October 2022

Dear Chevre,

I write to you during the holiest days of the Jewish calendar, these ten Days of Awe. Rosh HaShana was a magnificent experience of welcoming the New Year with people both in-person and on Zoom. For those in person, it was the first time in two years that we have hosted in-person holy day services. And for those on Zoom, it was amazing to see so many beautiful faces beaming in from far and wide. In addition to all that, we are in our new home for the High Holy Days this year, a gorgeous sanctuary at 2125 Chestnut Street in Philadelphia, where my colleague Pastor Abbey Tennis's congregation dwells. Thank you to our Leyv Ha-Ir ~ Heart of the City Search Committee which found us this lovely, spacious and totally accessible new home.

Since this is such a holy time, I want to lift up an important mitzvah for this season by sharing the words "Your vote is your prayer for the world you want to see." The purpose of prayer in the sanctuary is to activate us to make differences in the real world. That is the meaning of mitzvah, or good deed. Each one of us has a huge opportunity this fall to make sure that every single person we know is registered to vote at their current address, has requested a mail-in ballot if they want one, and finishes the deed by voting!

We may think of ourselves as a high-propensity voting community, but in fact 25% of our community does not actually manage to vote in a given election. Many people need extra support with each step because some of us are home bound or forgetful. You know your family, friends and neighbors. Can you make sure that you are in a 100% voting network? We need to be responsible for each other, not just making sure that we personally vote. The world we want depends on us. 

See you for Yom Kippur.

With love and blessing,

Rabbi Julie