Hold up the sukkah: Contributions from all will sustain the congregation at its new home

We made it through our first Days of Awe in a new location, and I am awed that membership “rose” to the occasion in so many ways. Appropriately, the congregation welcomed a Jewish student leader from Rose Hulman Institute of Technology named Noah who attended and participated in the events.

Justin raised a voice during Rosh Hashanah that was even more poignant than guest Dan Davis’s shofar calls. He said that all are needed to share in congregational volunteering. I am paraphrasing, but the image Justin invoked for me was that each of us is holding up our new sukkah. We are in a (perhaps) temporary home, but it is our community that sustains us. Justin, like Judaism’s greatest prophet Moses — or any of us mere mortals — cannot do it alone.

Thanks to all who stepped up

Speaking of which, I truly appreciate those who stepped up to support our High Holy Days celebrations — all who ensured we would have a place to pray, Jo for finding us a shofar blower in a pinch, Penny and Debra for scheduling volunteer readers, Josh and Debra for outreach to local college students, Ken for sharing all of our activities on social media, Bruce for ensuring our tech worked properly (and for an amazingly tasty round challah at break-the-fast), Lanie for hosting a beautiful pre-fast meal, Patricia for organizing our congregational oneg and break-the-fast, and to Lee and family for erecting our first sukkah at the new location.

As I have pointed out in previous years, the Hebrew month of Tishri provides concrete rituals that help us reflect upon our individual actions. Rosh Hashanah marks the first day of Tishri, the start of our spiritual new year. While we began Tishri with apples and honey, the rituals of festivity, we shifted to rituals of gravity and soul-searching on Yom Kippur. Sukkot shifts us again to rituals of the fall harvest and nature.

We retain potential for growth

Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah, which we Reform Jews celebrated together on Tishri 22 (during the first weekend of October) gives us even more strength to begin the year anew. On this day, we read from the end and the beginning of the Torah, and begin the story of Creation once more.

We spoke during Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur about hitlamdut. From the Hebrew root lamed-mem-daled, and the infinitive “to learn,” hitlamdut represents internal refection and Judaism’s understanding of the modern concept of mindfulness. There is much beyond our power to change, but there is much potential for growth within our grasp.

In the coming weeks and months, we will need to support one another. I am eager to meet with each of you — whether for Shabbat lunch or dinner or a Sunday morning coffee — learning more about your interests so I can help support you and the congregation during this challenging time of transition.

The congregation has moved from its historical home on South 6th Street, but we will never lose our history or the relationships that we continue to build with one another and the greater Terre Haute community.

Rabbi Jennifer Lewis will serve UHC Terre Haute during the 2026-27 academic year.