KA CC Archive Dec 2022

It’s time for a Teshuvah check in!  Yep, you heard that right.  We observed Rosh Chodesh Tevet just a few days ago, meaning that Rosh Hashanah was three months ago. Since the secular New Year will be celebrated this week, it feels like a good time to see how you are doing on any spiritual resolutions you may have made during the High Holy Day season.

Now, if you forgot what you were planning on trying to do this year, don’t worry.  New Year's resolutions rarely work out past January.  Why should we expect the same for our process of Teshuvah, returning to God?

The Jewish calendar is designed to give us many opportunities to start over.  We have four types of New Years.  We recite prayers of Repentance during every weekday Amidah.  We recite supplication prayers almost every day.  The Jewish way seems to be “whoops, I messed up again. I’ll be better next time.”  So, what are you going to do to be better this (part of the) year?  If you’re unsure where to start, here are some ideas that combine the secular idea of New Year’s resolutions (bettering yourself) and the Jewish idea of Teshuvah (bettering your relationship with God):

• Become More Prayer-Full.  How does prayer fit into your life?  Can you take an extra moment to thank God for a meal?  To express your gratitude following a beautiful moment in your life?  Try taking a prayer you know or find particularly meaningful and meditate on it.  Repeat it over and over again in a chant or song with your eyes closed.  If you are a shul-goer (or would like to be one!), think about how to mix up your routine:  pray with your eyes closed, really explore the words of the prayers, sit in a different spot in the Sanctuary, learn a new tune, or lead a service.

• Make Torah Your Primary Occupation.  This is a quote from Pirkei Avot, but it doesn’t have to mean that Torah is your full time job.  What are ways you can bring in lessons from our texts to inform your everyday life?  Are you energized by Esther’s bravery?  Keep her in mind as you stand up for yourself and ask for that raise you deserve.  Inspired by Avraham’s sense of welcoming?  Invite someone you don’t know well for Shabbat dinner.  Keep these characters, the stories of our tradition, and middot (Jewish values) in the front of your mind to help guide you each day.

• Practice Shimrat Haguf.  God gave us our bodies.  We should take care of them. Find your balanced diet, whatever it is that your body needs:  more fruits and veggies?  Less meat?  More water?  Add a little exercise to your routine (and maybe even listen to a Jewish podcast while you walk).  Don’t skip your check-ups.  Stay home when you’re sick.  You know how this one works.

• Find A Study Buddy.  Find some time to do some learning with a Chevruta (a learning friend).  Pick a topic that interests you both, whether it's parenting, Israel, Torah portion commentary, history of Jewish theater, or a Jewish cookbook.  There’s always more to learn and it’s more fun with a friend.  You can keep things very relaxed (read the same article and then discuss) or join a class together, read the text at the same time and discuss, or to make it even more fun, pretend you’re doing your own podcast and teaching someone else about the text.  What would be your spin on this topic?

However you decide to reinvigorate your Rosh Hashanah resolutions or create new ones for this New Year of 2023, I hope that you feel growth, happiness, and health.

If you want to talk out some of the ideas above, reach out!  I can help you find a topic, a place to start your journey, or think about the direction you want to take.  Drop me an email at rabbiblatt@kolami.org or click here to make an appointment with me.

Shalom Chaverim,

I hope that you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends and took some time to think about all the things you have to be thankful for.  I did some of that and came up with the common answers like good health, freedom, and my family and friends, but I also realized I was thankful for Kol Ami.  Not only has it been my spiritual home, but it is where I have met people who I have much in common with, and many friendships were started here.  There are so many things that it offers in terms of social and educational activities, spiritual fulfillment, and just convening—it IS the place to be.

Speaking of which, our annual Gala Fundraiser is this Saturday night, and it promises to be a good time with a cruise theme, good food, a DJ and dancing, a live and a silent auction, a game show, and much more!  Most of all it is a good opportunity to be together with your friends and Kol Ami family, and a chance to meet new friends.  I thank all of you who have purchased tickets to attend and everyone who has donated to be a sponsor.  Not only is it a fun time, but it is second only to dues as a budgeted source of yearly income.   Please sponsor and attend; it is not too late to sign up.

I would like to announce to all of you that the Board of Trustees has elected to continue our relationship with Mitch Weiss, our Executive Director, for two more years beginning July 1, 2023.  Mitch has been our E.D. for the past eight years and has been of great service to our Kehilla.  We look forward to more success and growth for Kol Ami with Mitch in his position.

Our Nominating Committee has continued to search for new Trustees and an Executive Committee for the Shul and is making good progress.  I am looking ahead to a line of succession to the presidency of our congregation.  The Recharge Committee, headed by Steve Freedman and Carolyn Fink, is making headway on our first three goals of membership retainment, welcoming interfaith families, and attracting young people and families to Congregation Kol Ami.  The week of Chanukah will be filled with many different activities including the nightly Chanukiah lighting in the parking lot.  Things are beginning to buzz at Kol Ami!

Getting back to my original thought, I am most thankful for my understanding wife, Ethel.  She is, as many of you are aware, an excellent cook and caterer, B’nai Mitzvah tutor, and Jewish educator, but she is much more than those.  She has stood with me during this presidency, supporting many of my ideas, telling me when my ideas are not so good, helping me to stay positive, and being a sounding board for some of the dilemmas I have faced during this period.  Without her, this term would have been much less invigorating than it has been.  Thank you, Ethel. 

I look forward to seeing you at the Gala on December 10^th, when we will be

Byachad,

Kalman