Rosh Hashanah 5787
As I write my final blog of 5786, we are standing together at the threshold of a new year.
Throughout Elul, my Havurah has been exploring four stages of the t’shuvah journey:
Reflect. Release. Repair. Return.
We have looked back with honesty, considered what we are ready to release, acknowledged what needs repair, and turned toward greater wholeness and purpose.
Now we pause.
The year ahead has not yet been written. We cannot know what joys and sorrows, challenges and blessings it will hold. We can only choose how we want to enter it—and offer our deepest prayers for ourselves, our loved ones, our communities, our people, and our world.
At the Precipice
We stand together
on the precipice
of the new year
as it is about to unfold.
What joys and sorrows will it hold?
As we turn, return, and relearn
our Sacred Purpose,
may we strengthen our connection
to the Source of All.
May embarking on a journey
of t’shuvah and reflection,
soul-searching and introspection,
help us hear—and answer—God’s call.
May this be the year we choose
to live our lives fully—
with passion, perspective,
purpose, and promise.
May the traditions
and teachings of our people
be an ongoing source
of strength and inspiration.
May we listen to the
still small voice within
and may the unspoken prayer of our hearts
be answered and fulfilled.
As you stand at the threshold of 5787, what prayer is nestled in your heart? What blessing do you hope to carry into the year ahead?
A Prayer for Those Who Lead Us
As our rabbis, cantors, musicians, and service leaders prepare to guide us through the Days of Awe, I want to take a moment to express appreciation for the countless hours they have devoted to creating meaningful and uplifting experiences for our communities.
This prayer is for all who will be holding sacred space for others during the High Holy Days.
A High Holy Day Prayer for Clergy and Service Leaders
As you prepare to lead your congregation
in reflection, prayer, and song,
may you take a moment to pause,
to breathe, and to find your center.
May you feel held
as you hold sacred space for others,
supported as you support your community,
and nourished by the prayers you help bring to life.
May you trust that your preparation is enough,
and may you be blessed with
calm, clarity, strength, and stamina
throughout the Days of Awe.
May you and your congregation
be uplifted and inspired by our sacred liturgy,
and may the words and music you share
reach the hearts of those who most need them.
May there be no security concerns,
may technology work as it should,
and may each person experience a sense of shleimut—
wholeness, well-being, and peace.
Thank you for sharing your gifts,
for illuminating a path for others,
and for the difference you make in the world.
May 5787 be a year of abundant blessings,
and may the New Year be a good and sweet one
for you and your loved ones,
for our congregations and Jewish communities,
for our people, and for our world.
As we cross the threshold into 5787, may we be blessed with the strength to heal, the courage to hope, the resilience to face what lies ahead, and the ability to work together to usher in an era of enduring peace.
May we enter the New Year with open hearts, renewed purpose, and faith in the light we each carry.
L’shana Tova u’metuka and Shabbat Shalom.
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