Pag* 14 • Th« Chariotte Jewish Newt - September, 1995
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Point
of
View
Rosh Hashanah —
A Spiritual Odyssey
By: Rabbi YossI Groner
Rosh Hashanah is the beginning
of a new year on the Jewish calen
dar. The way we celebrate the new
year reflects our attitude towards
this holiday in particular and our
religion in general.
The first ten days of the year,
which culminate with Yom Kippur,
are often referred to as “Days of
Awe”. Indeed, Judaism, as a whole,
treats these days in a solemn and
revered manner.
Why indeed is Rosh Hashanah
so important to us and why do we
hold it in such awe and reverence?
Let us first examine the mean
ing of Rosh Hashanah. Rosh
Hashanah is translated loosely as the
new year or the beginning of the
year. The literal translation of the
two words Rosh Hashanah is Head
of the year. The head is significantly
more important than a beginning.
The head leads and guides the en
tire body. Although the head is very
much a pjurt of the body and needs
the body, it stands apart from the
body. This is also true when a group
or an association is formed. Al
though the head is part of the group
or association, it stands above the
rest in responsibility and leadership.
This concept is applied to Rosh
Hashanah as well. Rosh Hashanah
is part of the year, yet it guides the
year in a particular direction. Ac
cording to Kabbalah, the days of
Rosh Hashanah include within them,
at least in capsule form, all the days
of the year. TTiis is why, on Rosh
Hashanah, all of creation is judged.
It also explains why we pray and ask
G-d to grant us a good and healthy
year.
There is a story told of three
Rabbis who met after services on
Rosh Hashanah. Their discussion
turned to their particular experience
and quest during services.
The first Rabbi said, “On Rosh
Hashanah, one needs to ask G-d for
his blessings of health, wealth and
prosperity. I utilized every moment
of the service, asking G-d for his
blessings.”
The second Rabbi said, “Rosh
Hashanah is a time of spiritual reck
oning. I asked G-d for his bless
ings in Torah study. I asked for
success in teaching and feeling posi
tive about my Judaism.”
The third Rabbi said, “On Rosh
Hashanah, we need to connect to
G-d and reach a higher level of Di
vine awareness. By connecting with
G-d intellectually and spiritually, we
will come to see
G-dliness in all of creation. We
Mshing Everyone
A Happy, Healthy
L’Shana Tova
Commissioner Uayd Scher
Happy
New Year
Bob & Anne
Yudell
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Chavurat Tikvah:
Jewish Education and
Community Life
will understand that every aspect of
life is a reflection of G-d.”
In truth, all three Rabbis were
correct depending on what spiritual
level one wants to attain on Rosh
Hashanah. If all one wants is a
blessing for materialism or even if
he quests the spiritual experience,
Rosh Hashanah is the time to ask
for it.
However, if one desires the
highest level of connection, he then
reaches for the third level, which is
the ultimate experience of Rosh
Hashanah. This requires total sub
mission to G-d which leads to a
deep level of unity with G-d in a
most wondrous way.
Adam was the first human. He
proclaimed G-d’s presence through
out the universe. He encouraged
all of life, including the animal king
dom to kneel and bow before G-d,
thus bringing the world to recog
nize G-d. Through this act of rec
ognition and submission, he was
able to make an everlasting connec
tion with G-d.
We, too, can utilize the pre
cious days of Rosh Hashanah in el
evating ourselves from mundane
matters and making that spiritual
connection which would bring us to
experience the full impact of the
days of awe.
By Deborah S. Bosley
On May 27, 1995 Chavurat
Tikvah picnicked in Freedom Park
to celebrate the end of its Sunday
• School’s first year. Since October,
1994 six children (ages 4-8) have
had Sunday School every week in
members’ homes. Nina Harris
taught Hannah Settle, Talia Saxe,
Jonathon Woollen, Nicki Bogard,
Paul Chelmis, and Rachel Offerdahl
Hebrew and Jewish holidays, cus
toms, and rituals though song, art,
stories, and adventure. Two more
children are enrolled for 1995-1996.
Robin Hoff, formerly a teacher in
the Jewish Preschool, will be the
new Sunday School teacher. Phyllis
Woollen stated that her son
Jonathon “is very excited about
going to Sunday School because the
children have developed a special
bond.” Marty Settle states, “One of
the joys of our time together is
Marty Settle afWoodechtlck’* ‘95
watching the kids from toddlers to
teenagers, playing and praying
together.”
Chavurat Tikvah begins its
seventh year. Many of the 60 mem
bers belong to Temple Israel or
Temple Beth El or are active at the
Jewish Community Center, but they
have in common their desire for
more intimate gatherings to cel
ebrate and learn more about Jew
ish life: its intellectual, aesthetic,
ethical, and religious rituals and
customs. Ellen Chelmis, co-”Rosh”
stated “One of the strengths of this
Chavurat is how participatory ev
ery aspect is: For every activity or
religious ceremony, we design it,
research it, execute it, decorate it,
and cater it.”
Members also come to
Chavurat Tikvah seeking consola
tion and emotional support. A min-
yan has gathered every Tuesday
evening, and the women meet once
a month for Rosh Chodesh as a
means of celebrating the female as
pects of Judaism. Members also
take care of one another: Ellen
Myers and Debbie Langsam head a
Chicken Soup committee that helps
members during times of crisis.
Chavurat Tikvah also celebrates
bris, weddings, baby-namings, and
is currently looking forward to its
first bar mitzvah—Sammie
Myers—later next year.
Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kip
pur services are the religious back
bone of the Chavurat. Allen Saxe
and Charlie Brown, who provide
much of the religious structure for
the Chavurat, currently are design
ing the Holiday services as Ellen
Myers and Jessica Saxe meet with
members to divide up the service.
“We create holiday services in which
we can all participate,” indicated
Harry jChernotsky, one of the
founders, for everyone who wishes
Cheiyl and Michael Rabinowitz
of Lx>ng Island, NY, proudly an
nounce the birth of their daughter,
Paige Erica, on May 10,1995. The
proud grandparents are Helene and
Marty Jmkowitz of Charlotte and
Delores and Ted Rabinowitz of
DelRay Beach, Florida.
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Despite this emphasis on edu
cating its children, Chavurat mem
bers come from a variety of
lifestyles. Not all members have
young children; some are single,
older, pan of an interfaith couple,
partnered, or are married with no
children. This inclusiveness charac
terizes most Chavurot. “The only
requirement for joining Chavurat
Tikvah,” says Sam Eneman, current
co-”Rosh,” “is the desire to cel
ebrate the community of Judaism.”
Community: this is what
Chavurat Tikvah celebrates. A
Chavurah (from the word
“Chaver”—friend and community)
is a group of people who meet regu
larly to share their Jewish heritage.
“Tikvah” means “hope “—faith in
the power of community.
to have a part in the service, includ
ing the children.
‘These services give us a sense
of ourselves as a religious commu
nity; our programs create our intel
lectual and religious community and
our children remind us of our fu
ture,” stated Myers. This year, as in
years past, the Chavurat will con
duct Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kip
pur services at the Unitarian
Church.
Anyone who would like to be
on the mailing list or wishes to learn
more about this Chavurah and its
activities may contact Gwen
Offerdahl, membership chair, 366-
3590 or Ellen Chemis at 332-9300.
Dr. Dtborah S. Bosley is associate
professor of English at UNC-Charlotte and
a member of Chavurat Tikvah.