blogs/brentspodek

Hello Friends:

In these last few days before Rosh Hashona, I wanted to be sure to share some resources, both practical and spiritual, to help us navigate these Days of Awe. 

It might be useful to remember that the work of this season is the same as it has ever been, even if the mechanism by which we do that work is significantly different than in years past. 

So, in terms of the links needed to access the davvening for Rosh Hashona, we have a number of options, so that you can find the ones that work best for you. 

All members of BHA will receive an email and access to a webpage on Thursday which includes links:

• to interactively participate in services on Zoom, which might be best for folks who want to be able to chat with the clergy and other members of the community.

• to stream, but not interact you can live stream services on YouTube, which might be best for people who want to watch, but not be seen themselves, or who want to watch on a TV or other device on which YouTube works better than Zoom.

• to watch individual clips of services on YouTube, which include spiritual exercises for reflection. This might work best for people who want to watch on their own schedule rather than live stream.

Guests (non-members) of BHA who have registered for the holidays will receive an email and access to a webpage on Thursday which includes links:

• to stream, but not interact you can live stream services on YouTube, which might be best for people who want to watch, but not be seen themselves, or who want to watch on a TV or other device on which YouTube works better than Zoom.

• to watch individual clips of services on YouTube, which include spiritual exercises for reflection. This might work best for people who want to watch on their own schedule rather than live stream.

If you are not a member of BHA and want to register for services, you can do that here; and if you'd like to take this opportunity to formally join the BHA community, you can do that here. 

Beyond that, here are some resources to help us all build the spirit of the holidays on our own. 

• Communal prayer at home is a new experience for all of us. Here are some thoughts on how you might create a small sanctuary space in your home for the holidays this year. 

• Rosh Hashona Seder, which has long been a custom in Sefardic homes, is an easy and fun way to set the year off right. This is a low-key ritual that anyone can do at home with just a little bit of preparation; our friends at the Schusterman Family Foundation have put together a very accessible how-to guide here.

There are a lot of precious and valuable aspects of the holidays that we will be missing this Rosh Hashona. But the essential challenge and purpose of the holidays remain - to get in right relationship with the people in our lives so that we might be in right relationship with the Holy One of Blessing. 

More than eating the right meal, having the right book or chanting the right words, the core of the holiday is having the hard conversations and improving your relationship with the aspect of God we know best of all - other people. 

With blessings for a sweet new year for all of us,

Rabbi Brent