Shabbat Shalom ~ Parashat Nitzavim-Vayeilech 2026

Shalom WJC Family,

It’s hard to believe it, but Rosh HaShanah is upon us. This will be our last clergy letter for a few weeks, but you will have plenty of opportunity to see us during that time. We are excited to begin another Jewish year of celebrating, praying, learning, growing, and resting together as the WJC community. I know that last one, ‘resting,’ may be a little unexpected on that list, but with all the complicated busyness in our lives and all the craziness in the world, a chance to rest, connect, and renew is just what many of us need. 

I hope we are able to rest, connect, and renew together  over these High Holidays and in the year to come. To aid in that goal, I want to highlight a few upcoming High Holiday-related programs we are offering, many of which are new this year:

 

Musical Selichot Service: A Spiritual Start to the High Holidays

This Saturday Night at WJC with Temple Israel Center, Shaarei Tikvah, Jewish Community Center of Harrison, and the Greenberg Hebrew Center. An annual highlight in the leadup to Rosh HaShanah, we will begin with a dessert reception at 8:30pm, followed by a soulful Selichot service where stirring instrumental music, communal prayer, and heartfelt reflections open the gates of the High Holiday season. Let ancient words and contemporary spirit guide us inward and upward, together. In music, meaning, and community—we begin the journey of return.

 

Rosh HaShanah Learning Seminar with Rabbi Jen Tobenstein and Seth Schafler

Rabbi Louis Finkelstein said, “When I pray, I talk to God; when I study, God talks to me.” At 12:00pm on the second day of Rosh HaShanah all are welcome to join Rabbi Jen and Seth in the chapel for a break from prayer and a turn to learning. These two wonderful teachers will address our theme of “Rest, Connect, Renew” through ancient text, lively discussion, and contemporary insights.

 

Guided Meditations with mindfulness master-teacher Cheryl Brause

Rosh HaShanah Day 1, Sept. 12th – 8:45-9:15am – A Meditative Prelude to Prayer and the Holiday

Yom Kippur Morning, Sept. 21st – 9:15-9:45am – A Meditative Prelude to Prayer and the Holiday

Yom Kippur Study Break – Midday Meditation on Rest, Connect, Renew, our High Holiday theme

 

“Rebuilding After the World Shatters” with noted speaker Ron Gold

Yom Kippur Study Session, Monday, September 21st – 2:30pm

Join us for a meaningful conversation with Ron Gold, a 9/11 survivor, former Wall Street executive, and founder of LeanOnWe. Drawing Jewish teaching and his own journey following a catastrophic accident that left him paralyzed, Ron will explore how we can find light, agency, and purpose when the foundations of our lives and our world begin to fracture. Check out more on Ron here.

 

Wishing you all a L’Shanah Tovah Tikateivi, may we all be written in the Book of Life for a year of health, peace, and prosperity.

See you in shul,

RJA