A Message from Rabbi Steinlauf
Because of the challenging times we live in, our High Holy Day services for this fall will not be in person. Depending on the health advisories that will arise, we will either live-stream services from the sanctuary with only the minimal number of service-leaders physically present, or we will conduct the entirety of the services on Zoom.
Despite these challenges, we want you to know that we will do everything in our power to ensure that our services will be meaningful, moving, and inspiring. Over the past weeks, we have been struck over and over about how meaningful and joyful our zoom services have been. There is something truly moving about seeing the faces of our members tuning in, transcending the physical separation, and affirming community and connection in the face of the pandemic.
Even physically apart, we have managed to feel the spiritual nearness of one another through the ancient rituals of Judaism that bind us together. Our zoom services, classes, and programs have shown us the power of Judaism to transcend any limitation and to bring us together in holiness. It has been truly remarkable for us to witness this.
We are very confident that our on-line services for the High Holy Days will bring us to this place of connection and blessing even more powerfully. Greater numbers of us will tune in and sense each other’s neshamot–our souls–humbly greeting the new year with hearts and minds shaped by this pandemic. Just as in Passover, we will be able to understand and be inspired by meanings and subtleties of the holidays in new and in more profound ways than perhaps we have ever known before.
We are, indeed, sad that we cannot physically be together these coming High Holy Days. But we know that this will be a truly (literally!) extraordinary set of holidays this year. And we look forward to being with you to greet the New Year in a way that we will all never forget.
Rabbi Gil Steinlauf