Rabbi’s Message – September 6, 2022
When we moved into our house in 2016 we inherited a planted garden bed and some very “happy” sun-sweet tomato plants, yielding more tomatoes that we knew what to do with. The next year, knowing nothing about gardening, we didn’t plant anything in the raised bed – but those happy tomato plants must have self-seeded (which is not typical from what I now understand), and so, we had copious tomatoes a second summer. By the third summer, Matt asked if we should intentionally plant tomatoes and other vegetables, I said if he wanted – but I kill any plant I’m in charge of. The garden has been his handiwork since, and the tomatoes remain the happiest plants in it. For years now, guests coming to our house in the summer have a nice healthy snack to munch on while watching the kids (or pets) play in the yard, among other uses of the tomatoes. It seems, no matter how much some of our guests like tomatoes or not – during the weeks they are ripe, we gather longer outside.
As far as I know, there are no tomato plants at Temple, but the notion that food brings people together is here. Food is a basic human need, and tasty food provides a reason (excuse, perhaps) to stick around longer, to chat with someone over a brownie that you might otherwise not have introduced yourself too, to share how you are doing with a friend, to let the kids run a play (while burning off some of the sugar), and more.
Coming back to in-person services after the initial “stay at home” period felt so wonderful to pray in community. At the same time, it felt odd to be so mindful of physical distancing and without the ability to be unmasked, and thus eat, without an excuse to stay, the building became quiet as a mouse within minutes most weeks of the end of services.
As we move towards our ‘new normal’ it has been wonderful to have chances to gather inside our building again… with food. This week we have the return of our Schmooze and Nosh before and after services – so be sure to stick around a bit. We have Prayer & Play on Saturday where snacks are always plentiful. You have a chance to register your kids for fun overnight events at GUCI where I’d bet there will be s’mores and other camp favorites. Religious School’s Kibbitz Café will be open on Sunday and our Common Grounds’ door is always open when Temple is for a little boast of energy and warmth.
I hope these ‘menu’ items are not just enticing to our stomachs, but also to our souls, as they provide an opportunity to come together into community, to schmooze, to nosh, to be present with one another. As we near the High Holidays, I hope you will join us for some or all of these and get to know some new and old friends better – you just might find yourself sitting near them in a few weeks!