Rabbi's Blog

As I write this article in the middle of July, I am in the process of working along with Cantorial Leader Ilana Axel to transition Beth Tikvah Congregation from the 1978 Gates of Repentance prayerbook to the new Mishkan HaNefesh: Machzor for the Days of Awe. We are grateful to the many congregants who have donated sets of Mishkan HaNefesh to Beth Tikvah and as mentioned in my previous article, with appreciation for the generous donations from Steven and Marla Leibach and the Susan Lynn Krupp Fund.

We are very excited to introduce and worship from Mishkan HaNefesh this Fall. As you will see and experience, this new machzor, embraced by Reform Congregations throughout the United States and Canada, strikes a careful balance between introducing new innovations, updates and honoring long held traditions, practices and rituals. I know that many of you are curious about this new prayer book and I would like to share and discuss with you what I have discovered so far. I am offering multiple opportunities for all who are interested to learn and explore our new machzor prior to Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. I welcome you to attend one of the following sessions so that your worship experience with the new prayer books is enhanced and that you may draw more meaning from the High Holy Days.

Please join me for an introductory workshop on Mishkan HaNefesh on one of the following dates:

Sunday, September 15, 9:15am-10:15am for parents during Religious School.

Thursday, September 19, 12pm-1pm as the subject of our monthly Lunch and Learn session.

Saturday, September 21, 9am-10am as part of Torah study.

In addition to these times, I will also be meeting during religious school with our BTC 6^th-12^th students on Sunday, September 22, 10:30am-11am to discuss our new machzor and role of prayer in our lives during the High Holy Days.

Please plan on attending one of these sessions and send me an email at rabbi@beth-tikvah.org so I can plan accordingly. Of course, drop-ins are always welcome!

I continue to enjoy conversations with each of you about prayer, Judaism, God, and all the issues that the High Holy Days and life in-general stir up for you at this season. Whether or not you can attend one of these sessions on the new machzor, I invite you to schedule a meeting with me personally or experience one of BTC’s many lifelong learning opportunities this year. Please see our website for our current class offerings.

As the summer winds down the High Holy Days will be upon us before we know it.

Sara, Sylvie, Bayla and I wish you a sweet New Year full of blessing, meaning, love and joy.

G’mar chatima tova! May you be inscribed for a good seal!

B’shalom, Rabbi Taron Tachman