From the Bima Blog

Rosh Hashanah Morning 5785 - October 3, 2024

Watch Rabbi Gubitz's sermon on Youtube

When Sarah opened her email, she saw the invitation. 
“You are cordially invited to celebrate the Jewish Near Year.” 
Let us know if you can make it.
Sarah sighed the sigh of all sighs. 
“I just can’t this year,” she said aloud.
 “I mean, a part of me wants to, but not this year. 
I just don’t feel like celebrating.”

Sarah’s father had died a few months prior. 
Even though he had been sick for years 
and had decided on his own to stop treatment, 
there was no way to prepare  for his absence in her life.
She couldn’t imagine enjoying honeycake 
or sitting in services without the warmth of his presence. 
The grief and darkness was too much to bear, especially in person.
What if she burst out crying?

So she responded with a short message to the sender: 
Just not sure I can make it this year. 
Feels like the worst new year ever. 
I can’t be the only one who feels like this, right? 
But instead of clicking ‘Yes’ or ‘No’, she selected ‘maybe’.

**
When Matt opened his email, he saw that same invitation. 
Matt sighed the sigh of all sighs. 
“I just can’t this year,” he said aloud. 
“I mean, a part of me wants to, but not this year. 
I’m just too nervous. 
It feels harder than ever to be Jewish this year. 
Am I safe? Are we safe?”
Like many people, every day since October 7th, 2023, 
Matt had increased anxiety about being Jewish in America. 
His whole life he loved Rosh Hashanah:
the music, the food, the family, the sermons, and the liturgy. 
But there was no amount of deep breathing or calming music - 
or medicine even -
that could make him feel comfortable going to the temple. 
His fear and his worries overcame him.

So he responded with a short message to the sender: 
Just not sure I can make it this year. 
Feels like the worst new year ever. 
I can’t be the only one who feels like this, right? 
But instead of clicking ‘Yes’ or ‘No’, he selected ‘maybe’.

To continue reading Rabbi Gubitz's Rosh Hashanah sermon, click here.