=1. orah portion THE ISAAC AGREE DOWNTOWN SYNAGOGUE . Invites the Community to Observe THE HIGH HOLIDAYS The Holocaust Memorial Center 28123 Orchard Lake Road, Farmington Hills, MI (Less than a block North of the Orchard Lake Road Exit of 1-696) PLEASE NOTE NEW VENUE A Warm, Friendly Environment. No Admission Charge. No Tickets Required. ROSH HASHANAH SERVICES Wednesday Evening, September 28: Maariv 6:00 p.m. Thursday Morning, September 29: 8:30 a.m. 6:00 p.m. 8:30 a.m. i t Thursday Evening, September 29: Mincha/Maariv Friday Morning, September 30: SHABBAT SHUVAH SERVICES Friday Evening, September 30: Mincha/Maariv/Kabbalat Shabbat Saturday Morning, October 1: 6:00 p.m. 9:00 a.m. YOM KIPPUR SERVICES 7:15 p.m. 9:30 a.m. Friday Evening, October 7: Kol Nidre Saturday Morning, October 8• Yizkor Mincha N'ilah Blowing of the Shofar it 12:30 p.m. 5:45 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 8:20 p.m. For further information, call: (313)962-4047 SHOLEM ALEICHEM INSTITUTE invite you to join them at their SECULAR HIGH HOLIDAY ASSEMBL. to be held at ORCHARD LAKE MIDDLE SCHO 6000 Orchard Lake Road, West Bloom " ROSH HASHANA: THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2011 (10 AM-12 NOON) KIX NIDRE: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2011 (8 PM-9:30 PM) Featuring an Assembly of Readings plus music by: Bloch, Bruch, Chafes and others with Edward Benyas (oboe), Kara Benyas (piano), and Guest Cellist. YOM KIPPUR: SAMNA OCTOBER 8, 2011 (10 AM-12 NOON) As Always No Ticket Required Membership inquiries welcome. Call Institute Office (248) 423-4406 88 September 22 • 2011 iN Parshat Nitzavim-Vayelech: Deuteronomy 29:9-31:30; Isaiah 61:10-63:9. 0 ur tradition teaches us: Al tifrosh min ha-tzibur — do not separate yourself from the community. Our ancient rabbis were very wise. They knew that we needed to be part of a community for the most significant moments in our lives and also for the most mundane. It is why we need a minyan to pray. It is why we belong to business associations. It is why we create circles of friends for leisure time and pleasure. We depend on people in our community in times of sadness and mourning; we celebrate with these same people at our weddings, at our children's b'nai mitzvah. In the Torah portion, we stand together as a community to enter into the covenant with God. The por- tion begins, "You stand here this, all of you, before your God ..."When it says "all of you',' it literally means all of us. This group comprises the entire community — men, women and chil- dren — from tribal heads and officials to the stranger in the camp; from the elders and leaders to the wood chop- pers and water drawers. What strikes me as particularly meaningful is that in this moment, as we stand before God, we are all equal. There are no societal barriers or ques- tions of status. It doesn't matter who we are or what we do for a living. We are all present in that moment, and we all belong to the same community. As I write this, I reflect upon the program that we held last week for our "Monday Nights at Temple Israel" teen experience. As we gathered for the first time for the new academic year, we asked our students to study this text, to consider not only what it means to be part of a community, but what it means to be part of a holy community. Some students suggested that because we were in a religious place (our Temple building) that made it holy; others proposed that we were a holy community because we came together for the purpose of studying Jewish texts and themes; still others offered the idea that we were a holy community because of our similarities and like interests. In the end, we decided that we were a holy community because we've created connections with one anoth- er, because of the work that we do as a community — acts of tikkun olam (repair of the world), volunteerism, tzedakah, prayer. And most of all, we're holy because we're available for each other both in good times and bad, because we support each other, help each other and take care of each other. I like to think that we are holy because, like the people of Israel who stood before God in that moment of the covenant, we, too, stand before God as we come together as a community of equals. Last night, I left Temple Israel on a "high." I was truly inspired by our students who served as exemplars of what it means to be a holy community, perhaps without even realizing it. They showed themselves to be wel- coming to each other, accepting, non- judgmental and kind. These teenagers have shown us the potential for each of the groups we belong to. As we prepare for the upcoming High Holy Days, let us recog- nize how important it is to be a part of a community and let us work to make them holy communities, places of con- nection, and hospitality, places of good- ness, kindness and peace. II Marla Hornsten is a rabbi at Temple Israel in West Bloom field. Conversations Why is it important to belong to a community? What communities are you a part of? What makes your community a holy community?