Dear Nefesh Community,
Looking out the window at the smoke filling the hillsides here I am aware of an incredible feeling of overwhelm in my body. There is just so much, so much surrounding us as we enter the New Year. This New Year and these days we are living through bring an opportunity to draw near to much of what we normally run from; the uncertainty and unknown of life, grief and loss, fear and awe. These Holy Days invite us each year to do so as we are a people who have become versed and skilled in these paths. This year because of the profound reckonings of health, racism, climate, democracy, economy, and survival we find ourselves more open to the possibility of transformation that drawing near can bring us. We can look into our fear as an invitation to a sacred awe that calls us forward in new ways. We can grieve for our losses and in that grief feel our interconnection and a renewed energy to transform ourselves and our society.
Erev Rosh Hashanah Friday night - We have created a special meditative Erev Rosh Hashanah Shabbat service experience to help us enter with tenderness and care. You can register HERE to get the audio and then find a place to walk or be still for the service. After you register please let us know if you will be joining us in person to do this walk socially distanced in Echo Park (https://forms.gle/wE4tLhpyy6cFG4je7). Headphones preloaded with audio will be provided. We continue to be checking the air quality and if we need to we will shift the walk to being in our homes rather than around the Echo Park Lake.
Rosh Hashanah morning Saturday - Join us at 9:30am for Morning Blessings and then 10am for the service over zoom. We encourage you to decorate the space you will be zooming from with flowers, herbs, colorful cloth, fruits and anything that will help you to create the sacred in your home. Apples and honey, pomegranates, figs... to a sweet New Year. ASL interpreter
We are filling the Days of Awe from Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur with goodness - City-Wide Shofar blasting, Tashlich audio ritual, Morning Offerings, Zentangles art making, sacred soundscape Sabbath Session, Havdalah. See below for details.
Erev Yom Kippur is Sunday Sept 27 and Yom Kippur is Monday Sept 28: morning services, an afternoon of offerings in partnership with the SIJCC, Family service, Yizkor and Neilah. ASL interpreter
CLICK here for information and to make a donation to help us cover the cost of the services and offerings. Any donation amount is received with gratitude.
If you registered for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, you will receive the links and details later this week.
If you signed up to come get a prayer book we will be sending out the pick up address tomorrow for the 5-7pm drive-through Thursday.
More details below.
L’shana tova to each of you,
Rabbi Susan
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