Monday, September 1, 2014

Time to Turn - September 2014

Hashiveinu Adonai, v’nashuvah. chadeish yameinu k’kedem.
Return us, O God, and we will return. Renew our days, as of old.

Each year, as we enter the month of Elul, we begin the process of repentance, of s’lichot.  At our s’lichot service, beginning after the last Shabbat of the old year ends, when we dress our Torah scrolls and bimah for the High HolyDays, we ask God to help us turn back in the process of t’shuvah. We translate t’shuvah as repentance, but the literal meaning is turn and return.  We take a moment to look back over the path that we have traveled, the habits that have gradually worn a groove in our life’s journey, and we make a conscious choice to continue in the same manner, or to set off in a new direction.

This year, as a congregation, we have set off in a new direction together. We have reached a physical destination - our new home - and now we can take all the energy that we have expended in getting us to this place, and use it to strengthen our community; to travel in other ways, firmly rooted in our new home.  Just as we feel rested and renewed when we put down a heavy burden, the hard task of building the building is over.  Now we can remember all the other tasks that are needed to build a community.

Perhaps the time has come for you to build yourself - to take a class at the Temple; to begin (perhaps again) the study of Hebrew; to re-engage in the adult meaning of worship; to read and meet with others to discuss books, see movies, or to try a new spiritual practice.

Perhaps the time has come for you to (re-)build your family - carving out Shabbat as time to be together; finding a way to celebrate a holiday; joining in Family Track to learn as a family; or reach out to an estranged relative.

Perhaps the time has come for you to help build your community - to volunteer for a Temple event; to join a committee; to attend a Temple fundraiser; to seek a seat on the Board of Trustees; to make a donation to a meaningful fund.

Perhaps the time has come for you to build up the world around you - to help the congregation as we once again prepare to house the homeless; to bake a meatloaf and serve it to the hungry; to bring in canned goods for the Yom Kippur drive; to add your voice to others in calling for meaningful societal change and tikkun olam.

The High HolyDays come every year so that we need make no excuses for changing our habits, turning to new paths, trying something different.  Indeed, we are expected to do so; to look again at our lives and make sure we living in the way that we wish to live.  As we approach this new year together, let us lend each other strength to change, that we may all be renewed, together.

Shanah tovah.