Spiritual Connection to the Holidays

Keeping Connected   October 2024

Dear Friends,

Yesterday, although it was 3 days and counting until Erev Rosh Hashanah, I decided to put my to-do list on pause and seize the day by taking Lucca for a walk at the cranberry bog in Carlisle. It was a glorious day filled with light, color and crispness. At this time of year I feel like the liturgy, themes, music, memories, and logistics of the Days of Awe course through my brain and body, almost like a parallel circuitry and I am not exaggerating when I say that almost everything I do seems steeped in meaning or potential for a spiritual connection to the holidays.

 So, it seemed like bashert (meant to be), that as I was driving to the bog, I turned on the radio and caught the last story of that week’s Moth Radio hour broadcast. When I was done listening, I felt as though I had just listened to the sermon I needed to hear to this holiday season. I was inspired and moved by the courage and wisdom of the man who shared his story so much so that I could only say to myself “wow….” As you know, the Days of Awe are a time during which we reflect not only on our actions and the meaning of our lives, but also the reality of mortality and the gifts of love and purpose. Yom Kippur, in fact is a day on which we symbolically stand on the threshold of life and death, wearing white, not eating or drinking, mining the memories of our actions and beliefs and weighing them against our hopes, aspirations and the soul-potential that we all have. As I wrote that phrase “soul-potential” I initially doubted myself and thought that it sounded vaguely cliché, but in truth, I do have a deep faith that each of us has the power to realize our best selves. Use whatever language you want soul-potential or best-self, but the opportunity for growth and change during the High Holidays remain constant.

I thought that sometime between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, you might want to listen to Brian Jeansonne’s story. Brian is a proud native of New Orleans, where he resides with his wife, Kristy, and their five children – four sons and one daughter. Brian has recently completed his memoir and you can see pictures of Brian and his family on Instagram at @theJeansonne7. Here is the link to Brian’s story: https://themoth.org/stories/finding-beauty-and-love-in-the-chaos

I wish you and your family a sweet and healthy L’shanah Tovah,

Rabbi Shoshana M. Perry