As this article is being published, I am on my usual trip to Israel. I am soaking up the sights and sounds of my home away from home and kvelling with the love of family and their friends that surrounds me while I am here.
This year, we are looking forward to spending a few days followed by a Shabbat in Jerusalem proper. Usually, the family only makes day trips there during my visit, so this will be a special time for all of us. It will afford us the opportunity to have a more typical tourist experience in such a great and vibrant city.
So far, we are planning on touring of the tunnels, visiting the Biblical Zoo, attending Shabbat services at a modern Orthodox egalitarian synagogue, and spending Shabbat dinner with friends at their home. I am sure our days will be packed with other adventures that are yet to be determined. Some will have us revisiting spots with which we are familiar and enjoy visiting time and again -- like the zoo. Others, like the modern Orthodox egalitarian synagogue, will be a new experience for all of us. We look forward to each one with as much enthusiasm as the other. Just because we are re-experiencing something seen before, our interest is not any less than somewhere we are visiting for the first time. With the zoo, in particular, it seems that each time we are there, we find some new exhibit or have something pointed out that is just a bit different than what we saw on prior visits.
Also, at some sights, we have professional tour guides. At others, we are our own guides and learn from each other, or ourselves, as we go on our way.
And so it is, I think, with our upcoming High Holiday services. This year, with Rabbi Mark, we are about to embark on a new adventure, winding our way through the familiar machzor with a new professional guide. Yet, we have to rely on ourselves, as well, to look for new meaning within the material that we read year after year.
We look forward to being together in the warmth of our sanctuary, surrounded by our extended B'nai Emunah family. At this time of year, that often includes extended family of many of our congregants who, with the passing years, become our holiday mishpachah. It is comforting to be together in such a familiar environment and, because of the emotional comfort afforded us, we are open to new experiences that will broaden us spiritually and emotionally.
As always, since I have been with you as your cantor, our volunteer choir will add to the services the note of familiarity that many of us crave, particularly at this time of year. We will lead you in musical interpretation of the liturgy that often has you singing along. Your participation is welcome and encouraged. Along the way this year, we anticipate Rabbi Mark will provide new insight and interpretations to our prayers, giving us the opportunity to find something different to add to our personal introspection that is the hallmark of the High Holiday season.
Just as I had been looking forward to my extended visit in Jerusalem and the opportunity to see some aspects of the city in greater detail than I am allowed on my usual day trips there, I hope that each of you is looking forward to your upcoming extended visit to our B'nai Emunah sanctuary. I urge you to take advantage of the insights provided by our new professional tour guide and to be adventurous in searching for a new and/or different interpretation to the prayers and poems that are read at only this time of year, as well as that part of the liturgy that we see in each of our daily and Shabbat services.
May we be guided by our professional and guide ourselves and each other on the way to a meaningful and fulfilling davening experience. I extend greetings to each and everyone of you and your loved ones or a sweet and healthy New Year. Among my prayers will be the heartfelt petition for us to all be inscribed for a year of good health, happiness and meaningful experiences. L'Shanah Tovah Tikatevu.
--Cantor Linda
