A Rosh Hashanah Letter to Our Community

Today is Erev Rosh Hashanah.

As we stand on the precipice of a new year, I want to take a moment to reflect just how far we've come as a community.

Just within this past year, we introduced "Project Harlem," rolled out programs like Fridays at Temple 5, Shalom Harlem family meetups, our Harlem Service Corps Black-Jewish bridge building cohort, the Embark mixed-heritage couples cohort, and so many more. 

On the horizon in the year to come is a new website, a new name (finally!), and growing our professional team.

We've made so many new friends, trained more eyeballs on Jewish life in Harlem than ever before, and re-energized our commitment to this community and to all of you.

When I step back to reflect on all we have collectively accomplished in the year 5785, the pace of growth and change feels simply staggering.

When I became a father, someone wiser than I told me, "The days are long, but the years are short." I appreciate that sentiment now more than ever before. It's been a year full of many long days, but wow, what a short year it's been.

I want to invite you to pause for a moment before jumping into 5786 to take stock of how we approach the sometimes head-spinning rapidity of change we often encounter from one year to the next.    

Rosh Hashanah brings a season of newness and change for us all. The name of the holiday itself hints at this identity of change — the word שנה (shanah, 
year) shares a root with the word שינוי (shinui, change).

Our Rosh Hashanah is not truly complete if we do not adopt a posture of receptiveness and openness to change, coupled with an awareness and acceptance of the inherent necessity and inevitability of change.

In the coming year, may we all merit making impactful changes, nimble adjustments, and ego-free alterations to better serve ourselves, our communities, our families, and Hashem.

Shanah Tova u'Metukah! Wishing you a sweet, happy, and healthy new year - from our family to yours.