From Rabbi Min Kantrowitz: Our spiritual tradition has tools to help.

Sent via email on July 13, 2020

Although we're in the middle of the heat wave, we know that the weather will soon change, and with it, the Jewish High Holidays will be upon us. This year is and will continue to be unlike any of the past. Among other undesired adjustments we are making in the light of COVID-19, we know that our shared High Holiday experience will be radically different, although deep and meaningful. Luckily, our spiritual tradition has tools to help-namely the calendar cycle as it is associated with two Jewish dates: Tisha b'Av and Rosh HaShanah.

Tisha b'Av,(9th day of the month of Av) is the saddest day in the calendar cycle, marking the destruction of the ancient Temple in Jerusalem, the Spanish expulsion and other tragic events of our past. We grieve anticipating this, and then the energy shifts to consolation later in the month. The four following weeks of the month of Elul are preparation for Rosh HaShanah.

In Nahalat Shalom fashion, we'll be sending out six special spiritual support messages during this Av and Elul time. Look for two messages from Rabbi Kantrowitz in Av, one before Tisha bAv and one after, recognizing our need to grieve for what the holidays will not be this year. This will be followed by two messages in early Elul from Rabbi Brin, anticipating the joy of the New Year, a message about High Holiday music from Cantor Beth and an informational spiritual message from Noach Blum later in Elul. We'll REALLY be prepared for the holidays this year.

Meanwhile, stay cool and stay safe!