Temple Isaiah Trip to Israel Exceeds Expectations

ROSH HASHANAH MORNING… IN MARCH IN THE EVENING FROM CANTOR KENT
This year, and
this year only, we
have the unique
opportunity
of celebrating
Rosh Hashanah
morning again
on a Thursday
evening in March.
Rosh HaShanah arrives (usually) in the
middle of September. We have friends
for dinner, eat apples and honey, hear the
singing of Avinu Malkeinu and listen to the
clarion calls of the shofar. After services,
we head to the beach and toss our sins (in
the shape of bread crumbs) into the Pacific
Ocean. This year, and this year only, we have
the unique opportunity of celebrating Rosh
Hashanah morning again on a Thursday
evening in March. Of course, it is not
really Rosh Hashanah- but we are going to
pretend it is.
On Thursday, March 24, at 7:00 p.m., we
are all going to gather at Temple Isaiah and
make-believe that it is Rosh Hashanah.
Why are we doing this? Because, Temple
Isaiah has been chosen as a pilot-site for
the new High Holy Day prayer book,
which is currently being “beta tested.” As
a member of the editorial committee for
this new prayer book, I wanted to make
sure that our congregation had the ability
to try out the new book well in advance
of its publication date. We will have an
opportunity to hear all the beautiful High
Holy Day music, chant many of our favorite
prayers and engage in discussion about the
new machzor (High Holy Day prayer book)
after the mock service. In addition, those
who attend the service will participate in an
online survey to offer comments about the
prayer book.
To get you all in the mood, please join me
and the rabbis before the service at 7:00
p.m. for some apples and honey and other
sweet treats to welcome the “New Year.”
ISRAEL: HOMELAND
JORDI SCHUSTER BATTIS (RABBINIC INTERN)
Israel is in the news.
Isaiah’s Israel trip is planned for next year.
But, what do we actually think about Israel? What conversations about Israel do we want to be part of—or not want to be part of at all? How do we
participate in discussions about Israel within our own community, given all we do not know, given all that we are ambivalent about, given all that keeps
changing there—and given our commitments to our Jewish lives here in our home in America?
With all these questions in mind, Temple Isaiah is launching a series of Israel Salons, hosted in congregants’ homes, led together by congregants and Cantor
Kent or myself. In these Salons we will explore the questions of what it means to have a relationship with Israel in the first place.
We will be advertising these Salons in the months ahead and hope you will join us for one. If you have never been to Israel, this is a chance to explore that
relationship from here at home. If you are thinking about going to Israel, this is an opportunity to tease out why you feel it is important to you to go. If you
have been to Israel, this is a way to think back about what your time there has meant, and continues to mean, to you.
Looking forward to seeing you there.
3 | THE ISAIAN
MARCH 2011