Page 6 - 2020 High Holiday Shofar
P. 6
Kate Shalvoy
Executive Director
As Jews who live as a small minority here in
Maine, we are no stranger to the notion that we
have to work extra hard to create Jewish space and fulfillment/halakhic requirements, personal
experiences. We all spend so much of our precious social connection, and meaningful
time and resources to ensure that the building themes/spiritual experiences. A survey was
stands, and that there is a vibrant community conducted to determine the importance of each of
within it. The building and the community exist these elements to our particular congregation.
because we have always refused to let adversity The current science on risk factors as they apply
break us. So, what then does it mean to be to our community were analyzed, and necessary
a synagogue when our building’s doors are boundaries on in-person gatherings were
closed? What does it mean to be a congregation determined. Then, the sky opened up to the
when we can’t physically gather as a minyan to limitless creativity of our members in conjuring
safely pray and sing together? How can we quell ideas to bring the most essential elements of the
our disappointment and worry as we look ahead to holiday experience to life within the confines of
5781 when so much is uncertain, and so many the pandemic.
challenges persist?
This is why we are going to be okay. Because we’re
The answers are the same as always: we refuse to not going to let each other, or our Judaism, fall by
let go of 3000+ years of Judaism and 70+ years of the wayside just because of a temporary building
our commitment to the TBE community. And our closure. Please take a careful look through this
decades of experience sustaining Jewish life in booklet, as well as our dedicated High Holiday
Maine are what will take us from strength to website: www.tbemaine.org/highholidays. 5781
strength in 5781.
Everything there has been lovingly created for all HIGH HOLIDAYS 2020
There is no better example of this than the deeply of you with your stated needs and interests in
thoughtful, creative, and collaborative process mind, and represents our very best effort to find a
that has produced TBE’s High Holiday plan for way to still be Jews celebrating a new year,
this year. Back in June, a multi-generational group together(ish).
of 20+ members remotely joined together to
explore why the holidays are such a touchstone L’Shanah tovah to each and every one of you, and I SHOFAR
for us. The essence of the experience was broken look forward to including as many of you as רפוש
down into five basic parts: attachment to place, possible in our efforts to carry our sacred
attachment to the TBE community, ritual community through the coming year. 6
