A Hasidic teaching explains that each of our souls is like a rare and valuable coin, which can become tarnished and lose its luster without proper care. However, if we polish it, it becomes brilliant and illuminates once again. When our soul - our true inner self - shines, we find our connection once again with ourselves, with others and with God. The month of Tishrei, when we observe Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, is a time when we polish our souls, cleaning away the mistakes that we have made in the past.
But how do we begin this process? The Torah is a perfect place to start to understand the process of connecting to God, especially in reference to what is spiritually happening to us during the High Holy Day season.
This year, we at Bet Shira will have an opportunity to reconnect with God and our Torah in a very tangible way. We are beginning a project entitled "Tarnow To Tomorrow - Torah Forever." Bet Shira will be acquiring a rescued Torah from Tarnow, Poland. The Torah will be restored over the course of the year by Rabbi Menachem Youlus, a scribe commissioned by Bet Shira - polished, so to speak, so that its holy words will be illuminated once again.
During the Holocaust, monks who lived at a nearby monastery rescued five Sifrei Torah scrolls. They had the presence of mind, and goodness of soul, to bury the scrolls and save them from destruction.
A couple of years ago, two girls traveling on a Jewish-sponsored Eastern European tour were approached by monks from this very monastery and asked if they were interested in seeing their Judaica collection. In addition to the five torah scrolls, what they saw was an amazing assortment of nearly 200 Torahs, silver Kiddush cups, candlesticks, and other invaluable items. The girls sent pictures of this remarkable find back home, and thus the process of rescuing these Sifrei Torah was launched. Len and Randi Rothenberg had the foresight and generosity to donate one of the torahs for us to restore.
As the High Holy Day season begins, each of us at Bet Shira will have the ability to reconnect with our history by "purchasing" one of the five books of the Torah, one of the 54 Parshiot (Torah Portions), chapters, verses, special sections in the Torah, and much more. During the High Holy Days, a special brochure will be handed out inviting all to participate. This is a year long project, which will culminate with the dedication of our newly restored Torah just before 5769 begins.
One of the 613 commandments is for each person to write his or her own Sefer Torah. We are fortunate that each of us at Bet Shira will have the rare opportunity to fulfill this mitzvah. Let us begin 5768 working together as we bring a rescued Sefer Torah back to life and making a home for her at Bet Shira.
Michelle, Brianah, Julia and I wish Bet Shira Congregation a L'Shana Tova. May all of us be inscribed and sealed for a happy, healthy and sweet 5768.
"GETTING READY FOR NEILAH"
At the end of Yom Kippur, "when the sun is over the tree tops", synagogues around the world participate in the closing service of Yom Kippur called Ne'ilah. The word "Ne'ilah" literally is translated as "locking." During Ne'ilah, the last hour of Yom Kippur, the gates of forgiveness begin to close and are finally locked when the Shofar is sounded. The Ne'ilah service serves as a final moment to converse with God and ask for forgiveness.
During certain parts of the service, when we are having intimate conversations with God, the Ark is opened. The final Amidah of Yom Kippur at the time of Ne'ilah is one of those moments. Thus, the ark remains open.
Two years ago at Bet Shira, we began a custom of inviting anyone who would like, to come forward and have private time with God during Ne'ilah. This is a time to appreciate the past and look forward to the future.
We look forward to continuing this custom during Ne'ilah. In anticipation of our time in front of the ark we, along with our fellow congregants will be focused on the prayers and nusach (special holiday melody) of Ne'ilah. To avoid distraction and enable the magic of Ne'ilah to unfold, individuals will be invited by section to approach the ark. As we focus on God and ourselves, let our conversations with others begin after Ne'ilah is finished and the sound of the shofar has been blasted.
We look forward to a wonderful Ne'ilah service as we escort 5768 into our lives.
Kol Tuv,
Rabbi Micah Caplan
