Yam Tov and Shana Tova
At Touro Synagogue September 15-16, 2017
On Friday many of us enjoyed a Shabbat dinner after services at Touro Synagogue, thanks to an anonymous benefactor. The food was not the only attraction. A visiting group from Israel led by coach Israel Altman, Yam Tov (Good Sea) was in Newport to sail with "Sail to Prevail," which is led by Paul Callahan. The group had a very busy week in Newport, and Friday night dinner was a much more relaxing affair.
The visitors were gravely affected both physically and mentally by military service or experiencing terrorist incidents. Recovering from a wound can take years, and from the trauma of going from health and strength to sickness and dependency also takes a long time to heal.
Many people worked together to make the visit of Yam Tov a success.
Sailing is one way to help people readjust. Sailing with others means team work…and being with similarly affected people…but working on something unrelated also helps the healing process. Our guests shared their experiences and impressions of Newport.
On Saturday, Rabbi Marc Mandel spoke briefly about the double parsha. Rabbi Jeremy Bruce, head of school at the Hebrew High School of New England, where his son Carmi goes, had pointed out the two parshas had contradictory names. Nitzavim means to stand while Vayelach means to walk.
Rabbi Mandel applied this to the High Holidays. “Conceptually,” he said, “they don’t go together. That is the human condition. We try to move but we are frozen. Teshuva (repentance) is a mechanism to solve this dilemma.”
During the Yamim Noraim (Days of Awe), we have a chance to decide. Will we remain frozen in our ways, or will we move forward?
Shana Tova Umetuka. A good and sweet year to all of Jewish Newport! Let’s move forward together! Kadima!
No comments:
Post a Comment