Cantor Paula Baruch
Sept. 2025

As the Days of Awe approach, Temple Anshe Sholom is planning a season of spiritual renewal rooted in belonging, resilience, and the power of becoming. In a world filled with uncertainty and division, the High Holy Days offer a sacred pause — a time to reflect on who we are, who we’ve been, and who we’re striving to become, both as individuals and as a Jewish community.

This year, our theme is "Belonging Through Spirit and Strength". We believe that every soul who walks through our doors is part of our unfolding story — a story shaped by generations of Jewish wisdom, hope, and courage. These holy days remind us that teshuvah (return) is not only a personal act of repentance, but also a communal act of reconnection. We return to our values, to each other, and to the enduring promise of Jewish life.

Our services will be filled with music, prayer, and reflection — both familiar and innovative — designed to help us hold the complex emotions of this moment: joy and sorrow, fear and faith, regret and hope. In the face of global conflict and rising antisemitism, we draw strength from gathering together, lifting one another up, and reawakening the eternal Jewish vision of peace, justice, and compassion.

Whether you’ve been part of Temple Anshe Sholom for generations or are just stepping in for the first time, you are welcome. These days are for all of us — for those with strong roots in tradition and those seeking new pathways into Jewish life. We are creating a sacred space where everyone — young and old, questioning and devout, Ashkenazi and Sephardi, queer and straight, Jew by birth and Jew by choice — can find meaning.

May this new year of 5786 be one of healing, clarity, and wholeness. May we each find our place in the story of our people — not only as we remember who we are, but as we dream of who we still might become.

Shanah Tovah U’Metukah — a sweet and good year to all.