L'Shana Tova

Rosh Hashanah was wonderful. My sister and I went to Olney Kehillah, Holly Taya Shere’s congregation, for morning services and then had an incredible group of about 25 people for evening service at Moon Meadow Acre. The connections between some of the people were really surprising. It turned out that Holly knew one of the members of Becoming and a friend she brought with her.

Hebrew Crunk!

Next year we go hip hop for Rosh Hashanah — hmmm….I wonder….

But seriously, the response to the evening service just left me feeling so energized and positive about all the work I’m doing. It’s not that I have doubts, well I do but not serious ones, but getting to share a Rosh Hashanah experience that is true for me and have others say, “yes — we feel this too.” Damn. It’s just an incredible sensation. I’m in talks with Holly to do a Shabbat morning sing-a-long featuring her chants and beyond that I’m actually considering a monthly Shabbat morning service, maybe at Rock Creek Park. Part of the inspiration, besides the obvious, was a conversation with my sister yesterday. Part of the point of coming together as a community, she observed, is a common framework. It’s that sensation of history and common bonds through everyone knowing the same songs and prayers. It’s what’s really hard about going to a new synagogue or religious group. Until you understand their language of community you feel like an outsider.

That’s why I want to do things like the Shabbat sing-a-long or Shabbat morning services. The more people who know the music the more “at home” they’ll feel on the high holidays or any other ritual.

[tags]rosh hashanah, purpose, mission, names, kohenet[/tags]