It’s been a hustling and bustling time — from intense High Holidays observances to a season of elections, from a time of seeking forgiveness for wrong past choices, to a time of making important new choices.

Shortly after the High Holidays, I flew to Israel to see family and friends, and to prepare our next interfaith peace event in February. I found myself here also in the midst of a heated election campaign, this time for municipal and mayoral positions. Similar to the U.S. midterm elections, these local decisions will have national impact, and possibly beyond.

What lesson can we learn from the High Holidays that may help us through the time of elections? One of the similarities is the camaraderie people have for each other. It seems that everyone is either going to an open house or coming back from one. Perhaps when we go to our group’s open house, we should remember that just recently we sat together in the same room and prayed to one God. Perhaps we can apply this lesson from the High Holidays and continue to experience the sense of camaraderie  — not necessarily agreeing, but accepting that others have their passions, too.

In this time of election, the choice we make is important. The worst choice is to despair and be filled with dejection, to refuse to get involved. One of my favorite expressions is this: Wherever you are, there you are. Similar to God’s ultimate message to Moses in the Burning Bush, when Moses wants to know God’s name, and in turn God replies “Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh” — I will be where I will be (or, I am where I am).  It is important to elect a new mayor or congressman/congresswoman, but it’s even more important to fully be where you are.

Last Shabbat in Jerusalem, I spent the day at Kehilat Zion, which has a beautiful blend of Ashkenazi and Sephardi tunes, children, adults, men and women from all walks of life — a true “Israeli congregation,” led by Raba Tamar Apelbaum, of blended background herself, creating a peaceful human field —“…a meadow in Jerusalem.” (I Kings 15:4) It reminded me that we are getting ready to take part in the “Shabbat Project,” opening our house to other Jews and friends, just to be together — to elect each other first.  Looking forward to being with all of you soon.

 

Shabbat Project Shalom,

—Rabbi Gadi Capela