A Lullaby for the High Holidays

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By: Wendy Levy

This High holiday season may be hard, but we will not be alone. Imagine all the seats being filled with our smiling faces. The impromptu discussions before services and warm wishes and hugs afterwards. The questions that happen spontaneously and the engaging discussions that follow. As the Rabbi plays the guitar and leads prayers, please let’s remember the feeling of praying together and hearing our voices blend in a sweet song. The children nestled in the corner reading books and building with blocks, while building memories. Hear their laughter, see their smiles. Remember the Oneg, breaking bread together. Little hands on the Challah. Seeing the moon shine brightly above, as we leave Friday night. Sharing a meal together after Saturday services. Spending half the day on Shabbat studying Torah, having conversations, sharing stories and laughing together and sometimes playing D&D. Feeling like family as we celebrate holidays together. Let’s please remember Shavuot as we stayed up all night and as we taught each other and learned together. As we prayed outside as the sun came up. We will be with each other in Spirit, all of us brothers and sisters and congregants cheering each other on and doing the traditions of the sacred holidays. Our spirits and souls will be in the synagogue. If we listen, we will hear them. This year on Zoom, Next year in Coralville.