It’s the beginning of October and the seasons are changing. Last month we welcomed Jason Cinti as a new adult member of our community. He chanted B’reishit, signaling the start of the torah for another year. Torah study had its first meeting focusing on this week’s torah portion and greeted some new participants. We welcomed Joe Guthrie back at the keyboard for Saturday morning services. And, we chanted the prayer for rain during the Amidah for the first Shabbat after Simchat Torah and Shemini Atzeret. I was so excited to hear the words again.
It’s great to watch the seasons change and to know our Jewish calendar is so attuned to those changes. It’s comforting, too, to watch the year go by on this other level. It’s not just the school year and the calendar year; it’s the Jewish year that gives form to our lives.
This Jewish year is starting off with a bang at BIJ. Sitting on the bima during the High Holy Days, it was easy to see all the renewed energy and enthusiasm from the congregation. Rabbi Rosalind has now been with us a full year and is hitting her stride. She is working closely with lay leadership and our staff to institute many new programs. Check out our themed Friday-night Shabbat services: Family First Fridays with potlucks; New Music 2nd Fridays with Rabbi and Cantor Ellen; 3rd Fridays with Rabbi and David and Inara Morgenstern; 4th Fridays with “traditional” BIJ music and guest speakers. Fifth Fridays will surprise you with new and different ways to worship.
In addition to new worship services, we have a host of educational events planned for the year. They include a number of events, both educational and social, that will focus on different facets of Israel. We will have a speaker from AIPAC, the Deputy Israeli Consul (a Bedouin Arab) in November and an Israeli Dancing/Henna Party in February.
Thanks to Talia Pierluissi for engaging AIPAC and to Adult Education Chair, Sonya Hicks, and her Committee for scheduling many exciting events throughout the year including the two mentioned above. Other events to watch for include a weekend with a Sofer, a torah scribe, where we will have a number of opportunities to learn about this sacred art and its context within liberal Judaism. And, we will have a scholar-in-residence weekend coming up in late February/early March.
The year will go by fast. It always does. So, take time to appreciate the little changes and enjoy all the events that BIJ provides as the year progresses. We look forward to moving through the seasons with all of you.