From the Rabbi

Soon, the crescent moon of Tishrei will appear above our heads.

We are drawn to peer into space, as if towards the distant stars, to discern what we may encounter in the months ahead of us in the year 5777.

The year will start with the appearance of the slimmest horn of light. Yet it is the second beginning for us. As citizens living in two civilizations, Jewish and civic, we have already been to one such bash. This time around, we use the shofar shape in the sky as our invitation to the dance.

It’s unusual, to take time away from the clamour of ordinary activities to clear off the detritus of the past year, to allow ourselves another go round the floor, another opportunity to renew our behaviors, relationships, and intentions.

Look up, this coming Sunday night, and look in. It’s a moment to embrace, before all of the year’s possibilities unfurl themselves.

To have a community in which we can pause and step into the new year together, is a blessing. We approach a month filled with fasting and festivity, with a particularly exceptional opportunity to celebrate what connects us as a congregation to the congregations around us and to our ancient, contemporary and future Jewishness as a people.

Shana tova umetuka. May it be a year of sweetness and health, of countless joys, and delight in life and in each other.

- Rabbi Liz