Rosh HaShanah 5770
1. From the Rabbi
At the heart of my love of Judaism is the verse that proclaims every human is created in the image of God. (Gen 1:27) Folded inside each of us is a spark of glory. The great poetic soul of Rav Kook built an entire approach to Teshuvah from here. Teshuvah, for Rav Kook is not about sackcloth and ashes, it’s about firing-up that spark and letting it illuminate the rest of our lives and actions.
Reading Rav Kook is a glorious antidote to approaches to ‘repentance’ that owe more to Christian notions of original sin than Jewish notions of the creation of all humans B'tzelem Elohim – in the Divine image.
We are created a little less than angels (Psalms 8:5), the potential is so great. No other creature can compete with the extraordinary array of acts of altruism, care, loving kindness, decency and righteousness shown by humans of every ilk at every moment. But then no other creature has the power to destroy as we do. Our failings aren’t inevitable, the ability to catch ourselves, as we trip and stumble, is in our hands. It just takes care and attention.
Every person must see themselves as half worthy and half guilty.
And so too all the world, as if it were half worthy and half guilty.
A person sins one sin, behold they tip themselves, and tip the whole world, onto the scale of guilt.
A person performs one good deed, behold they tip themselves, and tip the whole world, onto the scale of merit.
(Mishneh Torah Hil. Teshuvah 3.8)
In the year to come let’s focus our energies on making contributions to the scale of worth and merit. We can be kinder, more just, fairer and more careful. We can bring healing to a broken world and broken relationships.
Those of you I have wounded and hurt, please accept my apologies. I’ll be trying harder in the year to come,
L’Shanah Tovah
A note on Machzorim
We have, for the life of New London, used the Routledge ‘Service of the Synagogue’ over the Jewish New Year and Day of Atonement. The first edition was published in 1906 and, while subsequent editions have been made, the layout and translations are showing their age. Moreover the books are no longer in print. We have a rescued a number of books from other Synagogues as they have been discarding them so there is no immediate concern (and no suggestion that we will be abandoning the Routledge), but we do need to look to the future.
Chazan Jackie Chernett and Masorti Vice-President Michael Rose have completed a report looking at the available options for Synagogues in the Movement. I have posted it on my blog. http://tinyurl.com/masortimachzor
The most interesting recent development is a soon-to-be published American Conservative Machzor which offers a good layout, excellent commentary, an accessible (as opposed to simplistic) translation and occasional transliteration. If we place an order for this new Mahzor before December we can get them at half price. The publishers have made available, on-line, sample pages for use on both Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur (including the whole Kol Nidrei service). I am looking for volunteers from the community to use these sample pages this year and provide feedback to me on whether you feel this new publication might be suitable for use at New London in the future (alongside the Routledge). Please contact me, by e-mail, or download the sample pages from the web-site, the link is on
http://www.rabbinicalassembly.org/Sample.html
A note on Jewish Schools’ Admission
As you may have seen in the Jewish press, JFS and JCoSS have announced new admission procedures which require Rabbis and, where applicable, the Cheder Headteacher to sign off on levels of attendance at Synagogue services and Cheder. We are ready to support anyone applying to these schools with these forms but parents are required to register their request for Synagogal support as soon as possible. For more information, or to log your interest, please contact the Rabbi by e-mail.
My thanks,
Jeremy Gordon
2. Rabbi Gordon's interview on the BBC London religion programme Inspirit can be heard before Sunday on the BBC iplayer at
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p0049sb0/Inspirit_with_Jumoke_Fashola_13_09_2009/
at 1:41:45 and at 2:15:00 into the programme. - Extra humour supplied by Harry.
3. The Week Ahead
The service for the first night of Rosh HaShanah begins this evening at 6.30 pm. Tomorrow and Sunday mornings Shacharit is at 8.30am in the Synagogue and 9.15 am in the Minyan Chadash. All Children's and Youth Services begin at 11.15 am - please follow the signs from the foyer. The evening service tomorrow night is at 6.30 pm.
On Monday morning, Babes in the Wood meets at 11.00 am.
On Monday evening from 8.00 - 9.30 pm, we are holding the second of two 'Preparing for the High Holy Days' evenings with Rabbi Jeremy Gordon, devoted to the history, meaning and music of key liturgical texts from Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur. This week we will be studying Kol Nidrei. In addition to studying the text, Stephen Cotsen will be playing his favourite recordings of this emotive prayer. Admission is free.
4. Sukkah Building.....
Volunteers are needed to build the Sukkah on the afternoon and early evening of Wednesday 30th September. Please give your name to the office as soon as possible if you can help. We also need large quantities of branches of laurel or other evergreen leaves (without thorns); which, should be brought to the Synagogue on Tuesday 29th September or Wednesday morning 30th September.
The Decorating and hanging of fruit will be done on Thursday 1st and Friday 2nd October. If you would like to help please email Marion Cohen by clicking here.
5. A poem I saw and liked..
A New Year by William Arthur Ward
Another fresh new year is here …
Another year to live!
To banish worry, doubt, and fear,
To love and laugh and give!
This bright new year is given me
To live each day with zest …
To daily grow and try to be
My highest and my best!
I have the opportunity
Once more to right some wrongs,
To pray for peace, to plant a tree,
And sing more joyful songs!
Shanah tovah - may we all be blessed with a peaceful sweet and healthy year
Stephen Cotsen |
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