Dear Friends,
The Jewish New Year always has me reflecting on my intentions for the upcoming year and what can be accomplished and changed within it. At the same time, it corresponds to the new school year, and I watch my children and their teachers do the same. They attempt to begin again while continuing to deal with the realities of the day.
Driving my youngest into her first day of school, we were welcomed by teachers standing outside, a bubble machine and loud music. I had to smile at the thought that went into welcoming children back in another pandemic year when we had hoped it was all in the rear view mirror. They were doing their best to make school a friendly, welcoming place. However, as we got closer, I could hear the music more clearly and I caught my breath. The song that happened to be on when I dropped her off? “Drive into the Danger Zone.” I kid you not. I let her out as they were blaring “Drive into the Danger Zone. Gonna take you right into the Danger Zone!” Oy.
Driving home I didn’t know if I should laugh or cry. For how many of us have experienced the exact same thing? We and others try so hard in this pandemic to do the right thing (Wear a mask, don’t wear a mask? Hug and shake or say hello from a distance? Meet in person for services or spend another one on Zoom). And, yet, often the right thing feels like the wrong thing to someone else. And while we have given our decision a lot of thought (like the teachers who said, we will play some music!) we often fall short of our goals (as the kids face the “Danger Zone”).
TBT has felt those same conflicting goals. We want to be together in large groups to welcome our new Rabbi, celebrate the High Holidays and for many other gatherings and, yet, for the sake of our community, we often cannot. Despite it all, the one message that isn’t conflicted is that we are a community at TBT and we will do whatever we can to help all of our members (and soon to be or potential members) come together and support one another.
To that end, we have not stopped building our new space to welcome all of us in the very near future. While that may seem like a conflicted message as we meet for the High Holidays on Zoom, we believe we are continuing to build for our future, for a day very soon where we will come together in our new building to do the wonderful work of the community. After all, we are the “House of Hope!” We understand that our work today will benefit us all into the future.
We look forward to the day very soon when we do not have any conflicting messages, and our doors are once again open wide (with technology to support those who are at home). In the meantime, please know how much all of the members of the Board, the clergy and staff appreciate your efforts and support during this time, and how much we look forward to being together again, in our new building, in the new year ahead.
Shana Tova,
Sarah Mervine