Jewish Journeys

Rosh Hashanah Evening

September 6, 2021

As your rabbi I believe in a concept of an all-inclusive Jewish community, without

judgment, embracing each one of you, for who you are.

This is YOUR Jewish journey, not mine. I embrace each of you wherever you are right
now on your path and wherever your path leads you. And I hope you will invite me to
join you on your paths.

Right now I ask you to ask yourself a question:

WHY ARE YOU HERE, IN OUR TEMPLE OR BY LIVESTREAM, THIS EVENING?

For some of you the answer is that the high holidays give you a sense of solemn
spirituality that no other time of the year brings to you, a necessary part of being human.

For some of you participating in the high holidays brings back wonderful memories of
holiday celebrations as a child.

For some of you, you come because you feel you HAVE to and if you don’t you feel
guilty but you’re bored while you’re here and can’t wait for the service to end.

For some of you the holidays really give you a connection to God that affirms your
commitment to your faith.

For some of you if you don’t come you’ll never hear the end of it at home.

For each of you, your answer is YOUR OWN, and I affirm every one of your answers.

I’m having you ask yourself “WHY YOU ARE HERE?” because I want you to figure
out for yourself how your Judaism is important to you.

I believe that as a Jewish community we need to empower EVERY JEW to feel connected
to Judaism in whatever way he, she or they feels connected.

So often disconnected Jews think that when they come into a community organization
they will be judged for what they don’t do, expected to participate on a level in which
they do not feel comfortable, and instead of being embraced for who they are, they
believe they will be pushed away when they do not conform.

My message is that I embrace all Jews – And their families –

seeking their Jewish paths to spirituality.

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The concept fundamental principle is that we accept you for who you are, without
judgment. Of course the Jewish community promotes Jews marrying Jews, but if you’re
intermarried, we welcome you and embrace you.

If you are the child of intermarried parents, we embrace you.

If you are not Jewish but your spouse is Jewish, we embrace you.

If you are a member of the LGBTQIA community, we embrace you.

Whether your pronouns are he/him/his, she/her/hers or they/them/their, we embrace you

If you come from a non-European ethnic background, we embrace you.

Our community’s ideals are to accept all Jews for who you are, all those exploring their
relationship to the Jewish community, where you are in your Jewish journey, regardless
of HOW you feel Jewish. If you have a connection to the Jewish community and want to
explore how that Judaism is meaningful to you, then I want to be that conduit to help you
commit to our community.

No other time brings as many people to services as the High Holidays.

As I began my reflections this morning, I asked you, Why are you here?

As you determine how you find Judaism to be meaningful in your life I can be a guide on
YOUR path of Jewish self-exploration by offering models for moral improvement,
greater synagogue participation, repairing the world, and helping your families.

But I believe that in all of these programs and discussions, in all of my sermons, I do not
see myself as telling you how to be good Jews. During sermons I’ll offer models of moral
behavior, suggestions of how to support Israel; and views of how to improve our society.

When I preach I do so to expand your spiritual commitment through moral actions. When
we present programs to expand your spiritual commitment and that nurture your soul.

But it’s not up to me to order you to come to Temple. It’s not up to me to command you
how to be ethical people. It’s not up to me to make you feel guilty when you don’t come
to a service or a program.

Rather, it’s up to me to have that personal relationship with you so that I can help you
find your own sense of spirituality.

And I ask you to allow me into your lives, so that I can walk with you on your journeys
of self-exploration.

And I embrace all of you!

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The bottom line is that ultimately when I ask the question, “why are you here?”

The answer is yours.

And it’s not up to me to tell you why Judaism is important to you.

Instead, it’s up to me to help you define for yourself, how YOUR Judaism is important to
YOU.

The answer is yours.

And YOUR answer…becomes…part of OURS.

Copyright © 2021 Rabbi Jeffrey Kurtz-Lendner