SHABBAT SHALOM

Shabbat Nitzavim

September 23-24, 2022 - 28 Elul 5782


Rabbi Baum's Pre-High Holy Day Message 

When is a sunrise more than just a sunrise? I asked myself this question on Sunday morning. I went to bed on Saturday evening after attending the Selichot service at our sister congregation, B'nai Torah. It was a beautiful evening filled with beautiful voices and beautiful Torah. I have to admit, waking up the next day at 5 am wasn’t easy, but I had something to look forward to: a beautiful sunrise on the beach. 


Our tradition has a beautiful teaching about the sunrise. The question the rabbis asked was, "When can one put on their talit in the morning?" We have to keep in mind that most humans woke up either before or during sunrise. If one wakes up before sunrise, can they put on their talit and start praying? The rabbis decreed that there must be light in order to start the morning prayers. The question is, "How much light?" The Talmud offers an interesting teaching.


One opinion states that “dawn” is defined as “when one can recognize the face of a friend” (Babylonian Talmud Berachot 9b). 


After a three-year hiatus from our sunrise service, I was ready to see faces again in person. This year, we invited new faces to join us as we welcomed members of the B'nai Torah community to join us. In a sense though, we were all new faces. 


Our musical service that morning, led beautifully by Cantor Hadash, was centered around the gift of our souls (our Neshamah) and breath (our Neshimah). I added guided mediations to the liturgy and Yoga movements led by Cantor Hadash (who is also a Yoga instructor!). Seeing the world come alive, the sunrise, and slowly lighting up the faces around us is always a Divine and soulful experience. But perhaps this year, I appreciated it more because of the distancing of the last two years. 


Sometimes, we are blessed with gifts in the form of chance encounters. As we were praying, I saw others going to the beach in the darkness of the morning. It happened to be our friends at St. Gregory's Episcopal Church led by Father Andrew J. Sherman and Father Ben, who are leaders of our interfaith group, BRICA - Boca Raton Interfaith Clergy Association. Although not planned, this coincidence is a testament to the unique nature of our faith community; we truly do stand together! 


As Americans, we have an uneasy relationship with public displays of religiosity, and as Jews, we tend to keep our services to ourselves, considering the troubled 'climate' we live with (anti-Semitism). But here we were, three communities coming together separately, at the same place, to worship according to our own faith tradition. We could hear each other's prayers from a distance, and yet, we were focused on those who were around us - our community members from our respective faiths. Speaking to people after the service, many of us felt safer knowing that others were worshipping in their own ways at the same place (although separated) but at the same time. 


On Rosh Hashanah, we acknowledge the creation of all humanity. As the Mishnah teaches, every human stands in judgment before God on these days. In this way, Rosh Hashanah is a universal holiday. There was something special about standing in the public sphere with our people, and our fellow citizens. 


But the High Holy Days are also deeply particularistic - a time for the Jewish community to come together and to become whole again. 


We ended our service with bagels and coffee (of course), and, like good Jews, we had more food than we needed, so we gave out bagels to all those early risers who came to the beach that morning. We left our final leftovers for those who may not be able to afford a meal. As Ilene Prusher pointed out: "It shows the 'Jews' were here!"


Speaking of those who are hungry, we did meet someone who was hungry for something other than bagels and coffee. Whenever we have this public service, there are inevitably Jews who happen upon the service on their way to see the sunrise. This year, a young Jewish woman who had just lost a parent a day or two before the service was present, watching us from afar, but still a part of the community that we created. When we lose loved ones, when their light is seemingly extinguished, our world becomes darker. Our role as Jews is to bring the light of community and God to those lonely souls. 


As the sun rose, so too did the light on her face. I was glad we could bring a sense of the Divine to her during this difficult time in her life, and I was grateful that she taught us a valuable lesson with her mere presence. Bringing light to people’s faces is arguably the most important job we have as a congregation. 


This year, on Rosh Hashanah, I will be speaking about issues that go beyond the issues of the day. As we come out of this pandemic, we must confront the epidemic that plagued us for years before we heard of Covid-19. I don’t want to spoil it, but it relates to the words I presented. On the first day of Rosh Hashanah, I tend to address more universal ideas; after all, Rosh Hashanah is both about the creation of the world, but also, the creation of a people as we read about the first Jewish family, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Hagar, and Ishmael. On the second day of Rosh Hashanah, I will lean into the particularism of the holiday. We speak often of ‘Jewish Unity’, but what does Jewish unity actually mean, and why is it important? 


I look forward to ‘seeing’ your faces in person, or virtually over these days of Awe. 


From our family to yours, we wish you a G'mar Chatimah Tovah - May we all be inscribed in The Book of Life.

Rosh Hashanah begins Sunday night.  An email went out Wednesday afternoon and will go out again Saturday night after Shabbat ends, to all Chaverim and Sacred Guests who signed up for tickets with details for our services.  If you did not receive the email, please email office@shaareikodesh.org before Shabbat begins on Friday so that we can forward you the email.  

CSK COVID UPDATE

As Covid transmission rates resurge in Palm Beach County, CSK continues to be vigilant by strongly encouraging the wearing of masks when inside the sanctuary and in other areas of the building when people are present. Social distancing is also recommended. We will once again provide for aliyot away from the Torah table for those who prefer. While we invite everyone to join us for Shabbat and activities, we want to be mindful of gathering in a safe and respectful way. Regarding our transition from Zoom to streaming services, we are in the process of implementing this change and anticipate conversion to streaming soon. We will continue to assess the situation and provide further updates. 

Check out our self-guided Elul Challenge for CSK - a daily podcast and action for the month

Please check out our self-guided Elul program called the Elul Challenge: a daily podcast by Rabbi Baum with one action a day to prepare for the holiest days of the year

‎The Elul Challenge with Rabbi David Baum on Apple Podcasts

The Elul Challenge is a new project by Congregation Shaarei Kodesh. Elul is the Hebrew month of preparation. During this month, we prepare for the Jewish New Year. This podcast, hosted by Rabbi David Baum, will give you a bit of daily inspiration, a clear action you can do to make yourself and the w...

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Friday Morning Minyan

with Rabbi Baum


In-Person

Friday, September 16, 2022

8:00 am


Followed by a class taught by Rabbi Baum:

Community and Responsibility

KABBALAT SHABBAT SERVICES

Friday, September 23, 2022

6:15 PM ET

In-Person & on Zoom

Vaccination and Masks Strongly Encouraged but Not Required

Join Zoom Services

SHABBAT MORNING SERVICES

Shabbat Nitzavim


Saturday, September 24, 2022

9:30 AM ET


In-Person and on Zoom

Vaccination and Masks Strongly Encouraged but Not Required

Geil Bilu - Deuteronomy 29:9-29:11

Geil Bilu - Deuteronomy 29:12-29:14

Geil Bilu - Deuteronomy 29:15-29:28

Lenny Berkowitz - Deuteronomy 30:1-30:6

Nachshon Carmi - Deuteronomy 30:7-30:10

Ephriam Samit - Deuteronomy 30:11-30:14

Ephriam Samit - Deuteronomy 30:15-30:20

Ephriam Samit - (M) Deuteronomy 30:15-30:20

Marty Radnor - (H) Isaiah 61:10-63:9

Join Zoom Services
Meeting ID: 882 0065 3129 Passcode: 910086

Yahrzeit Minyan

for Matt Weiss’ Sister, Jenni Pestine, z''l

Sunday, October 2

at CSK at 6:30 PM

Join Zoom Services
Meeting ID: 882 0065 3129 Passcode: 910086

SPONSORS FOR SEPTEMBER


KEMACH TORAH NADIV SPONSORS 5782

Alexander & Rachel Baum

Nan Berkowitz

Stacie & Jeff Brody

Sue and Ben Eisenberg

Bernard and Ann Grossman

Kol Isha Sisterhood of CSK

Scott Reiter

Judy & Gary Richman

Diane and Robert Salamon


Challah & Wine Sponsor

Harvey Harling in honor of his new grandson

Click Here to Sponsor a Torah Portion for our Holocaust Torah Campaign in 5783
Yahrzeit and Refuah Shlema List
Siddur Lev Shalem - Maariv for Shabbat & Festivals
Siddur Lev Shalem - Shabbat & Festivals Morning
*Thank you to Bagel Twins for donating bagels for our Kiddush!
*Please note that ONLY the bagels, bialys, and pocket rolls from Bagel Twins at 5130 Linton Blvd are considered kosher (dairy) and are under the supervision of Rabbi Lester Herring. 
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