Temple Solel High Holidays in Israel

Charlotte Jewish News October 2021

By Shelley Pawlyk

Temple Solel joins our hearts with our sister synagogue, Kehilat Birkat Shalom in Gezer, Israel, in hoping you had a very pleasant Shana Tova — the start of a year filled with health, peace, happiness, and prosperity. May we recognize the spark of the divine in each other and ourselves, and may we all be written and sealed for life.

Rabbi Steve Burnstein recently shared, “The key is not to be afraid. Last year many of us were nearly overwhelmed with fear and anxiety as we struggled with constantly changing restrictions and plans for the High Holidays. Balancing tradition, health, community, safety, loneliness, and other issues empowered and compelled our communities to find creative ways to connect to one another as a supportive community. Even virtually, we behold the sweetness of God.”

Rabbi Burnstein encouraged us to add a verse from Psalm 27 to our daily prayers that reads, “One thing I ask of Adonai, that I seek, that I will dwell in Adonai’s house all the days of my life and behold the sweetness of Adonai and visit Adonai’s sanctuary.”

Rabbi Burnstein recalled learning in his religious education that God is present everywhere and added, “This simple lesson has been reinforced by life experience through this period of the global pandemic. Together with you, I have experienced the holiness of community and connection to Adonai in unexpected places. While the doors to our synagogues have at times been closed because of COVID-19, Adonai’s sanctuary has been open and welcoming. Necessity has forced us to learn to use technology in ways we’d never imagined. While not ideal, it has nonetheless enabled us to not only maintain, but in some ways even expand and strengthen our communities.”

Our spirits were then lifted higher because of the passion with which he described the High Holidays taking place in Israel. He described the “all too familiar” forthcoming rituals in the United States and other parts of the word in the form of Christmas music, decorations, and phrases that, though dear to others, may feel isolating to Jewish people. However, with delight, he continued to say, “It is important to recognize our own holidays and lives in a similar encompassing way — the sanctuary — we think of God as being everywhere we are, whether at Shabbat services, in person, or on Zoom, as we are now again.”

He reminded us that in Israel, people’s senses are immersed with signs of the holidays — the smells of holiday dishes and the sounds of the shofar and, more recently, of the influx of musicians reviving Mizrachi styles of worshipful music. There are walking tours throughout Israel and stops in Israeli, Turkish, Egyptian, or Kurdish synagogues where visitors are greeted by the cantorial soloist singing to set the mood for the holidays based on the synagogue’s customs. And the weather is beautiful through Sukkot, just as Adonai planned.

It is the time of year when Israel is rich with fresh pomegranates. People place mesh or paper bags around the fruits to protect them from bugs and birds. Even the flower on the pomegranate takes shape of the Magen David, and its seeds are said to add up to 613, the number of the commandments. Yom Kippur has become a day when there is a significant measurable decrease in pollution — nobody drives anywhere. It has also become known as the bicycle holiday. Even regular weekly Shabbat has a similar feeling.

I hope you will consider contributing to Kehilat Birkat Shalom in honor of the new year. You can make a U.S. tax-deductible donation at http://kbyonline.org/ synagogues/kehilat-birkat-shalom. During these difficult days, they are doing everything in their power to serve more and more people seeking spirituality, connection, and community. It’s critical that we are there for them, and our support makes a difference!

Rabbi Caroline Sim, director of rabbinical services at the ISJL, is booked to visit us October 8 and 9 for a Shabbaton via Zoom. Temple Solel holds regular Shabbat services at 7 p.m. on the second and fourth Fridays of each month via Zoom and hopes to resume services when appropriate at Belair UMC Family Life Center, 8095 Shelley Mullis Rd., Fort Mill, SC 29707.