This past weekend, I had the honor and privilege of a lifetime: I officiated my dear nephew and now niece’s nuptials against the backdrop of the Rocky Mountains. Both the elevation and the experience brought me to the heights of joy and gladness, but even with the majestic mountains in the backdrop, there was a bitter sweetness. You see, both of my parents have passed away, and my heart broke that Grandpa Bobby and Grandma Madalyn would not experience the joy (read: kvell) of witnessing their grandchild committing to the love of his life.
Isn’t that the case so often? That in the midst of joy there live the pangs of sorrow. It’s especially ripe at this time of year as we head into the Hebrew month of Elul. With the new moon comes the last embers of this Jewish year, the joyous anticipation of Rosh Hashana, the exciting opportunity to re-engage, set resolutions, commit to more love and justice this year. As we enter Elul, a month of memory, I ask: how do we hold each other? All year, Lab/Shul’s Kaddish club holds space for memory especially as we enter the new year without those we’ve lost. And how apropos that this exact sentiment is one of the meanings of our High Holy Day theme: L’negdi Tamid: Face to Face. Forever. Now. Throughout the High Holy Days, we will be holding you as you hold each other.
While our full High Holy Day schedule will be released soon on our Lab/Shul calendar, I want to point out how we will gather in the coming weeks and hold space for collective and individual grief. I hope you will consider joining us:
Tues, Sept 3: Launch of Prepent 2024/5784: A-Z Posts of Public Accountability into the New Jewish Year (stay tuned for more information)
I hope you will consider joining us in community all year round to honor and heal:
Our weekly virtual Kaddish calls honor loved ones with a community of like minded souls, led by members of the Lab/Shul Ritual Team and community leaders of the Kaddish Club.
Our seasonal gatherings: ReCollect/Yizkor will launch for 5785 on Yom Kippur afternoon, where we hold space for collective and individual grief with the help of caring circle holders who – face to face – encourage the sharing of memory and community connection, forever, now. The full year’s schedule of ReCollect programming will be available soon on our calendar.
Our year-round grief and remembrance support is made possible through our Joan Zinbarg Hochberg (z”l) and Benson Zinbarg (z”l) Kaddish Club Fund. If you want to lend your support to these important ways we show up for those experiencing loss, please consider making a contribution of any amount to the Kaddish Club Fund.
Let us face into one another with more love – I’ll meet you there. See you soon.
