KT September 2010.pub - Shir Tikvah

KOL TIKVAH ‐ 6 ‐ SEPTEMBER 2010
From the Director of Lifelong Learning
A friend of mine
with a young
child relayed the
following story:
Child to the tolltaker
on the
turnpike: “Are you a Jew”
Parents (after rolling up the
window): “Why did you ask”
Child: “I wanted to wish her
happy Rosh Chodesh Elul!” (new
month of the Jewish calendar).
I love the excitement that this
friend’s child has about Elul, the
month preceding the High Holy
Days. She is already captivated
by the spirit of this auspicious
time and she wanted to share that
joy with others.
There is a Jewish tradition to
share with you: the practice of
spending the month of Elul
studying and preparing for the
High Holy Days. Each year as
the High Holy Days approach, I
have two core texts that I love to
learn from, which help to center
me and prepare me for the Yamim
Noraim, the Days of Awe.
The first is a book I reread each
year before the holy days, Days of
Awe: A Treasury of Jewish Wisdom
for Reflection, Repentance, and
Renewal on the High Holy Days,
edited by S.Y. Agnon. This book
is a collection of stories,
meditations, and readings from
the TaNaKh, rabbinic literature,
and other Jewish writings from
ancient to modern times.
I never fail to find something new
and meaningful in the nowfamiliar
pages that help me
connect to Rosh Hashanah and
Yom Kippur.
My second resource is newer and
more technologically savvy.
“Jewels of Elul” is a daily email
from www.jewelsofelul.com, the
brainchild of singer/songwriter
Craig Taubman.
Each day I am sent a short story,
anecdote, or introspection from
such voices as the Dalai Lama,
Kirk Douglas, Rabbi David
Wolpe, and Ruth Messinger, each
giving new insight into these
days leading up to the New Year.
The theme this year is “The Art of
Beginning… Again.”
We are each working to begin
again: a new year, a new practice,
a new way of finding meaning.
May we each find this year to be
full of sweetness in learning—
both from old familiar sources
and from new unexpected places.
Shanah tovah,
Rabbi Melissa B. Simon
Bandz for Canz at
Shir Tikvah
Announcing the Religious School’s first
tikkun olam project of the year: Bandz for
Canz.
Donate cans of food; for each can donated,
students will receive a “Meshuga Band”—
one of the Silly Bandz® with a Jewish
shape.
Collect them all: shofar, star of David,
dreidel, chai, and a Torah scroll. Drop off
cans at Shir Tikvah during September; the
cans will be donated to the Sabathani
Community Center. Contact Rabbi Simon
at the office for more information or to help
with the project.
Religious School News
First Day of Religious and Hebrew School
Join us for a new start to
the school year on
Sunday, September 12, at
9:30 AM (sharp), with an
opening assembly for
students and their
families.
Parents: Please come
check out the classrooms, meet the teachers and Rabbi
Simon, and get your questions answered.
Hebrew School starts on Wednesday, September 15.
The early session is from 4:15 to 6:00 PM.; the late
session is from 6:15 to 8:00 PM.
Parents: Please join us for t’filah at 5:30 PM or 7:30 PM.
Please see the Religious School and Hebrew School
calendar for dates for the whole year.