L’Shanah Tovah Tikatevu!

Rosh Hashanah began last night at sundown, so I want to wish my Jewish readers (Rockdrool, Lilacspecs, Movie Maven, and all of the rest of you out there!) L’Shanah Tovah Tikatevu: may you be inscribed for a sweet year. I wrote about Rosh Hashanah and what it is last year; you can find that post here.

We’re headed to services at the temple this morning; I’m looking forward to it. To be honest, we have not gone to temple very much at all in the past few months. Today (as well as on Yom Kippur, a week from Monday) there will be a jam-packed sanctuary; the High Holidays are much like Easter and Christmas in church, because you see more people than on any other day of the year. We’ve been members of this temple since 1996 and it’s always great to see people we’ve known through the years at the High Holidays since attendance is less the rest of the time.

Something I’m looking forward to today besides seeing friends is that our temple is honoring the 17 year old.

Let me explain about High Holidays honors. There are many, many elements of the service that require assistance from someone other than the Rabbi, the Cantor, or the Gabbai. Someone at the temple (at ours, it’s the Worship Committee) selects congregants to be honored with taking care of these elements, which are things like opening the doors to the ark (where the Torahs are kept), carrying the Torahs, chanting from the Torah, leading blessings, doing readings, and other stuff. The committee typically chooses people for these honors by thinking about who has contributed to the temple, whether financially or in time and effort given, etc.

I got a call last month from the VP of Worship and Religious Affairs, and he told me that the temple wanted to honor Jim and me this year: we will be carrying the Torahs during the service at one point today. The funny thing is, because I know for sure that we did not donate above and beyond our normal dues pledge this year and we really didn’t do anything else that I would consider to be outstanding, I’m fairly certain that we are being honored for giving birth to the kid who did that fabulous landscaping project there, for his eagle rank. Which, don’t get me wrong, was a huge feat. That was one of the longest days of our life, back in 1992. But regardless, the honor is much appreciated and I’m looking forward to it.

But as I spoke with him, I was really hoping that they would honor the boy himself. I was so happy when the gentleman asked when would be a good time to contact the older boy.

So they connected on the phone later that day, and the 17 year old will be doing one of the aliyot, which is a blessing before a Torah reading. I’m so happy that he is being honored in this way; after all of the work he put into his project, he really deserves it.

After services today (which are about 3 1/2 hours long), we’ll come home for a little bit to relax and change clothes and then head over to another family’s home for dinner.

What are you doing this weekend?

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8 Comments

  • Michelle

    That is SO very cool! Out of curiosity, is the younger ok with being the only family member not being honored? I know my sister always had … issues.

    And on the note of giving, if you've given what you pledged, that may be enough judging by the finances of my church 😉 The economy is not exactly helping out where we're at!

  • The Devoted Dad

    That's great that he is being recognized. What the Eagle Scouts stand for is great. I was a scout as a kid (and stopped after my parents divorce 🙁 ) but it was a great character building group. I wish that it was more recognized in our society. As for us this weekend, we just went out to breakfast this morning to celebrate my wifes birthday (which is actually Monday) and will have church tomorrow morning. Otherwise, relaxation is key for us this weekend because we have had some crazy ones lately. -Jason

  • surprised mom

    Congratulations to you, Jim and the 17-year-old. How wonderful for you to be honored this way. Any may all of you be inscribed for a sweet year as well.
    This weekend? I worked today and am attending a baby shower tomorrow. I love family celebrations of life.

  • Melisa with one S

    Michelle: No, the younger one doesn't mind at all. He's had honors at other times. They have….issues, but not with this. haha

    Jason: Happy b-day to your wife! I hope you get that relaxation you're looking for!

    Tara: Thanks! xoxo

    Surprised mom: Thanks to you, too! (and I love family celebrations too!)

  • Mrs4444

    How cool is that?! This was interesting!

    BTW, I am listening to your SuburbanWow episode from Friday as I type this. Your son is a sweetheart! 🙂