Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are among the most important — and widely observed — of all Jewish holidays. Every year we affirm the possibility of renewal, of change, and of growth. But how often do we arrive at temple for these Days of Awe feeling that we have really taken full advantage of the spiritual opportunities the season makes available to us?

This year, join scholar-in-residence Rabbi Sarah Bracha Gershuny to explore the deeper themes of the High Holy Days. Our Torah study, discussion and interactive exercises will help make this year’s holidays the most meaningful yet! Rabbi Gershuny will lead three sessions and GRS members are invited to attend one, two or all three offerings.

Friday night: Meet and greet over dinner, before services. 

Friday night sermon: Yearning, turning and caring – three axes for transformation. Our liturgy tells us that teshuva, tefila and tzedaka have the power to transform the future. What do these three words really mean, and how can we make them count in our lives?

Part of the power of the High Holy Days comes from their existential contemplation of mortality. In this text study, we will look at themes of judgment, death and rebirth found in the liturgy and scriptural readings for these holy days, and discuss how they intersect with our own beliefs and lived experience.

As American Jews, we may be more used to thinking of January as the new year. But the fall season is a powerful time for actively assessing what has happened for us – practically, creatively, emotionally and developmentally – in the preceding 12 months, and making conscious decisions about how we want 5786 to be our best year yet!