We’re Not Done Celebrating Yet!

I describe the arc of liturgy as being a little like preparing for a sports game: there’s a warm-up, a building through the innings, quarters, etc., and a cool-down at the end. High Holy Days feel a bit like that, too. Elul and Selichot are the warm-up that builds to Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, but we don’t stop immediately with the final tekiah gedolah blast of the shofar. The intensity of the High Holy Days lingers, albeit less intensely, through Sukkot and Simchat Torah.

Whether or not you’ve been constructing your own sukkah this week, ours at Temple is up! We hope you’ll join us tomorrow, Friday, Sept. 25, at 5:45 PM for our Pizza in the Hut dinner, followed by Sukkot and Shabbat services at 6:30 PM.

As we dwell within the temporary and permeable walls of the sukkah, we recall our ancestors’ wanderings in the desert and the insecurity of living without sturdy, permanent walls around us.

If you haven’t yet returned a bag for our annual High Holiday Food Drive, there is still time. Nonperishable food donations may be brought to Temple through next week and will benefit the Dayton Foodbank. Donations after they’re able to arrange pickup can be provided to the Haitian Community Support Center in Springfield, Ohio.

We are also looking forward to a very special guest: Dan Nichols will join us at Temple for dinner, s’mores, singing, stories and more at 6:30 PM on Wednesday, Sept. 30. Be sure to invite your friends. Dan is sure to make the evening memorable and meaningful with his music, stories and personality. Trust me: if you aren’t familiar with him yet, you won’t want to miss this!

Finally, at 5:45 PM on Friday, Oct. 2, we conclude our High Holiday season with Simchat Torah and Consecration—completing the current cycle of Torah reading, beginning anew, and blessing our kindergarten Religious School students as they embark on their Jewish educational journeys.

There is still a lot to celebrate, and what makes these holidays special is you. We can’t celebrate alone, so mark your calendars, bring your friends and join us!