The Jewish tradition offers us so many ways to engage. Studying our history, our sacred texts and our Hebrew language could each occupy a lifetime of work. Social Justice and Bikkur Cholim (caring for those who are ill) have become full time positions in American congreations. Jewish music is yet another area that comes to mind. This list could go on. Yet, there are many people who find their way of engaging in Judaism, their home in Jewish life, in the sanctuary. Prayer, Jewish Prayer is an immeasurable part of our tradition, of our religious lives. So, as I prepare for Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and 5771, I am curious about something.
Why do you attend services? Why do you celebrate Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur? What motivates you to ensure you have a place to pray, to see others in your synagogue community and be present?
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Wishing everyone a year of health, happiness and prosperity. May you enjoy countless moments of learning and growing.
Shanah Tovah U'Mitukah,
Rabbi Evon
I love the High Holiday services as I feel not only a sense of community, but history and continuity. No matter where I am, the prayers are the same, the melodies are the same and the feeling of "Jewishness" remains a constant. I also like the feeling of a clean slate, of starting over.
ReplyDeleteThis is my heritage, my culture, and my being. While I may not attend regularly, I find any time, especially the HHD brings me closer to my community, and therefore my heritage and culture. I will find myself in FL for Yom Kippur, while my family will be at TC. I have started to look for temple to attend Yom Kippur services. It may not be my TC community, but it's good to know that I and we all are apart of a larger community.
ReplyDeleteI love your thoughts...thank you for sharing them. I am curious about this sense of belonging. How do you think that is created? Shanah Tovah...~Evon
ReplyDeleteShabbat is a weekly touchstone for me. I got through this week -- let's light candles, take the day off. Going to Shabbat services is an extension of that. Another touchstone. Especially Kabalat Shabbat. Going through the different psalms puts me in a different headspace... Shabbat is here, I can put this week behind me now.
ReplyDeleteThe High Holidays do that as well, only -- bigger. As soon as the High Holiday niggun starts working its way into the services in Elul, I start to mentally get ready. Rather than just getting to put the week behind me, I get to put the year behind me. And so many times, years need to be put behind me. And sometimes I'm not ready for it, but I know that it's time, because that's what they're partially about.
Being part of the community for prayer just adds something. There's a reason we've needed a Minyan. Going through the Kabalat Shabbat service by myself does nothing for me -- being a part of something bigger, hearing everyone else, that does.
Why do I attend HHD services? Because I simply cannot imagine not attending them. From as young as I can remember growing up in Phoenix as a member of Temple Beth Israel, going to college in Atlanta, GA, law school in St. Louis, MO and back to Phx and a member of Temple Chai since 1993, I have never missed going to HHD services. Some years I have found them to be incredibly inspiring, some years I have found them to be incredibly boring and some years I have found them to be totally fine. But to me whether the services have been dreadfully boring or highly inspirational, going to HHD is just a part of my HHD ritual that allows me to feel complete. Sitting in a very boring HHD service still feels better to me than not going at all. A few times while in law school or as a young adult, I started out the day with the intention of not going, but as the day would go on, I was filled with more and more guilt about not going, so I would ultimately end up going to services.
ReplyDeleteI would always exhale and know for me I made the right decision to go and that I need to be there.
To me, HHD is a time for not only reflection, but an opportunity to wipe the slate clean and start over and the added benefit is the warm fuzzies I get from being a part of the community.
And while going to services is something I always do - it is just part of the HHD package. Perhaps even more meaningful to me are the Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur traditions that have been created over the years with family and friends. These traditions are truly what signfies the joy and warmth my family gets to experience every year.
Growing up in Detroit everyone I knew was Jewish. Everyone I knew went to services. Living here for the last 14 years it is such a different feeling during the HHD. School is open on Rosh Hashana so we make the choice to go to services, it isnt the "given" it was growing up. It always amazes me as I walk in to services at just the amount of people there. It is a wonderful feeling to be part of the community and yet connecting with the past and traditions.
ReplyDeleteI just love Brisket! and then starving for a day with bad breath!
ReplyDeleteSeriously, I concur with many who have posted. I love the solemnity of the High Holy Days. When we pray as a community there is sense of awe. I am drawn to it. There is a palpable feeling of majesty in the HHD services. A sense of belonging to a tradition that is older and wiser than we are. I always look forward to the HHDs and try to make them special by spending time studying, praying, reflecting, and connecting. Shanah Tovah
I generally don't go to services. I make an appearance on R"H and YK because women are expected to. Also there is babysitting, so I might as well take advantage of the rare opportunity to daven a bit. I go for yizkor because I have to.
ReplyDeleteI don't go to inculcate a sense of belonging. I belong to my community whether or not I daven there. Many of the members of my community daven at different places.