Lab/Shul Community,
Today we mark 9/11. Tonight we begin the last Shabbat of 5780.
Time never stops but we pause to pay attention to the terror and the beauty, to remember and to honor, to hold each other up in all moments, big and small.
Those among you who’ve been with us for these 19 years will remember the High Holy Days on 2001 and 2002, gathered near ground zero, and then on the 40th floor of the first building to rise again after the fall, peering down into the abyss as we prayed, again, for healing and for peace.
This year, different in so many ways, we will meet online, to still resist the fear and still rise up with determination and optimism, trust in our ability to be here for each other and do the best we can to be present, to be helpful, to help heal our world.
Please join me tonight, as I lead the final SHABasics of 5780 with Shira Kline to mark memories. Tomorrow night we’ll be with our Zen community for Sit + Sorry with meditative and musical intentions.
If you haven’t yet, please check out the full schedule for our Days of Awe – online. We look forward to being together.
Need a moment of pause? Watch the beautiful animated illustration by Jacqueline Nicholls, created for the 23rd day of PREPENT: 30 Day Shuvu Challenge, with my words alongside, asking us: What is the Sound of Freedom?
May this be a day of kindness and may memories bring blessing, always.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Amichai
