I hope your fast was meaningful, that the sermons offered inspiration, the music lifted your spirit, and that you felt embraced by the warmth of our community during these High Holy Days. If you missed a sermon or would like to revisit any of the moments from our services, highlights and recordings are available for you to watch.
Sukkot is just around the corner, and I’m excited for the opportunities we’ll have to celebrate together—both on our campus and online. This year, October 7 falls on the first day of Sukkot, and in our festival service we will pause to remember and commemorate that day, even as we rejoice in the holiday’s themes of gratitude and renewal. Join us on Tuesday, October 7 at 9am in our Sukkah on the Zeldin-Hershenson patio.
On a personal note, I want you to know what an incredible privilege it is for me to lead this community, especially during these Yamim Noraim, these Days of Awe. I am blessed to be surrounded by such gifted colleagues and devoted lay-leaders who are the best partners one could ask for. I also want to express special gratitude to Cantor Emma Lutz and Dr. Tali Tadmor for planning and orchestrating (literally!) such inspiring and uplifting music throughout the High Holy Days. And I am profoundly grateful to each of you for your presence, your participation, and your support of this kehillah kedosha—this sacred community that we build together.
These holy days remind me again and again that heartfelt prayer and reflection (t’filla), sincere repentance (teshuva), and righteous giving (tzedaka) help us live more meaningful, more beautiful, and more elevated lives. They can also give us the strength we need to carry life’s hardest moments with greater hope and courage.
May this be true for all of us in 5786 and beyond.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Yoshi