Rabbi's Blog

Sorry for the error in my original message. (And now adding more to your inbox)
And, thanks to those who so thoughfully and respectfuly pointed it out to me.

Corrected message below.

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TI Community,
     Tomorrow night begins the holiday of Purim. By now you have seen all the promotion for our holiday celebrations here at TI. Please check out the Tidbits and the webpage for details on the Megillah reading and Cabaret on Saturday night as well as the Megillah readings and carnival on Sunday. There is lots going on and something for everyone.
     In the midst of our preparations to celebrate, it has been impossible, and rightly so, to think about celebrating without recognizing what is going on in Israel and Gaza. There have certainly been other times in the past when events in Israel, or throughout the world, have made the revelry of Purim seem incoherent. This year, however, seems different.
     In 1991, I was gearing up to return to Israel on Volunteers for Israel in the midst of the first Gulf War. I was making preparations for both Purim and my trip as I watched closely the nightly scud missile attacks from Iraq. It was difficult to think about getting into the spirit of the holiday. Then, in 2003, as Melissa and I were in Israel for my year of Rabbinical School, our entry into Purim coincided with the beginning of the second Gulf War. Needless to say, our celebration was guarded then as well.
     Now, we face a very different time. Israel is engaged in a horrible conflict with Hamas. We continue to be in the aftermath of the deadly and horrifying attacks on October 7th. We are on day number 168 since over 130 hostages have remained held and kept from their families. We continue to see the devastation of Gaza, the deaths of thousands of civilians, and a humanitarian crisis.
     We all have different emotions about these realities and none of them make it simple to enter into a holiday of joy. We are told in the Talmud that, “When we enter into Adar, we increase our joy.” Sometimes increasing our joy comes naturally and sometimes it does not.
     There have been many conversations among Jewish professionals and lay people planning Purim this year as to how to proceed. Here is my take:
     At any moment in our lives we walk a line between pure joy and pure sadness. Most of the time, we are somewhere in the middle. It is not good or realistic to spend time at the polls for very long. And, even when we are closer to one than the other, there are moments that pull us back the other way. I think of times at a shivah when people are recounting a memory of the person who died and within the story are going back and forth between crying and laughing. Even if we find ourselves these days in sadness, it is appropriate to bring out joyful moments as well.
     We need Purim. We need celebrations. And, we need to temper the joy. Purim can, and hopefully will, be a boost to our souls but, this year is not one to go all out in our celebration. There will be moments throughout the day when our joy will be interrupted by our attention being drawn to Israel, Gaza, and other places of strife or devastation around the world. Our energy will go back and forth.
     This is the way of life.
Shabbat Shalom & Purim Sameyach,
Rabbi Werbow

Shalom TI Community,

Today is day 35, preparing to enter into a fifth Shabbat, since the horrible attack on Israel. It is also day 35 that 240 individuals have been held captive in Gaza. It has been 35 days that reservists have had to be away from their families and 35 days that thousands of Israelis have fled from their homes in boarder communities in both the north and the south. It is also 35 days that civilians in Gaza have had their lives upended - losing loved ones, leaving their homes and fearing for their safety as Israel responds to the attacks from Hamas.

Today is day 35 since we, here in America, outside of Israel, have felt separate from a land we love, while at the same time never feeling closer. 35 days of feeling alone among the general community while also being grateful for the support of our neighbors. And, 35 days balancing feeling helpless while continuing to do what we can.

Many people have done what they can to support those that are suffering in the face of the war between Israel & Hamas. As time goes by we need to strengthen ourselves that we will need to do some of this work for quite a while. One area that we hope we will not have to put in additional effort for very long is the hostages.

Yes, we are in the 35th day dealing with a world that is forever changed. So to, the hostages and their families are continuing to do all they can towards the release of their loved ones.

As a congregation, we have been paired with two of the Hostages to keep them in mind, even as we keep in mind all of the 240 hostages. Shiri Weiss, 53 and her daughter, Noga Weiss, 18, are being held hostage in Gaza, abducted by Hamas terrorists, when gunmen attacked Kibbutz Be’eri.
Shiri’s husband and Noga’s father, Ilan Weiss, is defined as missing. He left the house at 7:15 that morning to join the kibbutz emergency squad and hasn’t been heard from since.

Shiri is an accountant, she is always the one who organizes every family trip.

Noga loves hanging out with her friends and working with children.

As we find out more about them, we will share.

The families of the hostages have set up organizations and websites to inform people of their family members being held captive and to elicit help in redeeming them.

The overall organization is the Hostages and Missing Families Forum.
They have suggested two actions. Both involve a short, 15 second phone call a day. Through the site 1 Min A Day, one can find the contact information for their Senators and Representative. There is a script on the page you can follow or you can merely state that you are calling to be sure they know that it is day ___ since the hostages have been taken and that you ask them to do all they can to have them released.
 
My friend Rachel, mother of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, can be seen in this video asking for a similar call to be made to the White House. When you click on this link to see the video, you’ll also see the phone number for making this call.
 
Earlier this week, I asked for people who would be able to host people coming to town for the rally or who had air mattresses for people who would stay at the synagogue. Many people responded and, right now, we have what we need. If you have volunteered as a host, I will get you specific information Sunday or Monday. If you offered an air mattress, they are not needed at this time but if a group contacts me last minute that might change.

If you are planning on attending the rally and have not yet let me know, you can do so by clicking here to email me. For those who have let me know they will be attending the rally, on Sunday or Monday, I will send to the group more details of where we can try and meet up at the rally. Some may try to meet at metro stations and others may be gathering at the Mall.
Also, if you are interested in wearing a TI t-shirt at the rally, we have a limited amount. You can purchase one on Sunday or Monday here at the synagogue.

What do we do when faced with such internal turmoil that is coming from the events of the war? We gather. We support each other. We take care of ourselves. We do what we can to help.

Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Werbow

Last Shabbat, as part of my drash, I spoke of empathy. We looked at empathy for Avraham and Sarah as well as for the Israelis embroiled in a horrific war with Hamas. I also shared of empathy for civilians in Gaza who are affected by this war.

One thing that enhances our empathy is personal experiences that give us more information from which to base our empathic understanding. Those who have served in the military have additional experiences that can increase their understanding and empathy of what those in the war are going through.

With this in mind, I begin this week’s message with an ask. Next Shabbat is November 11th, Veteran’s Day. In our Shabbat morning service we will make note of the veterans in our congregation. We have an extensive list but I’m sure that, due to new members joining and people we may have inadvertently missed in the past, it isn’t complete. If you served, even if you think we have your information, please click here to email me the branch of military you were in, your rank, the years you served and where you were stationed.

Last night, I attended the “Beyond Words” niggun session led by Rabbi Deborah Sacks Mintz. It was good to see some of you there. It was incredible to be in a space with powerful music expressing both the solemnity and intensity of the moment but also lifting us in joy together. Perhaps the most incredible thing was the lack of words. We all need that space from time to time. We are inundated with news reports and social media feeds. We are constantly discussing with those we agree with and with those we disagree with. Sometimes, we just need to go beyond the words.

That being said, words, and how we use them, are important. I want TI to be a place where we can share words that heal, words that lift up the discourse of the conversation and words that allow others to understand what we think and believe. These words are also meant for us to hear and listen as well. We should receive the words of others not as attacks or as an attempt to persuade us but as a means understand the other’s position.

To this end, in addition to the Israel resource page, I am adding a section on my blog (which you can find by clicking here) that contains resources people find helpful during this time. Examples are educational sites, podcasts or poems and prayers. If people send me materials of places where they have found hizzuk – strength – during this time, I will curate them into the site.

Before people ask, yes, I know this is the third rail of TI but I believe it is important that we have places to share and to hear from others. There will be a range of opinions expressed. My posting a piece there does not mean that I agree with all or even any of what it written, but that a congregant found them thoughtful and worth the time to read or listen to them. I will place one layer of editorial control -- I will not post anything that I find to be calling for, or justifying, intentional violence against civilians, or that dehumanizes Israelis or Palestinians.

Lastly, we are coming up on the end of four weeks following the attacks of October 7th. Each individual death is marked by a mourning period of Shivah, Shloshim and Shanah, a week, a month and a year. The end of Shloshim will be this coming week. There are two events on Sunday to mark the conclusion of this period. One is the weekly vigil at the Red Cross to demand the release of the hostages in Gaza. The second is a gathering at Beth El in Bethesda to come together as a community to mark this time.
See the ads below for information.
 
It’s time for Shabbat. A time when we can all use some peacefulness.
It is hard while we know there are those held hostage.
It is hard while we know Israelis struggling with injuries from the attacks.
It is hard while Israelis continue to head to shelters.
It is hard when friends, family and others are in the IDF.
It is hard when civilians in Gaza are fleeing for their lives.
It is hard when civilians in Gaza are losing their lives.
It is hard when there is so much uncertainty of the future.
It is hard when we just don’t know what to say or do.
This is precisely when we need Shabbat.
 
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Werbow

Shalom to the TI Community,

Yes, we are still (and will be for some time) seeking shleimut, full and enduring peacefulness. The vicious attacks against Israel have sent us all into a very unsettled existence. 

I would like to share with you another way that Jews have traditionally responded to communal calamities. They did so through communal fasts. In addition to the full day (25 hour) fasts of Yom Kippur and Tisha b'Av, there are four other daytime fasts on the Jewish calendar. The fasts all focus us on calamities that befell the Jewish people, mostly in the times leading up to the destruction of the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem.

In addition, over the years, individual communities have called for communal fasts when they faced plague, famine or war. These fasts were meant as a way to bring the community together and to give individuals a different way to focus their attention on the matter at hand.

Fasting is not a method of directing one's attention that works for everyone. For some, it evokes a theological view that our fast is a mode of prayer to God in order to elicit a response. Even if this is the theology for some, it doesn't have to be for all. For others, prayer and fasting is a way for us to feel more united with the community and connected with the Divine. It is not asking God for action but rather for emotional strength and support to face the difficulties we currently see ourselves in.

Many around the country and the world are organizing a communal fast for tomorrow, Thursday, October 12. The fast will begin at dawn (5:51 am in DC) and continue until nightfall (7:01 pm in DC). The conclusion of the fast will coincide with the coffee gathering at TI from 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm for people to come and share thoughts and feelings about the attacks on Israel. Even if people are fasting, others should eat and drink as they are doing throughout the day. 

If you would like more information on communal fasts, and halachik implications of the current calendar timing on this fast, please click here. 

As part of a communal fast, there are additions to the traditional liturgy. A global mincha (afternoon) prayer service is being held at 5:45 and people can log in to view it by clicking here.

We will pause our conversations for part of the mincha service but not all of it, since we had the gathering planned and some people are already are planning on coming to share and discuss. Both are important and we will make space for both.

As I mentioned above, fasting is one way Jews have, over the years, responded to calamity. This is not the only way. Each person should find what works for them. Be sure to be taking care of your physical needs (sleep, food, outdoor time) and find outlets for your emotions. Maybe some will share tomorrow evening what has been working for them.

If speaking with me would be helpful, please let me know and we can set up a time to talk in-person, on the phone or on zoom.

l'Shalom,
Rabbi Werbow

TI Community,

I am sure you, like me, have your heads full of all the traumaic events enfolding around us. Unfortunately, they keep coming. This weekend was marred by violence in Israel and the details of the killing of Tyre Nichols in Memphis. Our hearts are heavy and we continue to strive for how we can take some meaningful steps in response.

In addition, over the last few months there have been an alarming number of incidents of gun violence in Ward 4 of DC, where Tifereth Israel is located. Clergy of various houses of worship have come together to think of ways to minimize the number of these incidents in the future. The outcome of these discussions is that we need to start by bringing the community together in solidarity, in prayer, and in conversation. These are some meaningful steps we can take.

To fulfill these goals, there has been a 72 hour vigil planned for this week. It will begin tomorrow, Monday evening, at 7:00 and continue until 7:00 Thursday evening. Throughout this period, there will be at least one house of worship open for people to gather, converse and pray. You can find the schedule by clicking here.
Some of the times will have structured conversations to brainstorm ways that the community can work together to confront the issue. Some of the time will be for people to have informal conversations to get to know others and offer encouragement and support. Lastly, some of the time will be devoted to organized prayer or individual prayer. All are welcome and encouraged to attend. You don't have to live in Ward 4, or even DC, to show your support and concern.

TI will be participating in the vigil in two main ways.

1.       On Tuesday and Wednesday, TI will be open for the community to gather from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. As a part of this time we will hold a Mincha service each day at 1:00. We will include special readings and prayers as part of the service. Mincha is a good way to take a break in your day and reset. If you can arrange a lunch break at that time, come to TI to participate. If you have room in your schedule at all during that 11:00-3:00 time, come and meet others in our community.

2.       On Wednesday evening, the community gathering will be at Emory Fellowship (6100 Georgia Avenue NW) with whom TI has had a long relationship of collaboration. Attending the gathering there will be a good time for our communities to come back together after this long period of Covid has kept us apart.

For the times at TI, on Tuesday and Wednesday, it will be good to have an idea of who is available to come. Specifically, we will need people to be at the entrance to open the door for people and direct them to the sanctuary. We will also need to have a minyan at 1:00. To sign up for a time slot, visit this Google spreadsheet and put your name in the time slot you think you will be able to be at TI. On the sheet, there are slots for people attending and people helping at the door. The 1:00 time slot has more spaces to be sure we have enough for a minyan.

I hope you are able to join us in these gatherings,
Rabbi Werbow

​​​​​​​Join the Ultimate Jewish Book Club!

     Almost exactly a year ago (according to the Jewish calendar), I sent out the email you can find below in the green box.
     I introduced the idea of reading a section of the Torah, of the prophets (Nevi'im), and of the Writings (Ketuvim) each day. In doing so, without biting off too much each day, one can finish reading the entire TaNaKh in a year. This is all laid out below.
     Over the holidays, I shared that one of the ways I missed the mark this year was by not keeping up and not completing this task. I got behind a few times and caught back up. Other times I just needed to skip to get back onto the schedule. But other times, I just never got back on track.
     So, it's a new year. We can all commit (or recommit) ourselves to endeavors we want to complete but have fallen short in the past.
     We read the Torah each year and personally I find that each time I do I notice something new, whether it is new meaning, an insight I hadn't had before or a connection to my life that would not have touched me in the same way in the past. I expect that reading the TaNaKh can bring a similar result when done in a systemic and regular way (at least I'm hoping it will). I know that there are some sections that are more difficult to make our way through but there are in the Torah too. I will try to share insights I have as I read this year and welcome others to do the same. You can see in the email below how to sign up to join a conversation that hopefully will be more active this year than last, starting with me.

But that's not all, if you are looking for something new (or another renewed experience), I am restarting the Shabbat Morning Mishnah Study before Saturday Shabbat services. Join on Zoom or in-person, as we make our way through another section of the Mishnah. This Shabbat, we will begin our journey through Mishnah Shekalim. You can find the first couple of chapters here and here. In the future, more will be placed on the TI website.

I look forward to beginning anew in many ways. It'll be great to have many of you learning along with me.

l'Shalom,
Rabbi Werbow

​​​​​​​
     Usually, when I am referring to something from a biblical text, I’ll say it is from the Jewish Bible. This evades the conversation about saying Old Testament and its relationship with the New Testament (Which I refer to as the Christian Bible. However, an easier way to deal with this, for those in the know is to refer to it as the תַּנַ״ךְ (TaNaKh).

     תַּנַ״ךְ, as indicated by the two apostrophes, is an acronym. It is made up of three sections, the Torah (the first five books), the Nevi’im (the Prophets) and Ketuvim (the Writings). When taking the first letter of each word we get תַּנַ״ךְ (with the Khaf of Ketuvim changing to a final letter and a Kh sound instead).

     Among Conservative Jews there is a general familiarity with the material in the Torah but less so when it comes to Nevi’im and Ketuvim (NaKh). This includes your rabbi. Yes, I have read many parts of these sections and have studied some of the books in more detail but still have nowhere near the kind of grasp on them as I do the Torah. This is not necessarily surprising when we read the entirety of the Torah each year but don’t generally do so with NaKh.

     So, I am looking for others who want to go on this journey with me. Starting with Simchat Torah, I will be reading a section of Torah, Nevi’im and Ketuvim each day so I can complete the whole TaNaKah in one year. This will mean reading roughly 1/7 of the weekly Torah reading, one chapter of Nevi’im and one chapter of Ketuvim. Sometimes we will have to read more than one Aliyah or more than one chapter but this will be the general approach. There are resources that I will share to help give more insight into the texts and there will be an email group that you can subscribe to to share insights, questions or things that the text made you think about. Hopefully this will lead to conversations about the texts and deeper understanding for us all.

     You can join this conversation by sending a blank email to TaNaKh_with_TI+subscribe@googlegroups.com or by sending me an email requesting to join.

     To assist in keeping track of where we are, I have begun a document where you can find the daily reading from each section as well as links to find those texts in Sefaria, an online library or Jewish texts. You can click here to view this listing.

     There will be more updates in the future as we complete books of the bible and move on to new ones.

     I hope you come along on this journey with us.

     Rabbi Werbow

Do you have an aversion to being the first to sign up for things?
Are you waiting to be sure there are others going on the Civil Rights journey
​​​​​​​before you sign up?

Are you like those who said:

"So glad T.I. is doing this trip. Thank you!"

Well wait no more!!!

A dozen TI members have already indicated their interest in traveling to Atlanta, Mongomery and Birmingham.

Join with them and Tifereth Israel on this
Civil Rights journey!

October 30 - November 1

Travel with us to
Atlanta, Montgomery and Birmingham

To register and make your deposit
click here

For more information
(inlcuding itinerary and pricing)
click here​​​​​​​

For answers to many of your questions
click here

Our trip is underwritten by the
TI New Initiatives Fund

Some financial subsidies are available

​​​​​​​Interested?
Contact Rabbi Werbow or Rabbi Kelley

Deadline: $200 deposit due August 30
Full payment due September 29

Visits will include:

• Equal Justice Initiative’s Memorial to Peace & Justice 
• Equal Justice Initiative’s Legacy Museum
• Southern Poverty Law Center Memorial 
• Edmund Pettus Bridge
• Freedom Park
• 16th Street Baptist Church
• Birmingham Civil Rights Institute

Experiences will include:

• An exploration of the evolution of racial oppression from slavery to mass incarceration 
• Contextualization talk of events leading to Rosa Parks arrest and bus boycott 
• Meet with someone who took part in the Bloody Sunday march at 11 years old and hear their story
• Walking in the footsteps of history across the Edmund Pettus Bridge
• An introduction of Birmingham and its crucial role in the Civil Rights Movement
• A walking tour of Freedom Park & 16th Street Baptist Church by a Reverend who was a Civil Rights worker in Birmingham in the 50s & 60s and was arrested and had the dogs & hoses turned on him

Tifereth Israel Community,

Making final preparations for Shabbat always includes a look back at the week that was. This is even a Kavanah (an intention) that people have throughout Kabbalat Shabbat. They use each of the six Psalms to reflect on the six days of the week.

As I do so this week, it is impossible to not focus on the wonderful Shavuot observance we had beginning on Saturday night. Unfortunately I missed the last day, sick in bed, but I heard good things about it as well.

The first level of reflection is gratitude. The holiday would not have been so fulfilling and joyful without the efforts of many. First on the list is Mark Berch. To coordinate the Tikkun, Mark coordinates with representatives from Segulah, Oven Shalom, Fabrangen and Shirat Hanefesh. While we didn’t join with Ohev Shalom and Segulah this year, there was still much back and forth before that was decided. He then did a wonderful job soliciting leaders of our Tikkun sessions and slotting people into the various times. We studied all night with insightful presentations. I recognize how much time and effort goes into making this a reality and I share my thanks.

I also want to thank our service coordinators who, in addition to finding leaders for our regular Shabbat services, found people for Shavuot as well. Myrna Goldman (Pesukei D’Zimrah), Diana Zurer (Shacharit & Musaf), Simcha Kuritzky (Torah Readers), Barbara White (Haftarah) and Iris Lav (Floor Gabbai) are always at work filling the slots. I also thank those who continue to fill all the openings for service leadership.

As I mention each week, our services wouldn’t run without the participation and leadership of so many people. Thanks to all those who led services, chanted Torah & Haftarah and in any way stepped in to help run the services. Special for Shavuot was the chanting of the Book of Ruth (again something I missed) and am glad that we had Jevera Temsky, David Rubin, Rabbi Seidel and Myrna Goldman to read this year. In addition to those I’ve already listed, I want to thank Jason Kimelman-Block who serves as our Ritual Vice President. He is my partner in thinking through our services and discussing what needs to be taken care of in planning.

All of this coordination flows together, and through, the staff that supports us all. Jevera works with a remarkable team with Sheri, Delanie and (a new addition) Samer. A holiday, more so than even a regular Shabbat, has many moving pieces. The staff is constantly pivoting to face unexpected situations (like the air going out) and to do their best in supporting all the workings of the holiday while at the same time looking ahead to what’s next week, next month and next year.

So, I hope that people can carry into Shabbat the energy of Shavuot, which infuses us with Torah, gives us a jolt of Jewish wisdom and tradition and places on our lips sweet tastes of cheesecake and words of gratitude.

Thanks to all & Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Werbow

Tifereth Israel Community,

If you are joining us at the rally tomorrow, we will be meeting on the SW corner of 3rd St. and Madison Dr., NW. between 8:45 am - 8:55 am, then we will walk over to the rally location together.

If you have trouble finding the TI group, contact:

Rabbi Werbow
mwerbow@tifereth-israel.org
412-901-4922
 
For more information about the rally and to register, click here.  

Shalom,

I’m sure you join me in concern over the incursion of Russia into Ukraine. In addition to the general Ukrainian population, there are Jewish communities across Ukraine that are either hunkering down or fleeing for their safety. They are living in fear and many are trying to flee to the west of the country. Empty cash machines and gas stations with no gas are making this a difficult task. We can only imagine what it is like to have to endure this and we offer our support, including our prayers for peace and safety.

Yesterday afternoon, I joined a “Prayer for Peace for Ukraine” event that was coordinated by Masorti Olami (the world wide Conservative Movement) and The Schechter Institutes (which includes the Conservative rabbinical school in Israel). Among other sponsors were the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, the Rabbinical Assembly and Mercaz. You can view the program by clicking here.

Shared below is one of several specific prayers for peace that have been authored in response to the war in Ukraine.

While we may feel unable to do anything about this horrible situation, there are a number of outlets for us to provide assistance to the Ukraine community.

Some of these include:
The Schechter Institutes Ukraine Campaign

Masorti Olami Emergency Campaign for Masorti/Conservative Communities in Ukraine

The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington - Ukraine Emergency Fund

The Ukrainian Red Cross Emergency Appeal
(I love that, when you switch the currency to dollars, on a Ukranian website, two of the donation levels are $18 and $36.)

In addition to helping in whatever limited way we can, I can’t help but keep in mind those in Ukraine who are putting their lives on the line to defend their country. Yes, their military is in action but so are many not in the military who are doing what they can against the overwhelming attack by Russia. There are also many in Russia who are risking their personal freedoms by voicing opposition to the war. Thousands have taken to the streets of Moscow to protest Putin's attack on Ukraine. They were chanting "No to war" in central Moscow.  By doing so, they face serious repercussions in a country where political opposition leaders have been jailed and poisoned. Already over 1,300 people have been "detained" for protesting the invasion into Ukraine. Their actions strengthen the call for us to speak up and speak out against this and all inhumane acts of violence. We need to even have the courage to do so in the face of putting our own liberties at risk.

We prepare to enter Shabbat and a day of peace while at the same time know that those in Ukraine will have anything but a day of peace as they deal with great uncertainty and threat. We pray that they soon experience peace as well.

Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Werbow

Dear TI Family,

We share our profound gratitude with those who have served our country in times of conflict and peace. With integrity and dignity, you defended our nation and may our appreciation be heard here on earth and in the heavens above.

God of our fathers and our mothers, please bless our veterans and protect them as they have protected us.

I would like to honor individuals this Shabbat before the Prayer for Our Country. To do so, we would like to compile as accurate a list of our veterans as possible.

If you are a veteran or know a veteran in the congregation, please reply and share the name, branch served and other information you want to share so that I can recognize all of our veterans on Saturday.

​​​​​Shalom TIers,

I hope everyone had a good and sweet Rosh Hashanah and that you are prepared for a meaningful Yom Kippur. We are glad that we were able to provide a variety of engagement opportunities for Rosh Hashanah for all of our congregants, friends and family, from the youngest to the oldest. We had both in-person and virtual programming for Tots and for our school children. The teens were able to get to know Rabbi Kelley and there were both virtual and in-person services for the adults. A similar range of opportunities is scheduled for Yom Kippur as well. Please look for a separate email with links to the various services and programs.

Based on our attendance at the Day 1 Rosh Hashanah services, and the general interest that is normal for Kol Nidrei, there is a slight concern that we will go over our capacity limit of 200 people in the Wolman Sanctuary service. If this is the case, we will need to direct people who had not planned to do so to go to the service in the Cherner. Both services will be meaningful experiences and I will be delivering my Drash at both services. It is also possible that we will reach the capacity of 100 people in the Cherner, too. If this happens, we will have a screen set up on the 16th Street steps for people to watch the Wolman service instead of having to go home and miss it completely.

Just a couple of other items for Yom Kippur and Sukkot:

Empty Your Pockets - This year, the Social Action Committee has designated Homes Not Borders as the recipient of our collection. Their mission is to “to provide the refugee, Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) and asylum-seeking population of the D.C. area with what they need to thrive and feel at home in the United States.” You can find information about this organization at https://www.homesnotborders.org. You can contribute to Homes Not Boarders either at https://www.homesnotborders.org/donate-money/ or through the TI Marvin Caplan Fund, on the TI website (https://tiferethdc.shulcloud.com/payment.php), adding a note that the donation is intended for "Homes Not Borders.” If you are coming to TI for Kol Nidrei, you can also bring your contribution with you as in the past.

Ask the Rabbi - This year, on Yom Kippur afternoon, immediately before Mincha I will hold a Q & A session. All varieties of questions, mostly about Jewish topics, will be entertained. Guidelines include: No TI administrivia and the ability for me to say, “I don’t know.” The Q & A session will begin in the Sanctuary at 5:00 pm and will also be live-streamed.

Sukkot - Our Sukkah is in process and will be completed on Sunday. Thanks goes to Richard Gryziak and the 7th grade Himmelfarb students for their efforts so far. Once people grab their snacks following our services on Sukkot and Shabbat Sukkot, people can make their way to the sukkah to eat and shmooze. During the week, the sukkah will be available for people to use as well. No sign up is necessary. Enjoy! 

The month of Tishrei, filled with all these special holidays, gives us much time to connect with our TI community and to have many meaningful and joyful experiences. Hopefully I will see many of you at services or at our home for our Sukkot Open House on Thursday, September 23, 4:00-8:00.

Tzom Kal (an easy fast) to those who are fasting, a meaningful Yom Kippur and a joyous Sukkot to all,
Rabbi Werbow