parents or grandparents watching the children with great pride. When the children come to the bimah to chant Ashrei or to sing Adon Olam, I see beaming faces and smiles all across the room. At every Kiddush after a Bar Mitzvah, forget about it. Every person might as well be related by the way they bragged about the Bar Mitzvah. May we continue to strengthen the ties between generations, as we have much to learn from one another. Beth Tikvah is a learning community. This coming year, we will expand the adult learning program, begin our post Bar Mitzvah confirmation class, and celebrate a growing staff of teachers where most of our children think Religious School is fun. Enrollment continues to grow. Religious School students and post B’nai Mitzvah’s continue to demonstrate their skills when they lead services and chant from the Torah. Beth Tikvah is a spiritual and caring community. Whether it is giving someone a ride to services, cooking a meal, leading a yahrtzeit minyan, helping out at religious school, volunteering to assist others, or tutoring, you engage in gimilut chassadim (acts of kindness) every single day. Finally, and on a personal note, Beth Tikvah is my extended family. You are the people who watched my children grow up. You shared my family’s simchas, and you were there to comfort me and my family when my mother and father-in-law passed away. You were there for encouragement when I tried new things, and you are there to brush me off when not everything turned out as planned. You are the people with whom I share Shabbat, holidays, learning, cookouts at the beach, tennis, fishing, and wonderful times. I share with you the pleasure and confidence in knowing that we have an outstanding spiritual leader. That fact encourages so many of you to offer your time and energy unceasingly. Beth Tikvah is my home, and one day, I hope you’ll feel the same. These Days of Awe are times for reflection, rededication and reaffirmation of who you are, who you want to be and who you could be – a time for evaluating what gives meaning to your life and how to make your life meaningful. Therein unlocks the door for changes to be made on Yom Kippur. Let this be the year where you ask more of yourself, so you can BE more of yourself. And know that the strength and future of our community, lies within YOUR hands, each and every one of you. I pray that our Beth
Tikvah community will help provide the answers you seek,
that we expand and deepen our relationships with each
other, pray together, learn with and from each other, laugh together, and
work together. |
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