2

CELEBRATE AROUND
THE TABLE
Rabbi Jessy Gross, named
by The Forward as one of the most
inspiring rabbis of 2016, says some
of her best holiday memories are not
from the synagogue but from places
where people came together — like at
her holiday table.
“Having meals with other people,
especially if the person hosting can
serve traditional Jewish foods, creates
an opportunity … to celebrate Jewish
food and culture,” Gross says.
Shari Seidman Klein of Beit
Shemesh in Israel, agrees. She cooks
a holiday meal for her family as well
as for her children, a few of whom
choose not to attend traditional activ-
ities. Apples and honey, round raisin
challah and other sweet things bring
the kids and their friends back to her
dining room each year.

3

CHANGE SOMETHING
Klein says she often instructs
her Hebrew school students,
many of whom are products of inter-
marriage, to use the High Holidays
as a time to better themselves. She
tells them, “Take on one thing for one
day.”
For example, rather than fasting
on Yom Kippur, she recommended
giving up candy, soda or something
else they like to eat. Older individu-
als might decide to give up the per-
sonal comfort of watching TV or they
might make the higher commitment
of refraining from talking badly about
others.
“It’s the idea of tikkun olam, bet-
tering the world,” Klein says. “That
one thing on that one day can take
you back to the basics of being — and
thinking.”

4

DO TASHLICH
One of Gross’ favorite rituals is
Tashlich, for which all a person
needs is access to a body of natural
water such as a creek, pond or river.
She recommends taking some bread
or crackers, and spending some time
by the water meditating or journaling.
“I like to think about where I have
missed the mark or haven’t reached
my potential and cast this out,” she
says. “It is a great opportunity to …
think about what you want as we
evolve into the coming year. It’s a
process of spiritual cleansing and pre-
paredness.”

5

FIND AN ALTERNATIVE
MINYAN
The Israeli organization Tzohar
has been working to bring together
the religious and secular Jewish com-
munities in the Jewish state. In the
central city of Lod, Tzohar’s Executive
Vice President Yakov Gaon says his
organization found that many secular
Israelis refrain from going to syna-
gogue not because they don’t want to
pray, but because the service is too
fast, politicized, costly or uncomfort-
able.
“They don’t know how to dress,
when to stand up or sit down,” Gaon
says.
About 15 years ago, Tzohar began
creating alternative minyans in com-
munity centers, schools and gyms.
The services bring like-minded peo-
ple together. Each service is assigned
a leader that announces the prayer
page numbers to read and explains
what’s happening in the prayers.
Today, more than 56,000 people take
part in these Yom Kippur services
at 300 locations across Israel. An
additional 1,500 people attend one of
Tzohar’s 60 Rosh Hashanah services.

1 4

IN

WOMEN
IS LIVING IN AN

ABUSIVE

RELATIONSHIP

CAN YOU LIVE

WITH THAT?

October is National Domestic
Violence Awareness Month

The Jewish community is not immune
to domestic violence. This October,
show your support by wearing a
purple ribbon, which you’ll find at
area temples and synagogues.

100mensches.org

2040420

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September 29 • 2016

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