Dear Friends,
By the time Rosh Hashanah starts, my wife and I will be celebrating our first two weeks in Lincoln! It has only been 14 days and both of us feel as if we had been a part of this amazing community for years. We have been embraced by the heartfelt warmth of so many of you and we feel right at home.
We sense the sincere excitement of the community as you have shared with us what a historic moment this is in the Jewish history of Lincoln. With incredible vision, the leadership of both congregations - embraced by the entire membership - adopted the unique concept by which two synagogues joined forces and designed a unique model that should serve as an inspirational message to Jewish communities around the world.
South Street Temple and Tifereth Israel may perhaps have different outlooks on the philosophy, ideology, theology and ritual of their respective streams of Judaism. On the other hand, they share in the realization that they have the same heart and love for our heritage. Reform and Conservative, members with different approaches to Jewish life have fully affirmed how important it is for everybody to be together in one family!
This is what the Jewish community of Lincoln represents. A desire to be together and design a unique Jewish lifestyle, understanding differences but simultaneously embracing them! There is an affirmation by all that we are an Am Echad, One People, uniting everybody in a unique spirit seeking the renewal and the building of a rejuvenated Kehilah Kedoshah, a holy community. I believe that that is the hallmark of what a home should be all about. Members of a family approaching things perhaps in a different way but also aware that togetherness is paramount.
My wife Iryna and I are honored to be a part of this amazing initiative that both congregations have already created. We indeed feel that a great future is ahead of us and we want to be a part of that exciting project together with all of you!
As Rosh Hashanah is about to start, we wish each other a Shanah Tovah. I would like to expand on the meaning of the Hebrew word shanah as it conveys several possible things. The word Shanah can mean change, derived from the Hebrew shinui. Indeed, the Jewish community here in Lincoln is changing its approach. Additionally, we are all united in our common desire for a year of change, one in which there will be health and wellbeing, not having to confront pandemic and illness. The word Shanah can also mean repetition, derived from the Hebrew word/number sheni. It would maybe be a wish to repeat the approach to replicate the ingenuity of our Jewish people in the past. Trying to do anything and everything we can, in order to make sure that the community will remain strong, viable and vital. The word Shanah can also mean to study from the Hebrew words "lishnot/Mishnah". This is the wish of every Jewish teacher, hoping for new learning of Jewish texts, for "New Torah".
I would really like to embark with each and every one of you in a year of studying and learning together, embracing the wonderful teachings of our Jewish legacy. Dear friends, as we wish one another a Shanah Tovah, let us all enjoy a year of good change, a year of good repetitions and also a year of good study and learning! As we join in welcoming 5781, let us all pray inspired by Adonai, for a good year, one that is sweet, bringing well being to everybody.
With infinite gratitude for what the Almighty has put in front of us, we thank you for allowing us to join you all!
L'Shanah Tovah,
Rabbi Alex
