Every High Holy Days sets a new tone for the year ahead. Every Rosh Hashanah allows us the opportunity to look at ourselves and decide how we can grow, how we can improve and how we can add richness and meaning to our lives. The challenge for each of us is to realize those opportunities and take advantage of them when they arrive.

Over the years, it has become clear to many who know me that one of my passions in Jewish education is teaching adults. I recognized early on that Judaism is ultimately an adult religion, and although we spend a great deal of time teaching our children what it means to be Jews, the truth is that the depth and subtleties of our tradition are often lost on them. This is not to say that they should not be taught at the most sophisticated levels they are able to understand (this is the goal of the educational settings we have at Beth Am), but studies show that their natural development does not allow for them to truly comprehend the philosophical and theological concepts until their late teens.

For far too long we, especially in America, have been focused on trying to engage the children in the mistaken belief that all we need to do is capture the kids and the adults will follow. What we are finding is that not only is this assumption inaccurate, but the reverse is actually even more true. When we engage the adults in an active and positive connection to their tradition that is when the children see there is value and worth to what we have to offer. Even more powerful is the family that learns, celebrates and explores Judaism together in a multigenerational framework; grandparents, parents and children. This is what a synagogue excels at, bringing the generations together in one place with the goal of learning and celebrating as a family and community.
But in order for us to reach that goal, we must first make sure that we, as adults, have the tools and knowledge to get us there. It is we, and not our children, who must take the lead in our Jewish connection. For this reason, Rabbi Earne and I have decided to focus these upcoming High Holy Days, and the year ahead, on the theme of Judaism for Adults. We will explore how our tradition speaks to us specifically as adults, how it can help us navigate the complex and sometimes difficult world in which we live. We will push ourselves to look deeper and farther into our tradition and uncover the treasures that are found within. We will challenge ourselves to address questions that are complex and difficult such as our connection to God and to the State of Israel, and we will open ourselves to the joy and celebration that is being part of the larger Jewish community.

I am very excited about the year to come and the opportunities that we will be offering. I look forward to joining you these High Holy Days and to sharing with you a renewed passion for adult learning and connection to our incredible culture and tradition.

Shanah Tovah U’metukah.