Nava TehilaNovember is a quiet month on the Jewish calendar. The first half of this month falls during the lunar month of Heshvan, which contains no holidays at all (aside from Shabbat, the holiest day of them all, which returns to enliven us every single week.) And the latter half of November will usher in the lunar month of Kislev, which contains the festival of Chanukah, though we won’t reach Chanukah until early in December.
As the last of the spectacular fall colors fade, we reflect with gratitude on the long, beautiful, and sunlight-filled season we shared at CBI, including lovely holiday observances and community gatherings in our spectacular corner of the Berkshires.
In between the two funerals in Hayyei Sarah, Avraham sends his servant to find a wife for Yitzhak. The servant prays, “God, whoever shows readiness to care not only for me but for my animals – let that be the person You’ve chosen for Yitzhak.” Sure enough, the girl who lifts her pitcher turns out to be family, which our sages see as the hand of God at work. For me, though, what’s most remarkable isn’t that miracle: it’s that Rivkah’s family asks what she wants, instead of deciding for her.
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!
This month’s column is a reprint of this year’s Days of Awe co-presidential speeches that were delivered during this year’s High Holiday services.
Earlier this week I sang El Maleh at the countywide memorial for the victims of the Oct. 7 attacks. I remembered what it felt like to wake up on October 7th three years ago, at the tail end of the long season of Jewish holidays, to the news that kibbutzim were under attack, that a music festival was under attack. The terrible images. The feeling like we couldn’t catch our breath. Sometimes I still feel like I can’t breathe with it.
This is the sermon that Rabbi Rachel Barenblat offered during Yom Kippur 5787 morning service on Monday, September 21, 2026.
This is the sermon that Rabbi Rachel Barenblat offered during Kol Nidre 5787 evening service on Sunday, September 20, 2026.
This is the sermon that Rabbi Rachel Barenblat offered during Rosh Hashanah I 5787 morning service on Saturday, September 12, 2026.
This guest sermon was offered by cantorial soloist Ziva Larson during Erev Rosh Hashanah 5787 evening service on Friday, September 11, 2026.
One of the things we do on Yom Kippur is pray the prayers of Yizkor, the memorial service that takes place four times a year: at Passover (spring), at Shavuot (summer), at Yom Kippur (fall), and at Shemini Atzeret (also fall – a mere 11 days after Yom Kippur).
While I was away on retreat as part of the Clergy Leadership Program with the Institute for Jewish Spirituality, an email came into my inbox asking why, as a Reform community, we would postpone tashlich (the ritual of throwing bread into a body of water as we pray for help releasing our mis-steps) until the second day of Rosh Hashanah. After the retreat I wrote back and said: that’s my next newsletter column!
This week’s Torah portion, Shoftim, is about judges and justice. Every town needs justices and magistrates who must judge the people with equitable justice. This is also the Torah portion where we find “Justice, justice shall you pursue!” Just as Torah spent a lot of time in Leviticus telling us to be holy as YHVH our God is holy, now we’re reminded that we also must act justly because YHVH our God is just.
This week we’re in parashat Matot-Masei, the last parsha in the book of Numbers. We begin with instructions about vows and oaths: who can make them, and who can make them but might be overruled. We don’t use the term “vow” often in modern life. But the promises we make to one another and to God matter.
Shalom Chaverim! As we welcome the summer season, we offer our thanks to all who attended our May Annual Meeting. We had over 30 participants (mostly in-person but also our intrepid Zoomers as well) and marveled together at all we accomplished this past year.
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From the Rabbi – November 2026
Chanukah, From The Rabbi, Jewish Holidays, Kislev, Music, Newsletter, Spiritual LifeNovember is a quiet month on the Jewish calendar. The first half of this month falls during the lunar month of Heshvan, which contains no holidays at all (aside from Shabbat, the holiest day of them all, which returns to enliven us every single week.) And the latter half of November will usher in the lunar month of Kislev, which contains the festival of Chanukah, though we won’t reach Chanukah until early in December.
November 2026 | Kislev 5787
Chanukah, Community, Events, From The President, Newsletter, VolunteeringAs the last of the spectacular fall colors fade, we reflect with gratitude on the long, beautiful, and sunlight-filled season we shared at CBI, including lovely holiday observances and community gatherings in our spectacular corner of the Berkshires.
I Will Go: Shabbat Hayyei Sarah
Divrei Torah, Elul, From The Rabbi, Jewish Values, Resilience, Response to Tragedy, Runway to the Days of Awe, TeshuvahIn between the two funerals in Hayyei Sarah, Avraham sends his servant to find a wife for Yitzhak. The servant prays, “God, whoever shows readiness to care not only for me but for my animals – let that be the person You’ve chosen for Yitzhak.” Sure enough, the girl who lifts her pitcher turns out to be family, which our sages see as the hand of God at work. For me, though, what’s most remarkable isn’t that miracle: it’s that Rivkah’s family asks what she wants, instead of deciding for her.
From the Rabbi – October 2026
Classes, Community, Education, Events, From The Rabbi, Jewish Holidays, Newsletter, Spiritual LifeWe 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!
October 2026 | Cheshvan 5787
Community, Days of Awe, From The President, Jewish Holidays, Newsletter, Rosh Hashanah, Social Action, Volunteering, Yom KippurThis month’s column is a reprint of this year’s Days of Awe co-presidential speeches that were delivered during this year’s High Holiday services.
How Do We Begin Again?: Bereshit 5787
Divrei Torah, Elul, From The Rabbi, Jewish Values, Resilience, Response to Tragedy, Runway to the Days of Awe, TeshuvahEarlier this week I sang El Maleh at the countywide memorial for the victims of the Oct. 7 attacks. I remembered what it felt like to wake up on October 7th three years ago, at the tail end of the long season of Jewish holidays, to the news that kibbutzim were under attack, that a music festival was under attack. The terrible images. The feeling like we couldn’t catch our breath. Sometimes I still feel like I can’t breathe with it.
Balancing Dust & Stars: Yom Kippur 5787
Chevra Kadisha, Days of Awe, Divrei Torah, From The Rabbi, Sermons, Spiritual Life, Teshuvah, Yizkor, Yom KippurThis is the sermon that Rabbi Rachel Barenblat offered during Yom Kippur 5787 morning service on Monday, September 21, 2026.
Hanging in the Balance: Kol Nidre 5787
Days of Awe, Divrei Torah, From The Rabbi, Kol Nidre, Sermons, Spiritual Life, Yom KippurThis is the sermon that Rabbi Rachel Barenblat offered during Kol Nidre 5787 evening service on Sunday, September 20, 2026.
Keeping Our Balance: Rosh Hashanah 5787
Contemplative Practice, Days of Awe, Divrei Torah, From The Rabbi, Jewish Values, Resilience, Response to Tragedy, Rosh Hashanah, Sermons, World NewsThis is the sermon that Rabbi Rachel Barenblat offered during Rosh Hashanah I 5787 morning service on Saturday, September 12, 2026.
Guest Post | The Practice of Finding Balance: Erev Rosh Hashanah 5787
Days of Awe, Divrei Torah, From The Rabbi, Guest Posts, Jewish Values, Rosh Hashanah, Sermons, Teshuvah, Tikkun OlamThis guest sermon was offered by cantorial soloist Ziva Larson during Erev Rosh Hashanah 5787 evening service on Friday, September 11, 2026.
An Opportunity to Learn About Yizkor
Classes, Days of Awe, From The Rabbi, Jewish Holidays, Pesach, Response to Tragedy, Shavuot, Shemini Atzeret, Spiritual Life, Yizkor, Yom KippurOne of the things we do on Yom Kippur is pray the prayers of Yizkor, the memorial service that takes place four times a year: at Passover (spring), at Shavuot (summer), at Yom Kippur (fall), and at Shemini Atzeret (also fall – a mere 11 days after Yom Kippur).
From the Rabbi – August 2026
Days of Awe, From The Rabbi, Jewish Holidays, Newsletter, Rosh Hashanah, Runway to the Days of Awe, Spiritual LifeWhile I was away on retreat as part of the Clergy Leadership Program with the Institute for Jewish Spirituality, an email came into my inbox asking why, as a Reform community, we would postpone tashlich (the ritual of throwing bread into a body of water as we pray for help releasing our mis-steps) until the second day of Rosh Hashanah. After the retreat I wrote back and said: that’s my next newsletter column!
When Life Is Unjust: Shabbat Shoftim
Divrei Torah, Elul, From The Rabbi, Jewish Values, Resilience, Response to Tragedy, Runway to the Days of Awe, TeshuvahThis week’s Torah portion, Shoftim, is about judges and justice. Every town needs justices and magistrates who must judge the people with equitable justice. This is also the Torah portion where we find “Justice, justice shall you pursue!” Just as Torah spent a lot of time in Leviticus telling us to be holy as YHVH our God is holy, now we’re reminded that we also must act justly because YHVH our God is just.
Taking Stock: Shabbat Matot-Masei
Divrei Torah, From The Rabbi, Jewish Values, Resilience, Response to Tragedy, Reverse Omer, Runway to the Days of Awe, Teshuvah, Tisha B'AvThis week we’re in parashat Matot-Masei, the last parsha in the book of Numbers. We begin with instructions about vows and oaths: who can make them, and who can make them but might be overruled. We don’t use the term “vow” often in modern life. But the promises we make to one another and to God matter.
June 2026 | Sivan / Tammuz 5786
Community, Events, From The President, Newsletter, VolunteeringShalom Chaverim! As we welcome the summer season, we offer our thanks to all who attended our May Annual Meeting. We had over 30 participants (mostly in-person but also our intrepid Zoomers as well) and marveled together at all we accomplished this past year.