It’s almost Cheshvan, that holiday-less month following Tishrei. Rabbis of old called this month Mar-Cheshvan, bitter, for its lack of holidays. We might disagree. But either way, Rosh Hodesh Cheshvan (Oct. 6-7 this year) symbolizes a return to normalcy in the Jewish year cycle. One month into the new year, Rosh Hodesh Cheshvan is also a bit like February first--a chance to see how we’re doing on our New Year’s resolutions. Have we lived up to the committments we’ve made?
Too often we leave the penitential season, satisfied with our progress and smug in our vows, without revisiting Tishrei’s soul-searching and introspection until the following Slichot. How wrong is that picture?! Traditional liturgy bids us to pray for forgiveness and atonement every day of the year--including the day after Yom Kippur, the day after Shmeni Atzeret, the day you receive the Scroll; and yes, Rosh Hodesh Cheshvan.
So despite our collective sigh of relief that the Holidays are over, now is as good a time as any to recall that tshuvah (turning/introspection/change) and slichah (forgiveness) are year-round activities. Remembering a few "greatest hits" lessons of Tishrei/September might just make our Cheshvan/October all the more meaningful.
From our liturgy: "Remember us for life, You who delights in life; and write us in the Book Life, for Your sake, ever-living-God." (Zochreinu L’chayim) "Let hope enliven all who seek You, and let all who look to you with hope find strength to speak. Grant joy throughout your Land, let happiness resound throughout Your holy city, soon and in our days. May Your power overwhelm all treachery, so that it vanish wholly from the Earth like smoke. Then shall the power of injustice pass away!" (U’vchens) You alone can remember what we have forgotten; it is You who shall open the Book of Remembrance. But its contents speak for themselves, for it bears the imprint of us all, which our deeds and our lives have inscribed." (Unetaneh Tokef)
From our choir: I believe, even when God is silent. Our Father our King, renew for us a good year. "Teach us O God a blessing, a prayer--on the mystery of a withered leaf; on ripened fruit so fair; on the freedom to see, to sense, to breathe, to know, to hope, to despair ... lest my days be as the one before, lest routine set my ways." (Leah Goldberg) Let all bless the name of the Eternal, for it alone is to be exalted; God’s splendor dwells on Earth and in the heavens, God has lifted up our people’s strength. Yum-pa-ba-du-bum ba-du-dum, yum-pa-ba-du-bum ba-du-dum ....
From our sermons: (1) How well have we been "guarding our tongue," avoiding lashon hara? Remember not to aim, blame, claim, flame, frame, maim, name, or shame. (2) Have we been cultivating allies and working for an open society, while proudly living out our Jewishness? Antisemitism, like all our challenges, is real, but we must pre-empt it where we can. (3) What lessons have we learned in the painful year since last September 11th? Are we still treating people or Creation or future generations as "other?" We can continue to try to go it alone, or we can finally learn that we’re all in this together. (4) How proudly have we manifested our connection with Israel during these troubled times? We have the Israel Connection Group here at Adat Shalom, philanthropy, advocacy, communication ... and a visit would be nice!
From our lay-presentations: We can relate to prayer in oh-so-many ways, opening new connections with ourselves and each other and the One, with Hannah as a guide (Vicki Stearn). We can help the world around us in oh-so-many ways, including but not only through our Social Action committee, and in the process discover and celebrate our essential humanity (Tovah Kasdin). There are many ways to celebrate Yom Kippur, perhaps in running from God like Jonah, or perhaps in helping to save a life and discovering unexpected connections (Arthur Berger). Community doesn’t just happen, we make it happen--and doing so requires commitment from all of us (Liza Levy). Do your ten-point homework, respond fully to the forthcoming long-range planning survey, and celebrate being part of Adat Shalom (Judy Gelman). We should celebrate our successes during the High Holy Days, not just beat ourselves up for our shortcomings: try a light tap on the chest with an outstretched hand rather than a fist; try making Isaiah’s activist message real through small manageable steps (Vicki Breman).
These are just the tip of the iceberg! Our 5763 High Holy Day season was powerful and meaningful (with special thanks to Stacey Feuer and Michael Ostheimer who chaired the operation), but its real worth will be measured by the impact it leaves on each of us. May we carry these thoughts, feelings, prayers, lessons, melodies, and commitments with us into Cheshvan and beyond.
Shanah Tovah ...
Rabbi Fred Scherlinder Dobb