Our new mission statement states: “Kindling the passion to connect to each other, to the sacred, and to the world.” I pose this question to you: How do you define sacred? And how do you connect with it?

There are many ways to define sacred — both as a noun and as an adjective.

• If we use it as a noun, we could use these definitions: a “divinity that is inclusive, allowing each of us to define the term for ourselves in a way that aligns with who we are and the relationship we have to a higher power — that which is bigger than ourselves.”
  We could say that it is something that is always there, always available, and that resonates with us. We can also say that the sacred is something within us, that the “divine is us and we are the divine, or that as our liturgy says we are “created in G-d’s image” (b’tzelem Elohim).
• If we use it as an adjective, it could mean something that is spiritual or holy. In Hebrew, the word holy is “kadosh” which comes from the word “kedushah” which literally means to set aside. If the word sacred is used in this context, it could refer to setting aside time or setting aside a space. That which is sacred can also mean sanctifying time for your own version of sacred moments.
  With the many ways to define “sacred”, it is up to you to decide what meaning works for you.

After defining sacred for yourself, then ask yourself how you connect with it.
For many of us, while we struggle to maintain day to day modern life, we become disconnected. We are hyper-focused on the mundane, on the material world. We are more concerned with how we look, with our bodies, with our homes, our cars, our bills, our jobs, our possessions. And this takes away from our ability to connect to the sacred. So how do we connect?

What can Temple do to kindle that passion to help you connect?
There are many ways to help you connect to that which is sacred. There is meditation as a way to train your attention and awareness in order to be mentally clear and emotionally calm. There is prayer, where our liturgy brings meaning into our lives. For me, personally, there is music, which allows the universal language to penetrate my soul. There is service to others, whether that means interacting with your family, friends or helping to serve the under-served members of the community. And finally there is space — creating the space for the sacred.

It will take time to be able to answer these questions and certainly many of us have an ample amount of personal time right now. So we, at Temple, are here to help you. We are here to help you understand what is sacred. We are here to be the sanctuary for you as you set aside time to discover what sacred means for you.

Hopefully, we can return to our building to physically help you connect. Until then we can be your virtual mishkan, your virtual tabernacle, to help you connect to the sacred, to each other, and to the world.

One major change in our Temple lives is having online-only services for now. While many have used our live stream to pray with us virtually, those of you who are new to it can find comfort that we will still be with you for Shabbat. By viewing our prayer book online, you can follow along with us as we sing the familiar songs in prayer, read the words of our liturgy and share in the joy of Shabbat together.

Also, you can link to the Prayer Packet and its accompanying audio files for the highlighted prayers of the service. These files can help you learn the prayers and songs so that, when watching the service, you can sing and pray in the privacy of your own home.

This then begs the question: “What does it mean to pray and sing to myself?” Without the assistance of the congregational choir or the community of congregants, does that change the way you pray? Does it make it easier to pray? Does it make it more comfortable to sing out loud?

After you have watched services and prayed along with us from the sanctuary of your living room, how do you feel when the service is over? If your answer is that you had a good experience but still are unfamiliar with the prayers in song, then I have a solution for you. I will be teaching part 2 of the “Make Shabbat Music” class as a Zoom meeting that you watch on your computer (or device). Even if you missed part 1 of the class, I will be happy to review the prayers we covered and then continue with those we have yet to learn. Currently this class is scheduled for Sunday, April 26 at 10:30 am. We will keep you posted if anything changes. [NOTE: This information no longer applies as of May 1, 2020.]

Also, in March I started leading a Musical Meditation (Mondays) and Wee Sing on the Web (Fridays) with Facebook Live. [During April Cantor Kathy also had a Kids Song and another Wee Sing on the Web.] Check the online calendar for times and dates.

As we face uncertainty in our lives, may you know that the clergy at Temple Israel is always accessible to you and will continue to be with you — in person or in our virtual reality.