This week’s Torah portion, Ki Tavo, means “when you enter.” As we move to the conclusion of Deuteronomy, Moses is preparing the people for their arrival in the Holy Land. I always love how this portion coincides with the Shabbat before Rosh Hashanah. This is the Shabbat where we hold our Selichot services, the first official service of the High Holy Days. The Selichot service looks and feels like a typical High Holy Day service. It is filled with many of the key melodies we will hear throughout the month of Tishrei, as we prepare our eyes and our ears for what will be coming in just a week. Just as the people are being prepared for entering the Holy Land in this week’s Torah portion, we are being prepared for our journey into the Jewish New Year.
This year will be different from years past at Congregation Shir Shalom. For the first time since 2019, we will be having a normal service, with many less Covid restrictions than we have had the past two High Holy Days. It will also be the first time as Congregation Shir Shalom, that our services have not been organized by Mindy Weinman, infused by the music of Paul Staley, and filled with the smiles of Jennie Pohl. When you enter our sanctuary this year, you no doubt will be filled with mixed emotions: grateful for having made our way through the pandemic, and sad at the losses we have experienced along the way.
We must imagine our ancestors feeling a little bit the same way at this point in their journey. Stepping into the Land of Israel as free people will be a remarkable moment that they had dreamed of throughout their lifetimes. But it will be filled with sadness as well, knowing the three people most instrumental to their Exodus from Egypt, Moses, Miriam and Aaron, had all died in the wilderness. Just like them, on our journey into the Jewish New Year we have great joy in being able to be together in person for the first time in a long time. And we carry the life and legacy Mindy, Paul, and Jennie, along with dozens of others we have had to say goodbye to over the past year. May their memories always be for a blessing. And may this time of year be a blessing to us all.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Alex
P.S. – Congregation Shir Shalom will be joining both Temple Beth Zion and Temple Beth Tzedek at their Selichot services on Saturday night. Temple Beth Zion’s service will begin downtown at their Delaware building with a chocolate reception at 5:45 and a musical quartet, followed by services at 7 PM. Temple Beth Tzedek’s services will begin at 9 PM that same night. Cantor Frank and I will be participating in both services.