Over the last few weeks Steve and I found a synagogue to attend together. There was a little more urgency in this matter than finding a church, because the High Holy Days were coming up on us quickly.
Rosh Hashanah (ראש השנה) arrives this evening. We will be attending services this evening, and tomorrow morning at a local reform temple that has been incredibly welcoming of both us (even this Presbyterian seminarian). The assistant rabbi even offered to help me study Hebrew if needed!
Our interfaith relationship has provided more surprising joys than headaches thus far. Last year I enjoyed meditating on the intersection of waiting for the Light to come during Advent, and celebrating the Light that would not be extinguished during Chanukah. Pastor Roula's sermon about Joseph (from Genesis) on Sunday was particularly moving for both Steve and I.
Similarly, this time of the year has always felt innately "newer" to me than January 1st. Maybe it is because I have spent so much of my life learning and teaching on the "program year" calendar, or maybe because the harvest always provides such joy. The bleakness of winter is a rather depressing time to make a new start. Venturing to the gym for that age old New Year's Resolution on January 2nd in the snow and sub-zero temperatures is not exactly motivating.
Part of Rosh Hashanah is making amends with those you have wronged throughout the year, asking God for forgiveness, and anticipating the sweetness of the coming year; any holiday that involves eating apples dipped in honey is something I can definitely get behind!
L'Shana Tova!
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