As we celebrate the start of the New Year at Rosh Hashanah, just at the beginning of September, we sense the changes around us, and recognize the cycle of life in our personal, unique ways.

Sometimes we feel that at the start of the High Holyday season, at Rosh Hashanah, and Yom Kippur. For many of us, we really feel that during Sukkot.

For those of us who live in the wall-to-wall climate control Sukkot reawakens understandings that are too easily taken for granted. It forces us to reconnect with food chains and ecosystems, to reaffirm our awareness that, despite our normal existence in carefully controlled environments, we are all passengers on "spaceship Earth." The rhythms and patterns of the natural order, and the quality of its equilibrium, will affect our lives.

When we spend time in the Sukkah, we get a unique chance to experience the natural world. We are subject to wind and rain, hot and cold, sunlight and moonlight; birds and bugs directly interact with us- and that which we are trying to eat. We are reminded of our dependence on nature, and of our need to protect it.

Once again this year we have several opportunities to take part in the celebration of the holiday.  Several upcoming services, and all our student classes at Temple Beth Ami will be held in our ‘Super-Sukkah’ during the holiday.  A Sukkot holiday guide is also available at the Temple.

Some of the events in our Sukkah this year include:
Friday night, September 20th we will have shabbat services in the sukkah.  Cantor Kenny Ellis will help lead services at 8 pm, and we will once again host a surprise visitor to our Sukkah.  Previous visitors included 442nd Veteran/Medal of Honor Winner George Sakato, Tariq Altas from SCV Islamic Center, Father Vivian Ben Lima, Rev. Canon Lynn Jay, Rev. John Shaver and Rev. Ricky Hoyt.

Sunday evening, Sept. 22nd at 6:00 PM, we will be hosting our annual wine and cheese social at the Blazer Family Sukkah.

On Monday evening, Sept. 23rd at 7:00 PM we will be hosting a special information night for March of the Living at the Blazer Family Sukkah.  MOL is an annual international trip to Poland and Israel, which is open to 11th and 12th graders.  This is the first time an organized group from the Santa Clarita Valley will be taking part in this amazing experience.

And don’t miss out on Simchat Torah, which comes at the end of Sukkot in what is always a raucous good time. We rejoice with the Torah with music, dance, food and drink Thursday night, September 26th at 7:00 PM. Take part in unrolling the entire Torah scroll as we complete the yearly cycle of reading, and begin a new one.  For those who are able to come early, we will be having pizza at 6:00 PM, immediately following religious school.

And just around the corner is the Celebration of Life-Animal Service, October 5th at 10 AM, as we bring our pets to shul for a special blessing, and read from the story of Noah.  This is the 13th year of this special tradition.

The month ahead is filled with wonderful opportunities to be together, and so much to celebrate.  We hope it is the beginning of an even more wonderful year.

LE-SHANAH TOVAH TIKATEVU -- MAY YOU BE INSCRIBED FOR A GOOD YEAR!

The evening of August 5 marks the beginning of the Hebrew month of Elul.  This is the final month of before Rosh Hashanah. August, therefore, also begins our run-up to the High Holidays.

The whole month of Elul is a process of preparing ourselves for the as Yamim Noraim, Days of Trembling or Days of Awe. In some synagogues the shofar is blown after every morning service. Many people also visit the graves of their parents and of other loved ones, recalling those who have made an important impact on us in the previous years, and whose memories we cherish as a source of inspiration for the coming years as well.

As part of the process of preparing ourselves for the coming High Holy Days, we begin to wish each other in person and in writing shanah tovah—a good New Year. The traditional greetings are Shanah Tovah ("A good year"); or Le-shanah tovah tikatevu ("May you be inscribed for a good year (in the Book of Life)"; or Le-shanah tovah u-metukah tikateivu ("May you be inscribed for a good and sweet year").

This year try creating a family plan.  Lay out what activities and goals you have with those you love.  Parents as well as, children, (kids and adults), can take part in this.  Plan your vacations for the coming year.  Set economic goals, budgets and savings plans.  Assess whether you have met previous goals, and work towards a realistic expectation for what you can accomplish in the coming year and years.

The High Holidays are the time for undertaking this kind of inventory.  We should do this type of work individually, but also with those around us, the people who make up our support, our network, our team.

For those of us involved with the preparation of programs and services for Temple Beth Ami we reflect on the previous year, concentrate on our current state of affairs as we also create a vision of tomorrow. Our congregation continues to grow at a rapid pace and our synagogue programming continues to improve dramatically, to meet these needs.

This year we are committing as a congregation to reaching out, as well as reaching in.  We realize there are literally thousands of Jews in the Santa Clarita Valley who remain unaffiliated.  We need your help in bringing people in.  We need to be placed in contact with them, so you can help by making sure that people you meet are on our mailing and e-mail list.  We also want to make sure that everyone already part of the Temple Beth Ami family is connected, especially through our very successful Havurah program.  If you are not yet a part of a havurah, contact Rena Slabich at havurah@templebethami.org.

This June I celeberated my 13 year anniversary with Temple Beth Ami.  I want to thank everyone who has participated and lent their energy to making this such a wonderful community.  Like a Bar Mitzvah I feel I am still at the beginning of a journey. Temple Beth Ami’s amazing growth has been made possible through the hard work of so many of our congregants, board members and volunteers, parents and students.  The road ahead is challenging and exciting.  But with all of our continued commitment, we will assuredly have much to be proud of this time next year as well.

LE-SHANAH TOVAH TIKATEVU -- MAY YOU BE INSCRIBED FOR A GOOD YEAR!