Shalom, Friend.
High Holidays 5785 feels different. Despite pandemic, seditious uprising, a divided nation, war in Europe, the loss of agency over our bodies, our addiction with social media and devices, and everything else we have been through in the past decade, this year is something new.
As a Rabbi, I have never had to prepare for High Holidays with such a deep feeling of uncertainty. Personally, I feel burned out. And amongst my colleagues, I am not the only one. My friends who live in Israel struggle daily – from caring for wounded soldiers as physicians in Israel’s major hospitals to just watering their plants. My Palestinian-American friends feel bewildered and powerless. As moderate American Jews or Palestinians – we all want peace. However, others choose to have “big feelings” about Israel, and hate rallies, crimes and worse have found their way onto American soil as acts of moral superiority. Whatever side of the conflict spectrum we find ourselves, one thing we cannot deny: the state of world affairs demands that we take a second look at our Jewish identity.
Open Temple High Holiday Ritual Lab 5785 honors the complexity of our times. This year, we focus on the surrealism of our world through a Morality Tale. It’s like the Wild West out there. And internally as well. I don’t know about you, but I, personally, struggle to understand who I am through these times. I cling to my moral compass as a north star. My prayers don’t seem enough. I am unsure, more than ever, that there is any divinity driving all of this. It’s a crisis of faith. It’s existential.
And yet – the Rabbis offer us a tradition that states “The King is in the Field.” I hear a voice in my head responding, “if that’s the case, then where the hell was he on 10/7 while thousands of young people danced in the fields of Kibbutz Be’eri?”
With this state of being, Open Temple offers Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services that match our mood. Rosh Hashanah invites us into an exultant celebration on the beach. Inspired by the memory of our holy brothers and sisters who died dancing, and those healing through the wounds and memories of that day, we will meet on the Playa (aka Venice Beach), for a service of joy and celebration as we seek to define and make meaning through the complexity of our times. Together.
On 10/7, we invite those who feel moved to attend the Nova Festival Memorial in Culver City, as I lead a group and provide a siy’um (completion ritual), or threshold, into meaning. Open Temple already purchased tickets for 18 individuals, so the first 18 to RSVP will receive them. If others are interested, we will purchase more.
And to complete the cycle of the 10 Days of Awe, Kol Nidre, our annual Memento Mori service, which commences the 25-hour death meditation called Yom Kippur, will for the first time be held in the container I originally conceived the service for – Hillside Memorial Park and Mortuary. To bring this service into a Jewish Cemetery – where many of us will spend our eternities as well as be surrounded by the memories and remains of our families – casts a new and deepened meaning to our services.
Our incredible band, led by Kent Jenkins, is back as well as some new artists we are spotlighting this year. Most of all, we just ask, humbly, for the gift of your presence.
Finally, I am personally asking each of you to become a Co-Creator this year. Open Temple only exists due to the support you give us. It would be so meaningful to know that you find us important enough to ensure our future through your support today. We await your response to this humble request.
One final reminder for the soul: every Friday at 11 am, I host Torah Study on the picnic tables at Open Temple House. Please consider showing up and opening the portal of wisdom from those who came before us, as their enduring light illuminates our way through the Wild West.
The final image I offer as a blessing is this ~ 5785: Dance Again.
With love and authenticity,
Rabbi Lori