Dear Tifereth Israel Friends,

Cantor Ze’ev Weinstein and I are excited to usher in the new year with you in less than a week! We are planning what we hope will be meaningful and participatory high holiday services, filled with singing and learning.

Tashlich sheets (as well as birdseed) will also be available at the synagogue on the first day of Rosh Hashanah. Birdseed!? It turns out that bread isn’t healthy for fish or birds, so nowadays we toss birdseed, pebbles, or twigs into the water. Tashlich is a beautiful custom, and especially so at the water’s edge in Greenport. I hope you’ll join us!

“Prayers for the New Year at Tifereth Israel,” will be available at the synagogue as well.

We’re trying a few new things this holiday season. This year, on the second day of Rosh Hashanah, following the Torah/Haftarah readings and shofar blowing, I’ll be leading a Community Text Study where we will explore some powerful new Israeli poetry related to the Akedah/The Binding of Isaac. Then we’ll blow shofar (again) and conclude the service. I’m looking forward to sharing these poems with you (in English translation along with the Hebrew); I’ve been studying Israeli poetry online since the start of the pandemic with Rachel Korazim, an amazing teacher who lives in Tel Aviv-Jaffa. Rachel just taught us these poems last week and I found them incredibly moving. I think you will as well.

Finally, we are working on some great programs and gatherings for Sukkot and Shemini Atzeret, including sharing Sukkot with guests from the community, lulav and etrog shaking and parading, eating and learning in the sukkah, and joyful singing and dancing with the Torah. Stay tuned for details.

I can’t wait to be with you in Greenport next week!

Wishing you a shanah tovah u’metukah – a good, sweet new year,

Rabbi Debra Cantor