Rabbi's Message

Rabbi Elyse Wechterman
Read about the Rabbi
Oct. 2004

The time of our happiness

Sukkot is my favorite holiday of the year. I love the fall weather, building, decorating and eating in the sukkah, the smells of apple cider and pumpkin bread, putting on my warm sweaters. All of this is joyous and exhilarating for me. Sukkot is supposed to be a time of happiness and gratitude for the harvest of our year. It is also known as Zman Simchateynu - the time of our happiness. And also, simple, HaChag - The Holiday - as if it exceeds all others in importance, celebration and joy. To me, it does all those things - especially this year.

Why? This year, I am feeling full and abundant and I am much aware of the rich harvest we have started to reap here at Agudas Achim. This year, four members of our community spoke from their hearts and personally from the bimah during High Holy Day services (Thank you Howard, David, Sharon and Bruce). This year, someone who had never done it before volunteered to blow the shofar (thank you Abbe). This year, several adults and teens took on the responsibility of reading Torah and Haftarah for the community (thank you Edie, Sarah, Lucas, Nicole, Howard, Laura, Kim, Brien, Suzie, Arielle, and Emily). This year, we have two new parent/teachers in our school. This year, we have two ongoing adult enrichment opportunities led by members. This year, we have adult education classes filled before they even begin.

This year, we are less and less a community of passive observers of Jewish tradition and more and more active shapers, participants and owners of our Jewish lives. What an incredible harvest we reap!

And I am looking forward to it continuing. This place is about you, for you and owned by you. Like the sukkah we build every year, our community is only as strong as we make it. This year, I feel fairly confident that we will continue to grow - not only in size, but in depth of Jewish learning, knowledge, commitment and meaning in our lives.

For those of you new to the community or not sure how to be a part of this renaissance - there are some easy ways to connect. Pick up a copy of our adult enrichment brochure and read it carefully - looking for a class that speaks to you. Sign up for one of the Family Life Seminars offered this fall - or pass on the flyer to someone else you know who would be well-served by the programs. Come to a service just because - you never know what you might find.

Most importantly - share a Shabbat meal with a member of the community you would like to know better. Nervous about it? Don't know much about Shabbat observances? Feel funny inviting someone to your home? Have we got an idea for you!

Later this month, on October 29, we will hold our first ever Shabbat Dinner Exchange. There will be no services that evening. Instead, we are looking for a number of families to act as host homes and will be matching up other members as guests for Friday night dinner. We will provide Shabbat candles, kiddush cups, grape juice, challah and all you need to make a wonderful Shabbat table, including instructions for blessings and talking points. We will also provide menu suggestions and encourage hosts and guests to work together in advance to plan the meal itself. Member Judy Jacobs has volunteered to coordinate this exciting program. Please do not hesitate to contact her to volunteer to host, to be a guest or to pitch in with the organizing. She can be reached at 508-238-6933 or by clicking here.

Opportunities like these are the seeds of our future harvest. If we are so abundantly blessed at Sukkot this year - I can't imagine what next fall will bring.
Hag HaSukkot Sameach (Happy Sukkot)!!

Rabbi Elyse

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