Rehearsing for Rosh Hashanah with our musical team: Rachid Halihal, Frank London, Dana Herz, Meg Okura and Yonatan Gutfeld.

Dear friends,

The last shabbat of the year gives us an opportunity to imagine the goodness we invite in the new year. This last week has brought to the forefront the sweet, happy-making peace-invoking capabilities of music and art. In our rehearsal with the musicians this week I was transported into a realm of beauty, playfulness and fun. When you're in the presence of such incredible musicians you easily get lost in a sea of real communication. When you're singing and responding to harmony and rhythm you are suddenly among friends.

Earlier this week I was sent a piece of video art by Ghiora Aharoni. Ghiora took the phrase "Days of Awe" ימים נוראים, and blended the Hebrew letters with Hindi letters of the word Navaratri, the name of the ten day Hindu holiday that this year coincides with our ten days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Ghiora writes:

"The work unfolds against a backdrop of vintage ledger paper to evoke “The Book of Life” that is opened during the Jewish Holidays and creates a metaphorical conjoining of spiritual energy of these two belief systems with the third eye replacing the tagin, the graphic flourish at the top of the Hebrew letters. These two holidays, both of which last 10 days, explore parallel aspects of humanity’s equilibrium. Navaratri, which means “Nine Nights,” commemorates the epic victory of the Goddess Durga over the demon Mahishasura—a metaphor for the power of good to overcome evil. The Jewish High Holidays—known as the “Days of Awe,” a divine, energetic opening that begins with Rosh Hashanah and culminates in Yom Kippur—is a period of intense introspection of the prior year’s transgressions, as well as atonement, and a symbolic return to a pure state of goodness."

Ghiora's offering is one of an enlarged world that goes far beyond our Jewish lens and finds a holiday-friend, whose energy blends with ours.

Earlier still this week, I received a picture of a painting by New Shul member Susan Weinstein. Susan's paintings often involve natural elements in the city landscape. They remind me that just like the trees, the sky, the flowers inhabit this place of concrete and fast dashes we call New York City, so does the feeling of peace and tranquility exist in islands within our urbanite souls. We can go there, like we go to the nearby community garden. Taking a moment to look at the beauty of human creativity as embodied in the act of observing and painting a garden is another way to experience the sweetness of Rosh Hashanah's honey.

May this year bring us music!
May this year bring us art!
May this year bring us together, like we will do Sunday evening, Monday morning and Tuesday afternoon to celebrate all the goodness this new year has in store for us. I hope you can join us!

Shanah tovah and Shabbat shalom,

Rabbi Misha

Music, Art, Goodness!