Links of Interest

Schedule of Services

Kabbalat Shabbat Service, 6:15PM
Friday Evening

Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30AM
Saturday Morning

Minyan, 8:30AM
Sunday Breakfast


Rabbi’s Corner

Making Time for Difficult Conversations

From the perspective of the Jewish calendar, September and October are emotionally charged months.  Whether the Holidays seem to fall “early” or “late,” we can always expect September and October to provide a “rollercoaster” ride of our personal spiritual existence.  This year, the intensity will likely be turned up a notch with the 10th anniversary of September 11th falling in the middle of Elul, the month preceding Rosh Hashanah during which we attempt to prepare ourselves for the Days of Awe.  Most of us will never forget where we were on that catastrophic day ten years ago; rabbis will never forget our sudden need to “scratch” our High Holy sermons and start over on September 12th, trying to somehow respond to the pain that we were all feeling.

Over the past several months, we have all watched massive unrest spreading throughout the Arab world.  As a result, this September will undoubtedly be an even more challenging month in the Middle East—as the countdown to the anticipated UN vote on Palestinian statehood approaches.

With that in mind, this month I will join a group of eight rabbis on a special two day mission—one day in Jerusalem and one day in Ramallah. Facilitated by The Media Line, an American news agency specializing in the Middle East, we will be meeting with senior leaders in Israel and within the Palestinian Authority, including Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad.  Mr. Fayyad has agreed to host an independent group of North American rabbis willing to participate in a candid and thorough conversation that will hopefully make clear what beliefs and understandings he and his colleagues share regarding future statehood and how it will impact Israel.  While incredibly brief, the focus of these intense meetings will be what most observers view as the key issues: the regional economy and the existential realities presented by the possibility of Palestinian statehood.  While I have some reservations about going, I decided that I could not pass up this unique opportunity during such a significant time in history.

In many ways, I view this upcoming experience as symbolic of what the High Holy Days are all about.  Whether it is the politics of the Middle East or tensions in our personal lives, we will never make “peace” without opening up a dialogue.  Too many of us make assumptions about what others are thinking without addressing the issues face to face.  We allow years of pent up frustrations and hurt feelings to build impenetrable walls around our relationships.  Our tradition teaches us that now is the time of year to initiate those uncomfortable conversations that we have been avoiding for so long.  With an open mind and realistic expectations, one never knows what can happen if we are willing to just sit down and talk.

I look forward to sharing my experiences with you later this month.

Riki joins me in wishing you and yours a happy, healthy, peaceful, and sweet New Year.

Shanah Tovah U’m’tukah,

Rabbi Jeremy Wiederhorn

 

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