Throughout the month, we will be sending out emails to help our community prepare. The emails will each include a special melody selected by the Hazzan and a reflection about Elul from one of our community leaders. We hope that these melodies and reflections help you in your own spiritual preparations during this season.
Additionally, I would like to invite you to join me at the Community Selichot this Saturday night. This year, Temple Beth Hillel-Beth El is honored to serve as the host and it will feature a special performance by Theatre Ariel.
Rabbi Neil Cooper
Click here for the second High Holiday Melody
Elul Reflection From Mindy Oppenheimer, Chair of our Hesed Committee
David and I attended the Jewish National Fund conference recently in DC along with a few other TBH-BE’ers. All of the events were powerful, and GWU professor Dr. Erica Brown in particular left a lasting impression that will keep our wheels turning through the High Holidays. Dr. Brown asked us to reflect on our Jewish identities and how we share what is important to us with the next generation. What was clear is, our work is never done. We must continue to guard our own and strengthen our children’s identities so that Jewish life will continue in strength.
Dr. Brown’s recommendation was to engage in identity-shaping activities that are behavioral (i.e. help with a shivah, attend daily minyan, give Tzedakah), emotional (i.e. express pride in your Jewish heritage, your love for Eretz Yisrael, your sadness at losing friends who were leaders in the Jewish community), and cognitively (i.e. study Torah and Jewish history, read Jewish/Israeli authors, listen to podcasts or music by Jews and Israelis, learn Hebrew or Yiddush). If you wonder why these are ALL important, answer the following question: “I am Jewish because…” I would argue that Hesed work applies to all three, so email me at mindyopp@me.com if you want to get involved. (Note: Showing up is the hardest part!)
Wishing you and your family sweet, healthy and identified New Year!
