Pass the honey!

What are your New Year traditions? 

For me, it's a blintze casserole sitting amongst a buffet of bagels, tuna and egg salad, apples and honey, and a few glasses of wine after services on the first day of Rosh Hoshana. The blintze casserole is a staple this time of year, especially with pie filling that has been slowly warmed on the stove to pour over each serving. This coupled with a home full of friends and family make the gathering even more special. Unfortunately, this year another holiday will look and feel a bit different.

Although the spiritual traditions of years' past have been corrupted by "the pandemic" (I feel like this word is mentioned so often these days that I now need to use it in quotes.), Jews around the world, and in our own communities, have stepped up in creative ways to celebrate those spiritual traditions that we all know and love. For example, Beth Shalom offered a community-wide Passover Seder on Zoom, from the rabbi's home, in the Spring. Or, you may have participated in your own Zoom Seder with your own family and friends. It was different, it was clunky, but the spirit of the holiday and the traditions remained. Maybe a few new traditions were born out of the experience as well!

As we enter another holiday season, the High Holy Days, please think back to those Zoom Seders you may have attended, or hosted. What made them special? How would you have changed the experience to make them even more meaningful? In April, all of us were new to the Zoom platform, and now, some of us are practically experts! Using technology to daven isn't exactly the first choice we would make, but it helps our community stay together while we are apart.

After davening with Beth Shalom for High Holy Day services, how will you connect, engage, or be inspired with your friends and family this year? 

Leave a comment below to share how you will celebrate, or leave a recipe for one of your favorite holiday foods!

L'shana Tova!