Hear Our Voice

What is it that prompts God to appear before Moses?  There are rabbinic tales that suggest he was literally “touched by an angel,” and others that suggest he was chosen long before he was born. However, the Torah text itself may be our best witness.  As Moses is standing before the burning bush, he says to himself,

ג וַיֹּ֣אמֶר מֹשֶׁ֔ה אָסֻֽרָה־נָּ֣א וְאֶרְאֶ֔ה אֶת־הַמַּרְאֶ֥ה הַגָּדֹ֖ל הַזֶּ֑ה מַדּ֖וּעַ לֹֽא־יִבְעַ֥ר הַסְּנֶֽה: ד וַיַּ֥רְא יְיָ֖ כִּ֣י סָ֣ר לִרְא֑וֹת וַיִּקְרָא֩ אֵלָ֨יו אֱלֹהִ֜ים מִתּ֣וֹךְ הַסְּנֶ֗ה וַיֹּ֛אמֶר מֹשֶׁ֥ה מֹשֶׁ֖ה וַיֹּ֥אמֶר הִנֵּֽנִי:

“Vayomer Moshe, ‘Asurah nah va-er-eh et ha-mar-eh ha-ga-dol ha-zeh…ma-dua lo yiv-ar ha-sneh?’  Va-yar A-do-nai ki sar lir-ot va-yik-ra ei-lav E-lo-him mi-toch ha-sneh va-yo-mer, ‘Mo-she’, va-yo-mer, ‘Hi-nei-ni.’” (Exodus 3:3-4)

“And Moses said, ‘I must turn aside to look at this marvelous sight; why doesn’t the bush burn up?’  When the Lord saw that he had turned aside to look, God called out to him out of the bush.  ‘Moses!  Moses!’  He answered, ‘Hineni!’”

It is only once Moses recognizes that he must turn to look differently, pay deeper attention, not just remember but feel the cries of his people, that God calls out to him.  The pandemic, racial disharmony, historical inequality and the institutionalization of hatred burn before our eyes.  This year, let us approach Rosh Hashanah (September 18-19) and Yom Kippur (September 27-28), especially because of the remarkably different milieu in which they will take place, as a clarion call to our souls.  Turn.  Look. Discover.  

The High Holy days are annual “soul-searching” and they are on the horizon.  With them in sight, we plan to invite you into a most beautiful, inspiring and challenging set of ways to dive in. 

Here are a few important things for you to know:

1. Shma Koleinu’s professionally edited, live streamed High Holy Days will be offered “Live” according to our “traditional” schedule, via Youtube Live and Roku.
2. Our services will be led by Rabbi Scott Hausman-Weiss and Cantorial Soloist Hannah Madeleine Goodman with music by Kelly Dean, Andrew Lienhard, Daphnee Johnson, and Leo Hernandez.
3. A half hour prior to the start of each service, all registrants will have the opportunity to visit with family and friends in the “Zoom Shmooze Room.

We are indeed grateful that the vicissitudes of our day are accompanied by a technology that makes it possible to connect with others in meaningful and meaning-filled ways. We can’t wait to virtually embrace you in ways that will bring you wisdom and hope, laughter and tears, joy and wonderment.

Rabbi Scott

P.S. Registration for High Holy Days will be open on August 1.