At the beginning of the High Holidays, we take stock of the year that’s ending. We try to summarize what has happened, make a reckoning, and think about how it all has affected us.
But this year is different. This year, Israel went to war, is still at war, and finds itself not the hero of the situation, but rather the culprit. Murder, kidnap, rape have become the order of the day, with those responsible seen as heroes and liberators. Once upon a time, the distinction
between the bad guys and the good guys was pretty clear. This is no longer true.
Most of us in Israel are avid news followers, eager to find something positive every day that will keep us going. In many ways we are lucky. The Jewish people have fought so hard and so long through hundreds of years of persecution, always aware that history has taught us that our fight for survival is endless, no matter how many amazing people we have produced and continue to produce. But we’re aware that there is one community we can be sure of, no matter
what.
So, how do we celebrate Rosh Hashanah when every evening we are warned to be ready for really bad news that night or the next day? Well, for hundreds of years we have been living on the edge. We thrill, for example, with watching our young Olympic athletes take gold, silver, and bronze medals, often against all odds; hearing “Hatikvah”; and, most of all, seeing the absolute pride of our contestants. We know that the world over, the Jewish people are bursting with pride. Jewish children will be singing and dancing.
Soon Israeli children will be dancing on stages of wheat and hay bales. This is Rosh Hashanah in the agricultural settlements, with hundreds of visitors thirsty for the holiday customs, even if there is an awareness that warning sirens could send everyone to the shelters at any moment.
As the Jewish people across the globe get ready for Rosh Hashanah, we in Yoav are happy for the opportunity to wish the Lehigh Valley a peaceful
High Holidays greetings from Yoav!
and most vicious attack since the Holocaust.
Hanna Bachar Partnership2Gether cochair
The Yoav Lehigh Valley Partnership is both long-standing and significant to both of us. For many years, as the mayor of Yoav Regional Council, I was one of the people leading this wonderful partnership, and it continues to be close to my heart and important to me now, as a member of the Knesset.
It is a particularly important partnership now, in these tumultuous times, when Israel is at war and Jews in the Diaspora suffer from a significant rise in antisemitic incidents. In this time of need, standing together is more important than ever.
Despite great difficulties and the challenges ahead, the State of Israel is strong, and I know it can and will withstand the multiple threats on our very existence. We will overcome our difficulties and come out of this crisis stronger than ever. For this to happen, we must stand together, united, both in Israel and beside our friends in the Diaspora and around the world.
Together we stand, together we prevail!
Together we pray for the safe return of all our hostages and soldiers.
To a peaceful and prosperous New Year!
“There is still a white sail on the horizon, whatever we will ask for shall be”—Israeli poet Neomi Shemer z”l
Every year, with the arrival of the new Jewish year, we sing in Israel the words of this song and ask that all our wishes come true.
To all my brothers and sisters in the Lehigh Valley, I wish you a year of peace, a year in which we will all be strong as one nation and remember that we are one and we are many.
Shai Bachar Summer 2013 shlicha
As Rosh Hashanah approaches, I would like to think of the New Year in terms of hope for a better future for Israel and for Jews everywhere. At the same time, I am aware, as I am sure you are, too, of the upcoming one-year anniversary of October 7, the day our country and our people suffered the worst
As we welcome the new year, I want to send my heartfelt thanks for being my family’s home away from home and for the incredible opportunity to spend a full summer with you way back in 2013.
This experience was the perfect start to my shlichut in North America, and I am forever grateful for the warmth
and healthy New Year and to continue to develop our Partnership2Gether.
me since then. Sending love and strength to the Jewish community from Israel—may this new year bring you health, happiness, and renewed hope. Wishing you all a joyful and meaningful year ahead, filled with blessings and connection.
Students and Staff of Kedma Youth Village
Wishing you Shana Tova U’Metukaa, A year of togetherness, of friendship, And the fulfillment of dreams.
Dafi Batat English teacher and coordinator of the Partnership2Gether Under the Same Moon pen pal program at Sdot Yoav School
May the new year brings you joy, health, and prosperity, and may it be filled with peace and blessings. Our friendship is a cherished bridge between our communities, and we’re so grateful
ing you a sweet and fulfilling year ahead.
Moshav Segula
Happy New Year to all our community members in the Lehigh Valley. May this year bring security, peace, and quiet. Let’s maintain the connection and support between the two communities. And we will end with a prayer that all our abductees will return home safely. Old
MK Matti Sarfatti Harcavi
Member of the Knesset and former mayor of Yoav
Mazal and Izac Malka
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Yoav children and teenagers ride in electric carts to the traditional Rosh Hashanah festival.
Lior Levy Kfar Menachem
During the coming year, I wish for all of us a year of peace, health, and prosperity, a year of renewal and personal growth, a year of new opportunities and fulfilling dreams.
I hope we continue strengthening the special bond we have built over the years. Preserve and deepen the goodness in our partnership and develop new joint initiatives for a better future.
By Ariel Solomon Jewish Day School Director of Hebrew and Judaics
“May the year end with its troubles, and may the new year bring blessings with her.”
This beautiful blessing is part of Achot Ketana, a liturgical poem written by Rabbi Avraham Hazan that is recited in the Sephardic tradition immediately before the evening service of the first night of Rosh Hashanah. Every year we say this simple wish, and this year more than ever we wish for it to come true.
The Jewish holidays are the time for us to look back at the past year and all that it brought, for self-examination, and for setting goals for the new year. In the year of 5784 we have experienced challenges as a Jewish nation and as a Jewish community. We all had our eyes on Israel during these hard times as we sent our support and prayers to our brothers and sisters across the seas. This past year has shown how big the role of Jewish education is in fighting misinformation and disinformation that
The connection between Israel and the Diaspora is more valuable, important, and strategic than ever. We’ve seen how the warm and loving personal relationships built over decades inspire hope and confidence. We’ve observed how understanding and recognizing our shared identity and universal values enhance and strengthen the mutual responsibility among all parts of the Jewish community and beyond.
At the start of this new year, and with crucial elec-
is spread through various media while antisemitism rears its head again across the globe. Strengthening the Jewish identity of the next generation and laying the foundations for a strong connection to Israel and its people has been one of the missions we’ve been focused on at the Jewish Day School.
During September, as the new year approaches, the JDS will host three Israeli artists from Yoav, our Partnership2Gether region in Israel. The artists will work with our students on art projects related to Israel and the Chagim. On Rosh Hashanah eve, we’ll hold our annual Rosh Hashanah Seder teaching the students about the different special foods and what they symbolize, and we’ll learn to recite the blessings for those foods and what they mean.
The Jewish holidays this year bring us a new challenge, honoring and memorializing the victims of the October 7 massacre. On that date our students will design an art project to commemorate the tragedy. The older students will gather for a program while discussing the events of
tions ahead, I hope we are granted wisdom and a clear vision. May this be an opportunity to choose leadership that advances our shared values, strengthens connections between people and communities, and promotes a safer world.
May light overcome darkness, may good overshadow evil, and may we all be blessed with awareness of good and happy days.
Orit Gutman Beit Nir
As we usher in the New Year, we want to extend our heartfelt gratitude for your
October 7 in an age-appropriate manner.
The week between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur is known as a time of year of asking for forgiveness (slicha in Hebrew). In Israel, many people visit one of the four holy cities during these days and tour the famous synagogues and burial sites of the rabbis who lived there. Here at the JDS, we’ll learn about slicha and why it is important to make amends. The older students will join a virtual tour through the City of Tzfat, one of the four holy cities, learning about its history, and the rabbi who lived there.
In the week before Sukkot, the JDS sukkah will be built, and our talented students will decorate it with beautiful and colorful decorations. During Suk-
incredible sense of mutual responsibility, care, and concern for us. You have truly made us feel like we have a second home across the sea.
Thank you for being such wonderful partners and friends. Wishing you a year filled with happiness, health, and prosperity.
Riki Chrysler
As we approach the new year, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for your support. It means the world to us to have such a strong and caring community. Let’s hope this year brings us all together again to celebrate the holidays with
our families. To those facing antisemitism and hate, know that you are not alone. We stand together in unity and love.
Yael Feller Malka Kfar Menachem
Shanah Tovah! May it be a year filled with peace, joy, and meaningful connections within our community. Let us embrace new beginnings and strengthen our bonds as we support one another in all our endeavors. May this new year bring blessings of health, happiness, and prosperity to you and your loved ones.
kot, the students come to the sukkah and eat their snacks and lunch under the schach (sukkah roof). They will learn about the four species and what they represent, and shake them in every direction. We’ll be celebrating in the sukkah as a community for our
dinner on October 21 at 5 p.m. and come together for an evening with fun activities music and food. Please join us!
Wishing us all Shanah Tovah! (Happy New Year!) filled with good and joyful moments.
RABBI MICHAEL BELGRADE
Rabbinic Candidate
For Congregation Sons of Israel
For a month, all I heard was the sound of the shofar. Everywhere I walked, every day (except Shabbat). I was living in Jerusalem’s Old City in the Jewish Quarter. I was a yeshiva student at Yeshivat HaKotel, and it was during the Jewish month of Elul (August). I heard people practicing in their homes, at the shuls after morning services, and at the Kotel, constantly. There was one person at the Kotel who blew the shofar without fail throughout Elul.
At the beginning of the school year, one of the first big events for the Jewish teens in the community where I grew up (Los Angeles) was to go to Cedar Sinai Hospital on Rosh Hashanah and blow shofar for the Jewish patients who could not be home or in shul with their family and friends. It was an event the entire community joined. It embodied so many mitzvoth in one: bikur cholim (visiting those who are ill), hearing the sound of the shofar, building achdus (unity in the Jewish community), and chinuch (teaching the next generation of young Jews). It was a truly beautiful event.
But lately, all I think about are sirens. The sirens that came on October 7 and the days after. The residents of Kfar Azzah who heard the sirens went into their bomb shelters as if it was just a regular day. It was “normal” to hear the sirens, go into the shelters, and then come out again when it was safe. We all know what happened instead.
It is not normal to live a life where sirens are the norm in the first place. We, as Jews, should never accept that it is OK, that it is normal, to live in a world where we just accept entering a bomb shelter as normal. We should equally not accept as normal the idea that we
FROM THE LEHIGH VALLEY CLERGY
require security in front of our houses of worship to avoid a repeat of Pittsburgh, Poway, Jersey City, and elsewhere. Of course, we need to have security there— we must protect ourselves from those who seek to harm us! But we need nonetheless to acknowledge that we are living in times where this should not be happening and that something is wrong. It is not OK that we live in a time where Jewish children and college students fear going to school because of the antisemitism they will encounter from students and teachers alike.
I am tired of the sirens. I want to hear the shofar. The sirens are the warnings that our enemies seek to hurt us. The shofar harkens us back to the very first shofar, where we as a people stood at Mount Sinai and heard Hashem’s shofar. Every tribe, every person, irrespective of background, station, age, and any other distinction, stood there together as one people with one heart. In the wake of October 7, we, as a people, broke with distinctions and became closer. Religious background did not matter. Politics did not matter. None of it mattered. We knew we had to work together, and that was it. We truly had a moment of achdus.
We cannot let that slip away. That is what I want the shofar to remind us about this year. That when we talk about our teshuva (repentance), we are returning not just to Hashem’s Torah and mitzvot, but to ourselves as well, as community. We are keeping the bonds of loving kindness open to one another. We are not snubbing people or discounting them because their views are different from ours. Hashem wants first and foremost for us to remember on Rosh Hashanah that we are judged together as one people. And we can hope for a good year, and certainly a better year than the past one, if we continue to build on our ahavat chinman (love for one another without condition). Hashem can judge; we will not!
May this coming year be better than the last. Wishing each and every one of you a Shana Tova U’metukah.
BERMAN
Temple Israel of Lehighton
Many people think of the Yamin Noraim, the Days of Awe, as beginning on Rosh Hashanah and ending on Yom Kippur. But in many ways, this season of teshuvah, of turning and returning, began many weeks ago, and will continue through Simchat Torah.
Our calendar shows great psychological and spiritual wisdom in navigating what it means to do teshuvah; how do we access where we are, take a long and compassionate look at ourselves, and correct our course to return to the path we are meant to walk?
For us, that journey begins in grief. Back in the month of Tammuz, on the 17th day, we began a three-week period of mourning, concluding at Tisha B’Av, the ninth day of the following month, Av. The 17th of Tammuz commemorates the breaching of Jerusalem’s walls by the Romans after a lengthy siege, and Tisha B’Av laments the destruction of both the First and Second Temples.
For many of us, teshuvah itself begins in grief. This has been a year filled with grief for all of us—the devastation of October 7, the hostages in captivity, the terrible war in Gaza, as well as growing antisemitism at home and abroad. And we have had, many of us, personal grief as well—illness and the loss of loved ones, and the many everyday heartaches and sorrows of life.
Without touching this grief, both communally and personally, we cannot begin the process of transformation. We must touch our grief, be in its company, or it will block us from change. It will masquerade as anger, or shame, or guilt, or “stuckness,” or simply a feeling of being disconnected. We begin the process of teshuvah by being companions to our grief.
In our calendar, we move
from these three weeks of communal grief into seven weeks of consolation. Each Shabbat, we read a haftorah from the prophet Isaiah, beginning with chapter 40, verse 1: “Comfort, comfort my people, says the Holy One.” To continue on the path of teshuvah, we cannot be only in grief. We need to be consoled in our sorrow. It is too painful to confront our own misdeeds and missteps, or the things that have been done to us, or the losses of our lives, without some sense of comfort and accompaniment. Whether that comfort is found with God, or with our communities, or with friends and family, or within our own hearts, it leads us further on the path of turning, of teshuvah.
In the month of Elul, the month preceding the New Year, it is traditional to blow the shofar each day except Shabbat. Wake up! Pay attention! This is the next step of our journey. To allow ourselves to notice more and more deeply where our grief lies and where we can find comfort.
And then we arrive at the New Year. It is a chance to begin again. To rededicate ourselves to what the Buddhists call “beginner’s mind,” to being awake and aware of each new moment, to meet our lives with openness, curiosity, and gratitude. We move into Aseret Yemei L’teshuvah, the 10 days of turning, including Shabbat Shuvah, the Sabbath of Return, intensifying the process we have already begun. We
is part of that, but so is joy. The “return” of teshuvah is about doing our best to return each moment to the present moment, to see both the transience of life and the great gift of our existence. We conclude this time with Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah—gathering our community and celebrating the beauty and wisdom of our Torah, our tradition.
My aunt, who lived to 102, was raised in a time and place when people didn’t talk much about the spiritual aspects of Judaism. Nonetheless, she was a deeply spiritual person, and very wise. Once, when I was explaining the meaning behind the High Holidays, she exclaimed: “But the process of teshuvah isn’t something to be done once a year! It should be done every day!” She was right. Teshuvah is a lifelong process and a daily practice. But these Days of Awe give us a blueprint for the rest of the year: Seek out where we suffer the most, find accompaniment and comfort in compassionate support, be present to each moment as it unfolds, forgive and be forgiving, again and again, and move into joy and gratitude and gathering and celebration, even though (or because!) our lives are impermanent and all we have is the present moment. In its essence, that is teshuvah— returning again and again to be in this very moment in wonder, in grief, in joy, and in love. That is where life is found.
Shanah tovah.
All things change, and loss
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the divine. It is a time to witness what it means to forgive and forget, to see the infinite in the finite, and to receive guidance directly from G-d’s example.
Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, the pinnacle of our spiritual calendar, invite us to reconnect with our Creator in the most profound way. The sound of the shofar pierces through the mundane, awakening our souls to the divine call. This is not merely a ceremonial act but a heartfelt cry from deep within us, yearning for a closer relationship with G-d.
What I find most inspiring about the High Holidays is the divine perspective we are granted—a rare glimpse into becoming partners with the Divine. Jewish mysticism teaches us that during these sacred days, we are not just partnering with G-d but directly experiencing His presence. This profound connection reveals how our actions can transform the world; every mitzvah and act of kindness helps create a dwelling place for G-d on earth. As we feel G-d’s presence, we are reminded of His boundless closeness and readiness to engage with us. He is not distant but intimately involved in our lives, listening to our heartfelt prayers and embracing us with infinite compassion. This period reflects a deep expression of divine love, inviting us to engage sincerely in teshuvah (return/ repentance) and renew our commitment to our spiritual journey.
Forgiveness is a cornerstone of the High Holidays, and G-d’s willingness to forgive our transgressions— regardless of their gravity—sets a powerful example. Through this divine example, we learn the transformative power of forgiveness: letting go of grudges, mending broken relationships, and extending mercy to others. This season encourages us to reflect on our actions, seek forgiveness, and make
meaningful amends. By following G-d’s example, we transcend human limitations and embrace the boundless potential for renewal and reconciliation.
This year, as we come together with family and friends, we hold a heartfelt prayer for peace in Israel. Our homeland, the eternal heart and soul of the Jewish people, remains a symbol of hope and resilience. May the spirit of the High Holidays inspire both leaders and citizens to pursue paths of unity and compassion. Let us envision a future where Israel stands as a beacon of peace, and where all its inhabitants live in harmony, safety, and prosperity.
My wife Devorah and I, along with our children, extend our heartfelt wishes to the Lehigh Valley Jewish community. May this year be one of health, happiness, and spiritual growth. May we all be inscribed and sealed for a good and sweet year, filled with G-d’s abundant blessings. And may our prayers for peace in Israel be answered swiftly and completely.
L’Shana Tova U’Metukah!
STUDENT RABBI ALEX MALANYCH
Congregation Am Haskalah
This year, I have been thinking about where our body is in all of this work of preparing for the High Holy Days. It is easy to imagine that these holidays are only about our souls, the spiritual-cerebral connection to the divine. But on Rosh Hashanah we feast, and on Yom Kippur we
fast, and our insides respond in kind; what we put into them is as thematic as the prayers we intone. But it is deeper than that—these are days about creation, of the substance of our day-today. Indeed, the rabbis go out of their way to say, Rosh Hashanah is not the birthday of the world—the world started five days earlier. Rosh Hashanah is the birthday of humanity.
In a midrash that explores what exactly Adam was doing in Eden, the rabbis turn to concerns about where exactly all the dust comes from to form Adam. Rav Oshiya says in the name of Rav, “his torso was fashioned with dust from Babylonia, and his head from Eretz Yisrael; and his limbs were fashioned from dust taken from the rest of the lands in the world.” It is a beautiful moment really—a kind of “We are the world” moment that unites all lands, everywhere. But we have a strange turn. With regard to the backside, Rav Aha says: They were fashioned from dust taken from Akra De’agma, on the outskirts of Babylonia. Why? Why this? Why here? Little is known about Akra De’agma. There is passing reference in research material that says it is a place of “loose morals.” If that’s true, then what is the meaning of making it part of the very first person? Judaism isn’t squeamish about bodily functions. So why associate it with the ancient version of the Vegas strip? I think the answer is in a prayer we say every day, Asher Yatzar, “the one who has made me with the necessary openings to work”: blood vessels, nostrils, pores, and—yes—intestines. There is something provocative to me about the idea of blessing something that can so easily become impure, that is the source of much secret shame for many. In this season we often encourage ourselves to forgive and forget, or to simply feel shame for our failures. I want to encourage you to bless the bad stuff, the not-so-easy. To be clear, this isn’t the same thing as celebrating it or excusing it; own that you did bad stuff.
But when you do t’shuva, really do it, note the blessing: the grace of an apology, the joy of a relationship rebuilt, the lightness of making amends, the wisdom of experience. Bring it with you. Let it motivate you to do it again. Let it motivate you to teach others.
Shanah Tovah!
RABBI MOSHE
RE’EM
Temple Beth El
The coming High Holidays are like no other, as we approach almost a year since October 7. One of the well-known themes of the liturgy on Rosh Hashanah is that of Zichronot, verses dealing with G-d’s remembrance. Famously, throughout the Ten Days of answering G-d’s call to return to our core selves, we ask G-d “to remember us for life.” This plea of Zachor, “to remember,” is so fundamental to Judaism. Not only do we ask G-d to remember, but also we must remember and not conveniently forget the ways in which we have fallen short.
A lesser known fact about Rosh Hashanah, as pointed out by Rabbi Eliezer in the Talmud, is that the biblical Joseph was liberated from his Egyptian dungeon on Rosh Hashanah (R. H. 11a-b). Being held captive, we are told, Joseph finds himself in an abandoned and hopeless state. He watches as his prison mate, Pharaoh’s butler, is freed— “But the chief butler did not remember Joseph, and he forgot him” (Gen. 40:23). Ten years have passed, according to rabbinic calculations, and Joseph did not see the light of day—no visitors, no contact
with the outside world.
This year, I think of Joseph’s captivity and I am reminded of the hostages held in Gaza for such an unimaginable amount of time, uncertain as to what their fate will hold. This year, I hear the wake-up call of the shofar and hope and pray that it serves as a clarion call for us not to forget those hostages separated from their families and loved ones. No, this coming Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are like no others. Another season has passed, another year, and we are no closer peace. Still, as Jews, while not forgetting the past, we must remain focused on the future and never give up hope for a better world.
Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z”l has pointed out, “Optimism and hope are not the same. Optimism is the belief that the world is changing for the better; hope is the belief that, together, we can make the world better.” Hope requires far more courage than optimism. As we prepare ourselves to celebrate the Yom Harat Olam, “the day on which the world was conceived,” let’s draw on that hope. Conception, as opposed to birth, Rabbi Lawrence Hoffman has pointed out, is pregnant with possibilities. This year let’s remember those who lie in wait, while never giving up hope for a brighter future.
L’Shanna Tovah Tikateivu!
RABBI ADRIENNE RUBIN
Congregation Bnai Shalom
Hayom harat olam! Today is Clergy messages
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the birthday of the world! When we celebrate our own birthdays, we often enjoy the day by connecting with family and friends, both in person and on the phone or Zoom or Facebook. We may go to a special restaurant or invite people to our homes. We eat special foods, like cake and ice cream. We express gratitude for the people in our lives, the experiences we have had, and just for having made another trip around the sun. We reflect on what we have learned, the challenges we have overcome, and where we want to go in the next year. And we feel sadness about the people who cannot celebrate with us, be it because they live far away or are out of town, or because they have died in the past year.
On Rosh Hashanah, when we celebrate the birthday of the world, we often do the same. We enjoy the holiday by connecting with our family and friends and joining together with our synagogue communities, either in person in our synagogues or on Zoom or a livestream. We eat special foods, like round challah and apples and honey. We enjoy the camaraderie and ruach (spirit) of onegs and kiddush lunches. We hear the Torah read, we learn from our leaders and one another, and we catch up with people we haven’t seen in a while. We enjoy the antics of our little ones, kvell at the involvement of our children and teens, and honor our volunteers and elders. We are heavyhearted over the loss of our loved ones, and we remember them. This year, our sadness is even more poignant as we mourn and remember those who lost their lives or were injured on October 7 and those who have lost their lives since then. And we cannot forget the plight of our remaining hostages who have yet to be released or rescued.
On the birthday of the world, while we see what is broken and in need of fixing in our world, we also marvel at the beauty of life and the grandeur of creation (even though we know that our planet is far more than 5785 years old!). We remember that we are created b’Tzelem Elohim, in the image of God, and that for our sakes the world was created. We accept that we share in the responsibility of maintaining and improving our planet, caring for all its creatures, and loving ourselves, our neighbors, and the strangers among us. In reflecting on the rebirth of creation, we acknowledge our errors, our shortcomings and where we have missed the mark, so that we can embrace renewal and
new beginnings. As we celebrate High Holy Days this year, may we be open to the ongoing process of personal growth and learning that empowers us to shape our future and to create and recreate our lives with intention, purpose, and vision. L’shanah tovah tikateivu v’teichateimu. May you be inscribed and sealed in the Book of Life for a good year.
RABBI MICHAEL SINGER
Congregation Brith Sholom
One of the highlights of Rosh Hashanah services each year is hearing the blasts from the shofar. As children, many of us were fetched from the junior congregation services (or from running around outside the shul) to march up to the front so we could witness firsthand the magic of the shofar. We would wonder: Will the shofar blowing be great or just OK? Will they miss any notes or add too many? And finally, Will the shofar blower pass out? (Hopefully not!) Even today, I am filled with anticipation and an excitement that builds with every blast leading up to the tekiah gedolah.
We are all connected by a deeply primal and profoundly spiritual range of emotions that wash over us as we listen to the shofar. We begin with the wholeness of the tekiah—one complete blast that is the foundation sound, familiar and steady. Yet this illusion ends almost immediately when the shevarim, with its three broken notes, is sounded. The meaning of the Hebrew fits its sound: brokenness. While ostensibly the same length as one tekiah, the shevarim denotes our vulnerability and fragility. It is a shattering of our wholeness. Whether it is an experience of loss, heartbreak, doubt, unexpectedly difficult challenge, or anxiety and fear, the shevarim shakes us out of our surety and sense of safety. If the shevarim resembles shattering, the sound of the teruah weeps. Also the same length as a tekiah, the teruah is the heaving wail and burst of tears in nine staccato gasps. It is the sound of our deepest sadness and anguish—a moment when it is okay to
fall to pieces, to bear our soul’s most intimate pain. Yet, despite our pain and loss, we as a people are resilient and determined. The tekiah then sounds again with the hope of renewed wholeness.
There is a transformation that takes place from the first notes of the shofar. In the beginning, everyone quiets down to listen to the shofar’s song. Sometimes we get inside our heads with thoughts (see above) or distractions, but as the progression continues to make its way to the end, we come together as one mind, all silently rooting for the ba’al tekiah (shofar blower) and the last tekiah gedolah! We are united—on the same team—praying, hoping, willing the shofar blower strength (oxygen) to ring the tekiah gedolah loud and long. We then exhale a sigh of relief and gratitude, having reached the end together. The tekiah gedolah represents the ultimate unity of wholeness and peace, when all the egos, walls, divisions, and problems in our lives and our world crumble, and where we all can be our true selves— united in common purpose and in lasting peace.
This year I feel that we as a Jewish community are the bearers of unspeakable pain and suffering. We are in need of the shofar’s call because of its power to knock down the barriers of indifference, apathy, and judgment and move us to compassion, openheartedness, and forgiveness. Even the shofar’s shape itself teaches us that we sometimes begin in a narrow and dark place, but with every breath, every intention, every hand of support and act of love, we can move to a wider and more expansive way of being. As the month of Elul begins and we hear the daily blast of the shofar, let us take to heart the lessons of its ancient call: going from brokenness to wholeness, from narrow straits to open hearts, from solitude and loneliness to community and connectedness. May we again excitedly await the shofar’s call and the promise of the new year 5785 filled with healing and hope.
The preparations for the Yamim Noraim, the Days of Awe, have already begun, and it is the middle of August. This is when I begin to think about the themes of my sermons. I also double up on my voice lessons and reevaluate the choice of the music I will sing. This year is very difficult as there are so many things happening in Israel, minute by minute, that can make us all extremely anxious, sad, and depressed. Our country as well has many problems; we live in a time where the citizens are divided and suspicious of one another.
Even with all that in mind I am hopeful and believe, as Anne Frank did, that “In spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart.”
I had a very uplifting experience the other day. I was chatting with a woman from Vietnam who does my nails on occasion. She was speaking of her family back home, recounting that of her seven siblings, she is the only one who moved to the United States. I asked her if she is happy here. She said yes, because in the States, if you work hard you can get ahead. She also spoke of the opportunities her two young daughters have. Both her girls are cheerleaders and do very well in school. They would not have had those opportunities in Vietnam. Even though her background is very different from mine, we have much more in common than one would think.
That same day I went to the Dollar Store, and the clerk, who was a young man around 19 years old, asked me what perfume I used. He loved it and wanted to buy it for his girl. I told him the name and he found it on Amazon. He gave me a high five and was very appreciative. Who would have thought that this young man and I would share a love of perfume?
These two incidents made me feel very hopeful. There is much more that unites us than divides us. However terrible the world may seem, there is always something positive to find and there is always hope. The world is a beautiful place. As God says, not perfect but very good.
As we enter the High Holy Days season, let us be inspired by our liturgy and let us be open to starting anew with a sense of optimism and confidence in a better future.
Shana Tovah to all from the Sussman-Vaida family.
RABBI SHOSHANAH TORNBERG
Congregation Keneseth Israel
Hasidic lore tells of Rabbi Simcha Bunim Bonhart, who made a habit of carrying two slips of paper, one in each pocket. On one he wrote, “Bishvili nivra ha-olam” (For my sake the world was created). On the other he wrote, “V’anokhi afar v’efer” (I am but dust and ashes). It is a practice that I often consider.
As we approach the Days of Awe, and we begin to examine our deeds, conducting a cheshbon nefesh (accounting of our souls), we undoubtedly will, at times, see all the goodness we have manifested in the past year. At other times, we will see our flaws glaring in the light of day.
We are both wondrous and broken.
We are beautiful and flawed. We are holy, and we are tiny. We are, each of us, the reason the whole world was created, and also nothing more than dust.
Oftentimes, especially in our increasingly polarized world, we find comfort in finality and assurance. We like to know whether things (or people, or ideas, or groups, or actions…) are good or bad. When we engage our most thoughtful selves, we know that such starkness lacks maturity and sophistication. This is an adolescent way of thinking. It is hard to dwell in the nuances that exist when we encounter complexity. It is uncomfortable, but it is important.
Judaism, at this season, reminds us that this discomfort is a spiritual asset. The world can be created for our sakes, because we also turn around and recognize ourselves as dust. The constant balancing act is part of the work of our souls.
Our tradition teaches that each person has a yetzer tov (an inclination to good) and a yetzer rah (an inclination to evil). One might expect our goal to be elimination of the yetzer rah, but this is not the case. The Midrash collection Genesis Rabah (9:7) teaches that were it not for the evil inclination, no one would ever build a house, farm a field, beget children, nor participate in any business ventures or projects. We would build not civilization. We need the yetzer rah to drive our making and creating. It is a key part of how we fulfill our role as God’s partner in making the world more whole.
It is true, though, that just as we value the yetzer rah, we also give primacy to the yetzer tov. They must exist in balance. We are both dust of the earth and those for whom the world itself was created.
Clergy messages Continues on page 7
Clergy messages
Continued from page 6
On the holy days to come in this new year of 5785, we will encounter a God of judgement (din) who will weigh our deeds and check their accounting. Did we do enough deeds of righteousness? Did we refrain from or undo evil in our world? The truth of our deeds and our hearts stands as testament to the state of our souls in this new year. And, yet, despite the flaws with which we still struggle and the omissions, mistakes, bad choices, and failures, God is also a God of mercy (rachamim). God is a loving parent who just wants us to come close and do better the next time. Our banishment is not God’s aim—our deeds should change as we grow, but God’s open heart finds a place for even the most broken who arrive repentant on the shores of these days.
So, God must find a balance, too.
We are dust. We are the whole world.
We nurture a yetzer tov. We nurture a yetzer rah.
God is at once just (judging) and merciful.
At once strict and loving.
Our journey through these days at times can seem like a game of ping-pong. We vacillate from good to bad, from righteousness to guilt, and we start to understand these terms as too simple anyway.
Though we live in a world increasingly defined by hardened categories, firm social, political, cultural, spiritual, and national boundaries, Judaism and the Days of Awe invite us back to complexity. And this is fitting. For what can be more complex and nuanced than the life of the soul?
Living between poles— always moving from one to the other—is a Jewish way of being: It reminds us that the work of improving the self, the soul, and our world is never done. We are always trying to find our balance. May each of us and the whole Household of Israel find balance in these holy days to come.
RABBI YITZCHOK YAGOD
Congregation Beth Avraham
I would like to welcome you all to our shul for New Year celebrations. Our shul,
“the Shul on the Banks of the Delaware,” is new to the area, so we are still building our congregation. However, we like to think of ourselves as an “old soul.” We have our roots in Bethlehem and, between the new and old times, we work to bring out the best of both.
Rosh Hashanah will soon be upon us—and such times invoke deep contemplation. We American Jews have grown up in a period of freedom and security that has been unparalleled for most of Jewish history. However, after so much tranquility, we are once again confronted by the age-old specter of organized antisemitism. As we gather in our shuls—in the spiritual homes of all of Israel—we bring trepidation with us. That feeling resides in the knowledge that there is a very real return of the hate that we all hoped would be gone forever.
As a community, we will answer this outcry with peace, love, and understanding. We will grow stronger than ever before—drawing together with a sense of unity. We will go forth with the knowledge that our safety is not found in making ourselves invisible, in spreading out and going into hiding. Instead, we will stand strong, knowing that in carrying out our divine mission aloft and proud, we will continue to be a light in this world. With our blessed diversity, we each can find our own unique ways of making this world a better place. Whether you join us on Rosh Hashanah or choose to observe elsewhere, I wish all of you the sweetest of years. May all of your dreams be realized—and may we all, as a nation, have the courage and fortitude to come together as one.
JFS to take High Holidays to older community members
Jewish Family Service of the Lehigh Valley is celebrating the Jewish New Year again with a mix of older adult programming and activities. JFS board member Howard Nathanson will give High Holidays presentations at long-term care residences and sound the shofar.
The programs help to connect older adults with Jewish traditions and the community. Locations include include Country Meadows, Kirkland Village, Luther Crest, Moravian Hall Square, Phoebe, and the Vero.
Holiday goody bags will be delivered to over
40 Jewish clients, and High Holiday Mazel Meals will bring delicious treats and ritual supplies to older adults, thanks to the efforts of JFS volunteers.
JFS staff and volunteers wish you a happy Rosh Hashanah!
Houman Ahdieh, M D
Daniel Ross, M D
Irena Cherfas, M D
Mark Krakauer, M D , M Phil
Lindsay Tilghman, O D
Kelsey Paciotti, O D
Magi Labib, O D
Amanda Hadeed, O D
Howard Nathanson blows the shofar.
JFS High Holidays goodie bags from previous years.
Many of the services listed here can be accessed via streaming. For further details or questions about particular services and, especially, to confirm that schedulings have not changed from what is printed below, please contact the synagogue using the information provided.
All are welcome to these services regardless of affiliation, knowledge, or previous background. There is no fee to attend and no membership fee. A special children’s program blends traditional services with contemporary messages in a friendly environment with Hebrew-English prayer books provided and a kiddush buffet afterward. There is a suggested donation of $50 per seat.
EREV ROSH HASHANAH
Wednesday, October 2, 2024
6:30 p.m. Evening service
ROSH HASHANAH
Thursday, October 3
9:30 a.m. Morning service
10:45 a.m. Children service
11:15 a.m. Shofar sounding followed by kiddush
4:30 p.m. Tashlich and shofar sounding service
7 p.m. Evening service
Friday, October 4
9:30 a.m. Morning service
10:45 a.m. Children’s service followed by kiddush
SHABBAT SHUVA
Saturday, October 5
10 a.m. Morning service followed by kiddush
EREV YOM KIPPUR
Friday, October 11
6:09 p.m. Fast begins and light candles
6:30 p.m. Kol Nidrei service
YOM KIPPUR
Saturday, October 12
9:30 a.m. Morning service
11 a.m. Children’s service
11:30 a.m. Yizkor memorial service
5 p.m. Mincha service
6 p.m. Neilah closing service
7:06 p.m. Fast ends, followed by break fast
EREV SUKKOT
Wednesday, October 16
6:02 p.m. Light candles
SUKKOT
Thursday, October 17
10 a.m. Morning service
Friday, October 18
10 a.m. Morning service
SHEMINI ATZERET/SIMCHAT TORAH
Wednesday, October 23
6 p.m. Evening service followed by kiddush and hakafot
Thursday, October 24
10 a.m. Morning service
11:45 a.m. Yizkor memorial service
6:30 p.m. Evening service followed by Hakafot under the Stars
Friday, October 25
10 a.m. Morning service followed by kiddush and hakafot
SHEMINI ATZERET/SIMCHAT TORAH
Friday, October 6
7 p.m. Evening service followed by kiddush and hakafoth
Saturday, October 7
10 a.m. Morning service
11:45 a.m. Yizkor memorial service
7:30 p.m. Evening service followed by hakafoth under the stars
Sunday, October 8
10 a.m. Morning service followed by kiddush and hakafoth
CONGREGATION AM
HASKALAH
AmHaskalahDirector@gmail.com
Rabbi Armin Langer and Rabbi Steve Nathan, Reconstructionist
In-person services will be at the JCC, except for tashlich (see below). Services will also be on Zoom. Free and open to all. No tickets required. Email the synagogue to RSVP, to get a Zoom link, or to request accommodations.
EREV ROSH HASHANAH
Wednesday, October 2
6:30 p.m. Evening service*
ROSH HASHANAH
Thursday, October 3
10 a.m. Morning service*
2 p.m. Streamside tashlich at Cedar Creek Parkway followed by a community
dairy/vegetarian potluck picnic. Meet at the beach Rose Garden Pavilions at the end of Honochick Drive*
Friday, October 4
10 a.m. Morning service*
EREV YOM KIPPUR
Friday, October 11
6:30 p.m. Kol Nidrei*
YOM KIPPUR
Saturday, October 12
10 a.m. Morning service*
1 p.m. Creative avodah*
5 p.m. Neilah* followed by a free community break fast
CONGREGATION
KENESETH ISRAEL
Rabbi Shoshanah Tornberg, Reform 2227 West Chew Street, 610-435-9074
Youth services are concurrent with all services listed.
EREV ROSH HASHANAH
Wednesday, October 2 7:30 p.m. Service
ROSH HASHANAH
Thursday, October 3
9:30 a.m. Service
1 p.m. Tashlich
Friday, October 4 10 a.m. Hike. Location to be determined
EREV YOM KIPPUR
Friday, October 11
7:30 p.m. Kol Nidrei service
YOM KIPPUR
Saturday, October 12
9:30 a.m. Service
12:30 p.m. Meditation service (following morning service)
2:30 p.m. Study session
4:05 p.m. Yizkor
5 p.m. Neilah/Havdalah
CONGREGATION SONS OF ISRAEL
Orthodox 2715 Tilghman Street, 610-433-6089
EREV ROSH HASHANAH
Wednesday, October 2
6 a.m. Selichos/Shacharis/Hataras Nedarim
6:20 p.m. Minchah/Maariv
6:23 p.m. Candle lighting
ROSH HASHANAH
Thursday, October 3
8:30 a.m. Shacharis
10:30 a.m. Shofar blowing
5:30 p.m. Minchah, tashlich
7 p.m. Maariv
7:22 p.m. Candle lighting
Friday, October 4
8:30 a.m. Shacharis
10:30 a.m. Shofar blowing
6:20 p.m. Minchah/Maariv
6:20 p.m. Latest candle lighting
SHABBOS SHUVAH
Saturday, October 5
9 a.m. Shacharis
6:05 p.m. Shabbos Minchah
7:19 p.m. Maariv, Havdalah
FAST OF GEDALIAH
Sunday, October 6
5:52 a.m. Fast begins 8 a.m. Selichos, Shacharis
High Holy Days Schedule of Services at area synagogues
Noon. Following the services, traditional tashlich
4 p.m. Family tashlich with shofar blowing
8 p.m. Ma’ariv service
Friday, October 4
8:30 a.m. Full traditional Shacharit*
9:45 a.m. Torah service and Musaf*
10:30 a.m. Contemporary service
EREV YOM KIPPUR
Friday, October 11
6 p.m. Kol Nidre service
Saturday, October 12
8:30 a.m. Full traditional Shacharit*
9:45 a.m. Torah service, Yizkor, and Musaf*
9:45 a.m.-noon. Youth service
10:30 a.m.-noon. BidBom Buddies
11 a.m.-noon. Teen Talk
3 p.m. Guided prayer service
3 p.m. Walking meditation
4 p.m. Mincha*
5:45 p.m. Ne’ilah*
5:45 Jewish family program
7 p.m. Ma’ariv, Havdalah, and shofar blowing*
SUKKOT
Thursday, October 17
9:30 a.m. Service
10:30 a.m. B’Yachad family service
Friday, October 18
9:30 a.m. Service
SHEMINI ATZERET
Thursday, October 24
9:30 a.m. Service
EREV SIMCHAT TORAH
Thursday, October 24
6:30 p.m. Service
SIMCHAT TORAH
Friday, October 25
9 a.m. Service
TEMPLE SHIRAT SHALOM
Cantor Ellen Sussman, Reform Temple Shirat Shalom is providing hospitality in homes during the High Holidays. Email Cantor Ellen Sussman at cantorsussman@gmail.com for information.
BETHLEHEM
CONGREGATION BRITH
SHOLOM
Rabbi Michael Singer, Conservative 1190 West Macada Road, 610-866-8009
EREV ROSH HASHANAH
Wednesday, October 2
6:30 p.m. Mincha/Ma’ariv
6:32 p.m. Candle lighting
ROSH HASHANAH
Thursday, October 3
9 a.m. Morning service
5 p.m. Tashlich at School Sisters property, Monocacy Creek
Congregation at Beth Avraham is holding full holiday services for both Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur at its new facility in Easton. It will host Halachic services in a modern setting. This includes educational lectures, singing, and inspiring discussions led by an experienced guest cantor. There is no cost to attend, though donations are welcome. RSVP by September 6.
Rabbi Adrienne Rubin, Reform Contact Congregation Bnai Shalom to purchase tickets for services and Break the Fast. There is no fee for the community family services or Rosh Hashanah afternoon tea, but reservations are required. Bring photo ID.
EREV ROSH HASHANAH
Wednesday, October 2 7:30 p.m. Service
ROSH HASHANAH
Thursday, October 3
10 a.m. Morning service followed by afternoon tea (must preregister) 2:15 p.m. Tashlich (meet at Bnai Shalom)
Friday, October 4
10 a.m. Morning service
2:15-3:15 p.m. Community family service (must preregister)
EREV YOM KIPPUR
Friday, October 11
7:30 p.m. Kol Nidre service
YOM KIPPUR
Saturday, October 12
10 a.m. Morning service
1 p.m. Yiskor service
2:15-3:15 p.m. Community family service (must preregister)
4 p.m. Afternoon Ne’ila service
7:05 p.m. Holiday ends, followed by Break the Fast (must preregister and purchase tickets)
Rabbi Marjorie Berman will lead all services except the October 4 chanting service led by Rabbi Daniel Swartz. No tickets are required. All are welcome, but you must register in advance. Please call 610-379-9591 to register.
EREV ROSH HASHANAH
Wednesday, October 2 7 p.m. Service*
ROSH HASHANAH
Thursday, October 3
10 a.m. Morning service* followed by kiddush. Then tashlich at the Lehigh River Boat Launch at Bowmanstown (from Route 248, take the Route 895 exit, cross the bridge over the Lehigh River, and take the first left, onto Riverview Road, and go .8 miles to Launch Road; the parking lot is on the left). Bring a folding chair and breadcrumbs
Friday, October 4
10 a.m. Morning chanting service with Temple Hesed.* Call Temple Hesed at (570) 344-7201 to register
EREV YOM KIPPUR
Friday, October 11
7 p.m. Kol Nidre service*
YOM KIPPUR
Saturday, October 12
10 a.m. Morning service* 5:15-6 p.m. Yizkor* 6 p.m. Ne’ilah and Havdalah* followed by
New year arrives in Ottoman-era Istanbul BOOK REVIEW
“A Turkish Rosh Hashanah,” by Etan Basseri, illustrated by Zeynep Ozatalay, Kalaniot Books, 2024, 32 pages.
By Sean Boyle Jewish Day School Librarian
Etan Basseri’s latest picture book, “A Turkish Rosh Hashanah,” illustrated by Zeynep Ozatalay, is a Sephardic Rosh Hashanah story set during the late Ottoman Empire era in Istanbul, Turkey.
Three young cousins go at the local marketplace with their nona (Ladino for grandmother) to buy the ingredients needed for their Rosh Hashanah seder. They go from stall to stall to get their items but need to overcome challenges, requiring bravery, teamwork, and the help of some furry four-legged friends. As the cousins help Nona prepare for the seder, they all go over the different ingredients that make up the yehi ratzones that help the family bring in the New Year, such as beets for freedom, dates for peace, and pumpkin
for forgiveness.
Basseri was raised in California in a mixed Sephardic and Ashkenazi family that blended many traditions. His wife’s family is originally from Izmir, Turkey, and they belong to a Turkish Sephardic synagogue in Seattle. The founders of the synagogue were all from the same village in Turkey, near Istanbul, and brought the name of their former synagogue with them.
During a trip to Turkey, Basseri fell in love with Istanbul and wanted his story set there during the late 1800s, when the city had the largest population of Jews in the Ottoman Empire. He used photos and research from his synagogue, the University of Washington, and his wife’s family. Ozatalay replicated several of the images in the story, as well as many actual locations still surviving in Istanbul today.
Ozatalay is Turkish and lives on an island near Istanbul. On the island, there are many horses, cats, and seagulls, which she includes in many of the illustrations. Basseri loves Turkish coffee
and has mastered making it himself, and Ozataly slips that love into the illustrations.
The cover artwork is an extremely accurate portrayal of the view over Istanbul of the Golden Horn, from the older neighborhoods still found mixed in between the modernized neighborhoods. Bassari’s character, Senyor Benezra, who sings selling pomegranates, is based on his wife’s great-grandfather who owned a produce stand in the 1930s, and Uzi-Eli Hezi, the Mahaneh Yehuda shuk’s beloved ‘Etrog Man’ in Jerusalem.
In the back matter, there is a short history of Jews in Turkey, a Ladino glossary, the background to the song sung by the pomegranate seller, and a deeper explanation of Sephardic Rosh Hashanah traditions.
Kalaniot Books has free downloadable activity kits, which include original artwork from the illustrators, on its website for all its books. This book is highly recommended for ages 3-120, designed for 3-6-year-olds but can be enjoyed by anyone
wanting to learn more about Sephardic Rosh Hashanah traditions.
Sean Boyle is librarian of the
Jewish Day School and Congregation Keneseth Israel. He also serves as president of the Association of Jewish Libraries.
By Sandi Teplitz Special to Hakol
I was fortunate to have spent part of Jewish Heritage Month in Stockholm. There are currently about 2,000 Jews living in this Scandinavian cap-
ital, most of whom came after being displaced during the Holocaust.
Swedish Jews have a close relationship with Finish Jews. They share a common bond in their speaking of Yiddish, each country with its own
7 ounces soft Finlandia butter
scant 1 1/2 cups sugar
2 1/4 teaspoons vanilla
2 medium-size eggs
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
scant 1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons high quality cinnamon 1/4 cup half-and-half
1/4 cup sugar mixed with 1 tablespoon cinnamon
dialectic variations.
The Swedes have a lovely tradition called fika. This is a timeout taken twice a day in the home or a café to share a coffee cake with friends, family, or coworkers. Sometimes the
pastries contain apples (Granny Smiths are grown there), lingonberries, or almonds, but they all are redolent with the aroma of cinnamon.
I coerced one of the ladies at a UNESCO heritage site to share
Cream the butter and sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until smooth. Add vanilla and mix on low. Add the remain ing dry ingredients that have been sifted together. Add the half-andhalf. Make 25 balls and roll them in the topping.
Divide between two large but tered baking sheets. Bake at 350 degrees for 11 minutes. They will be soft in the middle. Cool for 10 minutes (they will crisp on the edges). Remove from the pans and cool completely. Serve with hot coffee.
her recipe for cinnamon cookies, which could very easily become a new tradition in your household this year. It would be a unique accompaniment to apples and honey.
