Dear Friends,
It was wonderful to be with all of you as we welcomed the new year. The year that has ended was challenging and seeing our community come together yesterday was more powerful, and important, than ever. I am so very grateful for the privilege of serving this sacred community.
I have received requests for copies of the words shared from the bimah during Rosh Hashanah and am honored to share them with you.
Rabbi Cohen’s Rosh Hashanah Morning Sermon
TSTI President Bryan Bloom’s High Holy Day Appeal
Erev Rosh Hashanah Clergy Teachings
As you know, Monday marks one year since the October 7th attack. It is, and will forever remain, a dark day in our people’s history. The Federation commemoration is unfortunately at capacity, but this evening, Shabbat Shuvah—the Shabbat of Return—we will take time in the intimacy of our TSTI family to reflect on this sad anniversary. We will welcome in Shabbat and take time for reflection, mourning the 1,200 souls who were murdered one year ago. In the presence of our Holocaust Torah scroll, we will focus on Jewish resilience, drawing strength from one another as we enter the new year.
I hope to see you this evening and look forward to continuing our High Holy Day worship with you on Yom Kippur.
May this period—the Eseret Yamei Tshuvah, the Ten Days of Repentance between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur—be a time of introspection and renewed communal commitment for us all.
Shana Tova my friends,
Rabbi Daniel Cohen