President’s High Holy Day’s Speech
Today, we celebrate Rosh Hashanah, the beginning of the high holiday season, the days of awe. We gather as a communi-ty to worship and wish each other a “sweet new year”. But what does it mean to gather as a community?
What do we get out of this? You have heard a great deal about the importance of community today, which I whole heartily agree with. I wanted to share with you some stories from our community about why the temple is important to three families among us.
Here is my story:
I joined the temple so that my children would know their heritage. Being brought up in a non-practicing household, I knew little about Judaism. I remember being in a temple, and my father telling me that women do not wear kippot. That was the extent of my religious instruction, other than eating bagels and lox on Sunday mornings. I was determined that my children would know more. Although I started out with the expectation that my children would get an education, I was unprepared for what followed, cheerful greetings in the hallway at drop off and pick up and fellowship formed over class dinners and services. I also quickly realized the need to educate myself, to stay ahead of Rose. I enrolled in an intro-ductory Hebrew class, and eventually in an adult B’nei Mitzvah class. I was asked to join the education committee. I be-gan to realize that there was more to temple than an education for my children, that this was a true community. Nowhere was this more evident than during class and temple-wide events, where all the adults watched over the children, and felt free to help someone else’s child, or let them know that they needed to quiet down, or stop running around the temple building. I truly feel that sense of community to this day. As my children and the children that they grew up with get older, the connection continues, and advice and storied are freely shared between parents whose children have “been there/done that”, and those who are approaching whatever the event/milestone is. I look forward to continuing to share the ups and downs of not only my children’s lives but also my life with my temple family.
Another member told me that she did not initially see a need to join a temple; her husband is not Jewish, and “it didn’t seem necessary”. Her daughter came home one day and asked when she was going to get her first communion dress. She told her that she was not Catholic, and her daughter asked her “What am I?” She began taking her daughter to high holiday services, and some Erev Shabbat services. Her daughter never went to religious school, and did not have her own Bat Mitzvah celebration, although she did attend some of her friends’. She has since married, and joined a temple of her own. Being a member of this temple gave her an answer to her question, “What am I?” Meanwhile, the mother was asked to be on the board, and she eventually became president of the temple. She is no longer as active, but when asked what she got out of continuing to be a member, she simply answered, “I can’t imagine not being a member”. She added that being a member offers her an opportunity to remain connected to her Judaism regardless of her degree of practice that the temple is there any time I want to observe/practice, without my needing a special invitation, and that that is a great source of comfort for her.
Another member joined the temple when she was pregnant with her first child. She and her husband had bought a house, and the real estate agent had mentioned Temple Etz Chaim, although they did not join immediately. When they were looking, they went to a Shabbat service. The service felt comfortable enough for her conservative background, and not too strange for her husband who is not Jewish. However, during oneg, they felt “like we walked into someone’s house as a welcome guest”. They continue to feel welcome, and she related that, in addition to being a place to educate their chil-dren, “this is our Jewish home”.
I invite you to tell me your story, and share with me how you came to join our temple, and what keeps you here. I would also like to hear how we can do better, what you would like to see our temple do for you, to help you feel that this is YOUR “Jewish home”.
Shana Tova