Creating your Mikdash Me’at (PERSONAL SYNAGOGUE)
This year, we have a unique opportunity to create a sacred space in our home as many of us will be saying (at least some of the) High Holiday prayers at home. These seven suggestions are meant to help you enhance the High Holiday experience at home, while creating a communal atmosphere for us all. • Be sure you have Maczhor to use.
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in it, and to recite these verses. It is meant to do a symbolic act and then try to make those gestures a reality during these days. The connection to the sea is explained by Rabbi Moshe Isserlis his book, Torat Ha-olah: The deeps of the sea allude to the existence of a single Creator that created the world and that controls the world by, for example, not letting the seas flood the earth. Thus, we go to the sea and reflect upon that on Rosh Hashanah Day, the anniversary of Creation. We reflect upon proof of the Creator’s creation and of His control, so as to repent of our sins to the Creator, and so He will figuratively “cast our sins into the depths of the sea.” When the first day of Rosh Hashanah falls out on Shabbat (like this year), Tashlich is moved to the second day.
• Choose your prayer space carefully in advance by spending a few moments of individual contemplation/family discussion. Don’t wait for the last minute! • Designate set times for your prayers. Maybe choose the times of services at KJ. • What chair will you sit on? Put a cushion or festive pillow on it, or drape it with a special piece of fabric, or scarf. •
Find meaningful objects to grace your space. On Rosh Hashanah include holiday objects like candlesticks and kiddish cup, apples and honey. On Yom Kippur you can place cherished mementos, family heirlooms, and photos of loved ones to surround you. If you own a shofar, put it where it’s visible.
• Wear festive clothing that makes you feel as if you are entering a special, sacred space. •
Sing! True, maybe nobody else can hear you, but this does not mean you cannot sing out loud. Remember that third grade chorus teacher that told you to move your lips and make no sound? Now is your chance to sing as loud as you want without any fear of judgment.
No, none of these suggestions will make the High Holidays feel normal. There is nothing normal about them. But normal is not always what we need. Maybe being forcefully removed from our comfort zone is just what we need at this particular time. In any case, what have we got to lose?
The afternoon of Rosh Hashanah is dedicated to family, the Yomtov meal, Tashlich and resting. There is, however, a custom not to sleep during the day of Rosh Hashanah as it might symbolize a ‘sleepy unproductive year!’ □ Tashlich can be found on page 673
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