Rabbi's Chayva's Chat

Are you ready to get back into the swing of things? The school year has started, the High Holy Days are coming, and the Am Tikvah staff and lay leadership team has been hard at work developing a full schedule for September and October! Let’s give it a look.

We have two mazel tov occasions next Shabbat, September 6-7. First, Rabbi Faryn Borella will be installed at Or Shalom on Friday night. Then on Saturday, we have an Am Tikvah simcha (celebration): Sophia Buschell is becoming Bat Mitzvah! And not only will we celebrate her bat mitzvah, but we will welcome Rabbi Mark Melamut back to Am Tikvah for the occasion, since he has taught Sophia much of what she knows. The continuity of relationships that we have with past and emeritus clergy is such a blessing for our community, and I am thrilled for Sophia’s achievement and that Rabbi Mark will join in the celebration.

A few more highlights of the coming month: on Sunday, September 8, we’ll gather in Pacifica for the Am Tikvah Community Picnic and Am Tikvah School kickoff; and on Thursday, September 12, we’re going to Giants Jewish Heritage night and our Elul learning series will begin on Zoom with Rabbi Shana. (Rabbi Jason Mann of Beth Ohr will teach on September 19, and I will teach on September 26, all on Zoom.) Then we have the joy of another bar mitzvah! Adam Bensinger has been a joy to learn with, and I am so proud that he will become bar mitzvah on September 21. Please join the Bensinger family in celebrating Adam! Finally, we’ll conclude the month with our joint Selichot service with musical accompaniment at Ner Tamid on September 28.

It will be a full, joyous, reflective, and meaningful month of Elul/September. If you see a staff member or lay leader, I invite you to give them words of gratitude and encouragement, and perhaps an offer to volunteer during the High Holy Days. As Pirkei Avot says, “Torah which is not combined with a worldly occupation, in the end becomes neglected and can become the cause of sin…all who labor with the community, their righteousness endures forever.”

May we each do our part, through study and thoughtful reflection, acting kindly with one another, and bringing our own unique gifts and contributions as we prepare to close one year and start a new one, together.