Posted on September 24, 2024 by Rabbi David Katz
In a remarkable historical note we read in the Talmud that “The early generations of pious men would wait one hour, pray one hour, then wait one hour again.” (Berkhot 33a) In other words, those who were pious would spend an hour preparing for prayer, then pray, then take another hour to turn their thoughts back to everyday life.
And what about us, what do we do? We drive to Temple, park, greet friends, sit down in the sanctuary and wait for the service to start – all in a matter of minutes. What happened to the hour of preparation before the prayers begin? Are we less pious than our ancestors?
Each generation has its way of creating a prayerful heart. Our tradition teaches us that preparation is key no matter where we stand in Jewish history and where we are located geographically. For thousands of years Jews have observed the High Holidays and preparation has been built into our liturgical calendar. In Elul, which is the month before the holidays fall, we are directed to turn inward, become introspective, and attend to matters of the soul in order to prepare. And on the Saturday night before Rosh Hashanah there is a special service called Selichot, when we are to offer penitential prayers, sing the melodies heard on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur bringing ourselves closer to God – in order to prepare.
So it is that on September 28 at 8:00 p.m. four congregations will gather at our Temple to study and pray in order to prepare for the Holidays. Five Rabbis: Stephen Wylen, from Congregation Knesseth Israel in Bound Brook, Dan Selsberg and Cecelia Beyer of Temple Sholom in Bridgewater, and Jacob Best Adler of Kehilat Shalom in Belle Mead and I will give brief remarks about high holiday prayer and those who are present will be able to share their thoughts. Then we will pray a very short, special service to place us in the mood and frame of mind for the Holy Days.
Please join me and the Cantor on September 28 at 8:00 p.m. for Selichot, the Service of Forgiveness…in order to prepare.
L’shalom,
Rabbi David Katz
