Jewish holidays at United Hebrew Congregation Terre Haute.
This month, we celebrate the minor festival of Tu B’shvat — the 15th day of the Hebrew calendar month of Shevat. We call Tu B’shvat the “birthday” of trees, because it is a marker of time from which we count whether a tree is old enough to bear tithe-worthy fruit.
That is, is this tree mature enough, strong enough, to bear fruit from which we must dedicate a portion to others?
Hanukkah reminds us of our longing for light, and the Torah portions traditionally read at this time of year reflect upon the building of the mikdash — a dwelling place for God on earth, literally, a “place for the holy,” which we often translate as “the Temple.”
Our synagogues are sometimes called a mikdash me’at, or a “miniature Temple.”
Rabbi Jennifer Lewis will officiate High Holidays services in the sanctuary at United Hebrew Congregation and via Zoom for the New Year 5786, beginning with Erev Rosh Hashanah services at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 22.
Rosh Hashanah services will follow at 10 a.m. Monday.
L’shana tovah tikateyvu, Happy New Year, and may you be inscribed for good in the coming year!
I’m looking forward to returning to Terre Haute to celebrate Rosh Hashanah, the Days of Awe, and the coming year, 5786, with the United Hebrew Congregation community!
We have entered the Hebrew month of Elul, the month during which tradition teaches us to begin hearing the call of the shofar and to prepare for the upcoming High Holy Days (the Days of Awe) of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
During this month of preparation, we can take concrete actions to prepare. And our preparation goes beyond planning a menu for Rosh Hashanah dinner and finding a good recipe for honey cake (though I encourage you to do that as well, and please share if you have a good one!). Preparation means we can begin in earnest a process called heshbon hanefesh — an accounting of our souls.