1st
of October 2025
“Veyhi
Erev, vayehi boker” The eve is as the day or morning which means that every day
in Judaism begins on the eve before. Tomorrow is the 10th day of the
month of Tishrei, 5786, Yom Kippur, and
tonight we recite the prayer of Kol Nidre which opens our communal heart to the
prayers of atonement. Indeed a holy day,
a day to understand that no matter what, we could have done better in life and
could learn to do better in the future.
As
I said last week, it isn’t about fasting, that’s part of it but it is about the
prayers, the prayers for forgiveness for our collective sins, of which there
are surely many.
I
come from a small community, a truly magnificent one in Cardiff, South Wales
and then on to Reading in Berkshire and if there was one infinitely important
aspect to both, it is that all strangers were welcome not just the community.
When I say welcome, we would immediately speak to, invite, make all strangers
feel part of us. Too many synagogues (by any other name be it shule, temple or
whatever) have a hierarchy that bears no resemblance to the purpose of a synagogue,
which does not belong to the President, nor the Chairman of the Board, not even
to the Rabbi or the Cantor, it belongs to us. A synagogue is, above all, a
place for all of us, without exception, to commune with God.
Last
night Zvi and I went to the Jerusalem Theatre to hear a wonderful concert with
the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra. It was not classical music, in fact it wasn’t
even close to classical music it was however a new twist on Jewish Liturgical
music sung, played and presented by Yehala Lachmish and Eyal Haviv. Familiar
words sung but the rendition in the form of the Jews of the Eastern and Western
Diaspora. The clear message of the lyrics (Biblical passages) was inevitably of
peace and our desire for peace. Just maybe, possibly, hopefully, this week
brought us just a tiny step toward that prayer.
Today
is not a day for long and political missives, it is a day to remember our
fallen, to pray for those still in captivity and for our amazing soldiers, to
remember and to bring them home. It is the one thing that can serve as glue to
our fractured society. To bring the hostages home is a prayer on the lips of
everyone, irrespective of politics. Hope has no colour, no creed, no hate it is
pure. That is why it is our anthem, an anthem of peace and hope, Hatikva.
I
wish you a year of peace, of kindness, of hope and of love. The expression of “G’mar
Hatima Tova” is simple, not as many think, to be written in the Book of Life,
but rather to be written in the book of living honestly and kindly.
Azi
Schwartz writes. On my recent trip to Tel Aviv I met with survivors of the Nova
music festival massacre. We spent some time speaking about the trauma they
experienced, we played ball on the beach, and we sang this song, a prayer for
protection and the happiness of youth, made famous by Ofra Haza. May we all
have hope for renewal, healing and resilience. Simply called Tefila - Prayer
https://youtu.be/2hZUAorvE18?si=mwqqd1AjEUzAr26C
Selichot
or to ask for forgiveness. If you are an Eastern Jew it is a matter of one
month whereas Ashkenazi Jews say this prayer for just one week. Last night was
the last time before Yom haKippurim. Although one can say it anywhere the most
emotive rendition is here at the Western Wall, the Kotel. https://youtu.be/n2oTszbwwiU?si=-HUyLcVr1WGeZJMU
If
there is one prayer on all our lips, a prayer that comes from within, not from
a book, each and every one of us, it is that our loved ones, our hostages come
home to the love of all sane human beings. Koolulam and words that express our prayer
to BRING THEM HOME/ https://youtu.be/6y2laYXcBdU?si=N0Y1uTe1cc9dhdCy
If
I have in any way shape or form offended you or hurt you, I not only regret,
beg for your forgiveness, but I will strive to do better. I pray that the
glimmer of light that began in Washington this week, will grow into a sun so
bright that our dreams of a world free of hatred can come true. One must dream,
one must hope.
Shana
Tova. May your year be kind.
Sheila
