From TAO President Anne Goldberg

It's hard to believe that High Holy Days are right around the corner, with erev Rosh Hashana on September 8th. For my family and me, it's been an interesting year, without a lot of time for relaxation or vacation from the demands of work and home.

One of the things I love the most about the High Holy Days is that I get the chance to unplug from my daily life along with every thought, every chore and every item on my To Do list. It's like a little vacation during which all I have to do is think about connecting to God through Teshuva - a return to the inner kernel of goodness we all possess.

There's work to do though as we approach Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. Of course, Judaism gives us a process to prepare us for the blessings of the coming New Year. We start with Selichot on September 4th, which calls us to consider our deeds, examine and search out those actions and thoughts over the past year that were not our best moments. This introspection enables us to commit to doing things differently as we move into the New Year. This is a necessary step as we have to give consideration to those things, cast them off, then make our amends and move forward as a closer expression of God. In most denominations of Judaism, we repent for our sins. The mystic sees Selichot as an opportunity to shed those thoughts, words and deeds that no longer serve, opening up to allow the miraculous to enter.

Each day as we approach the New Year is one that is filled with opportunities to transcend our daily lives and practice Teshuva. And as we get closer to erev Rosh Hashana, I get almost giddy at the thought of celebrating the new that will most certainly unfold... as long as I do the inner work.

This is when I rely on my temple TAO, my community, and the guiding light of Rabbi Marc. I know that he will create ritual designed to open my heart and my soul. I know I will be directed to my highest good, and all I need to do is allow... and sing!

As I sit here, I hear our Kol Nidre service with the TAO Choir chanting Kol Dodi as congregants enter. Candles fill the room with warmth and the kind of light you can’t get from any kind of bulb. The music floats through the room and enfolds each person there. The love is palpable. God is palpable.

With this sweet thought in mind, I look forward to seeing all my old and new friends High Holy Day services this year. My wish for each of you is a New Year filled with an abundance of loving kindness, laughter, health, prosperity.

L'Shana Tova!

Anne Goldberg