Retrospective on the High Holidays

Retrospective on the High Holidays
From Rabbi Dov Gartenberg
10/17/05

More than 300 persons attended a variety of experiences. These included a groundbreaking Rosh Hashannah Seder, unique interactive learning sessions on the theme of Teshuvah with the Gottmans, a sustained exploration of two great texts, the Binding of Isaac and the Book of Jonah, and a unique Kol Nidre Service for the Ambivalent with a forum on prayer and belief. I know that these experiences departed from the standard offerings of these Days of Awe, so I particularly appreciate that there was so much interest in our groundbreaking approach. We welcome feedback from all of you who attended, since it helps us to refine our approach and strengthen our vision.

I want to share with you briefly the vision that animates what we are doing not only on the High Holidays, but throughout the year. We focus on the great traditions of the Jewish sacred feasts and on the heritage of learning and text study. We believe that gathering people around a table for a Shabbat or festival celebration or linking people together around the study of a great texts enhances a sense of common heritage among Jews. These activities capture what we love about Judaism: joyful sanctification of everyday life , reverence for learning and questioning and serious inquiry on life’s important questions.

With the Rosh Hashannah seder we experienced how a feast can prepare us for the new year. We shared with everyone gathered there a feast for all the senses, grounded in distinctive Sephardic traditions - a joyful welcoming of the new year with family and friends.

We offered the interactive learning sessions on Rosh Hashannah and Yom Kippur exploring the great spiritual themes of these days in direct, thought-provoking, and engaging ways. Many people shared with me how these sessions opened their minds and helped them connect to others through shared study and reflection. For me sharing these texts with you is a mitzvah, for it helps connect all of us to the ongoing conversation of a living tradition that is so full of life, wisdom and relevance. We believe that these sessions engaged minds, but most of all, touched hearts.

Panim Hadashot is an experiment, an attempt to infuse our Jewish lives with new energy and to instill love in people for Judaism’s enduring and greatest traditions and values. We present Judaism with pride and insist on its relevance. We present Judaism with openess, questioning, and humor. We do so with a respect for the diversity of Jewish expression and beliefs. We hope you will continue to support our efforts to engage people with our vital tradition. We invite you to attend our Fall programs, to consider volunteering, or extending financial support by becoming a Haver-a friend of Panim Hadashot.

Please call me with your feedback, ideas, and interest. Please feel free to contact me at rabbidov@panimhadashot.com. or 206 525-0648. We invite you to be on our e-newsletter list through which we send timely announcements and thought provoking pieces. To sign up contact, Dorothy Glass at Dorothy@panimhadashot.com or 206 280-3710.