Dear Congregation Beth Israel members and friends,

We made it: the fall holidays are behind us. It’s always a whirlwind: from the Selihot (“Pardons”) havdalah and cemetery service the weekend before Rosh Hashanah, through Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, to building the sukkah, and our Sukkot Harvest Moon Potluck and bonfire, and a week of Sukkot, and Shemini Atzeret services with Yizkor, all the way to our Simhat Torah celebration with seven joyous songs and the end and beginning of Torah’s story to launch us into the new year. Whew!

Pirkei Avot says the world stands or depends on three things: on Torah, on avodah, and on gemilut hasadim. You will perhaps not be surprised to learn that all three of these are ways you can more deeply connect with, and be part of, the CBI community this year.

1) The world depends on Torah: on Torah study, learning, delving into our texts and traditions, becoming more knowledgeable about Judaism. Every Saturday morning we’ll once again offer Soul Spa, weekly Torah learning on Zoom co-taught by me and my friend and colleague R. David Markus. As you might guess based on the name, this isn’t just intellectual or academic study of Torah – it’s Torah study geared toward nourishing our souls as well as our minds. This year’s theme is Paths of Peace, which will take us all over Jewish tradition in search of Torah’s wisdom about seeking wholeness. You’re welcome to join us any week, whether you become a regular or you just drop in when life permits. After each class we post a recording of the class, plus annotated source sheets reflecting what we learned together.

This year we’re also offering adult Hebrew learning (scheduling TBD; reach out to Adam Green for dates and times) and book group discussions led by Suzanne Levy Graver. The Israel/Palestine Education Committee has also planned a movie discussion this weekend. All of these can be understood broadly as forms of Torah study. All are ways to delve into the Torah of our lived human experience as expressed in books, in movies, even “just” in the letters of the alef-bet.

2) The world depends on avodah. Literally avodah means service, as in “the service of the heart,” e.g. prayer. We continue to offer Shabbat services every weekend – sometimes Kabbalat Shabbat; sometimes morning services on Saturday mornings – as well as services for all the other festivals of the year. Joining our choir under the direction of Music Director Adam Green is another way to participate in the spiritual life of our community. When we sing on the bimah it’s not a “performance,” it’s prayer, meant to uplift our hearts and souls as well as the hearts and souls of the community.

And R. Abraham Joshua Heschel famously said that when he marched at Selma “his legs were praying” – we know that social justice work can be another form of avodah, holy service and spiritual practice. Maybe you want to reinvigorate our Tikkun Olam committee, or find social justice work we can do together?

3) The world depends on gemilut hasadim: this Hebrew phrase means “acts of lovingkindness.” Maybe you’ll call or email someone who is ill, or bring someone a container of soup. Maybe you’ll attend a shiva minyan or help us make a minyan for Shabbat, accompanying a community member in their mourning. Maybe you’ll invite other CBI members to join you for a movie, a hike, or a Shabbat meal. (We are working on a new membership directory – please update your contact information with the office if you haven’t already done so.) Maybe you’ll help the Board plan a monthly social event this year. Current plans already include a bagel brunch and a Chanukah concert with reception; what we’ll do together after that may depend on who steps up and what you want our community to do and to be.

Here’s to a 5787 of Torah, avodah, and gemilut hasadim in all their forms… and to all of you. I can’t wait to do all of these things with all of you in the months to come.

Blessings to all,

— Rabbi Rachel