Touching Base from inside the Days of Awe
When our small but mighty staff and lay team began planning for this year’s High Holiday season, we articulated goals around striving towards a new “newness,” rediscovering and reinventing norms, and finding more and innovative ways to connect with one another this year.
When our small but mighty staff and lay team began planning for this year’s High Holiday season, we articulated goals around striving towards a new “newness,” rediscovering and reinventing norms, and finding more and innovative ways to connect with one another this year.
These goals served us well when we came together in record numbers earlier this week for Rosh Hashanah! We've heard from many of you that celebrating the New Year with Kavana felt like attending a festival or being at summer camp: the joy of being together, the rich and diverse options of services and programs, the gorgeous weather and the beauty of being in nature! There was such a positive buzz in the air, as community members connected, reconnected, and deepened relationships with one another! Thanks to all of you who showed up and engaged so deeply in the work of the season, and especially to those who volunteered for the many different roles that it takes to run such a large and complex gathering. Here are just a couple of the many sweet comments we've received so far:
"I mean, the whole scene was incredible. Loved the location, the options, the warmth of the community."
"I think it may have been one of the best spiritual experiences I have had. It felt to me like a spiritual retreat. I loved the choice of so many different services and I definitely strolled over to all that was offered. The musical service nestled in the trees and the zen little enclave where the yoga and mindfulness was offered... talk about going with the times and thinking out of the box."
We can't wait to be back together this coming week on October 4th and 5th for Yom Kippur!
In the meantime, we thought we'd share Rabbi Jay's Rosh Hashanah sermon ("Healing Regret") with those of you who might have missed Kavana's Erev Rosh Hashanah services. The content ties directly into tomorrow morning's Mussar & Meditation event (see below for more info and the registration link).
Also, the Kavana website has now been updated to reflect the revised Yom Kippur schedule -- click here to read about our full array of offerings. We will be sending out confirmation emails to all who have registered for the High Holidays by Monday morning, so if you joined us for Rosh Hashanah or have already registered, you should be good to go. If you'd like to join us for Yom Kippur but haven't registered for the High Holidays yet, please click here to register by this Sunday, October, 2nd at latest.
Below, enjoy some photos from Rosh Hashanah, and share in the magic of the High Holidays at Kavana!
Wishing you a Shana Tova u'Metukah, and also a Shabbat Shalom,
- Liz Thompson & The Kavana Team
