From the Desk of Chloe Loos | Director of Arts + Culture
In this week’s portion, Nitzavim (Hebrew for You Stand), Moses speaks to all who have and who will enter the covenant. He shares that the sacred obligations (more traditionally recognized as commandments) are practical, not distant.
Toward the close of his book, Why Do Jewish? A Manifesto for 21st Century Jewish Peoplehood, Zack Bodner proclaims, “Judaism is the Jews’ ongoing conversation. The conversation about Judaism is Judaism. The ways Jews become connected to Judaism is by joining the conversation (pg 196).”
For centuries and even across generations, Jews have engaged in conversation with one another, either in-person, over Zoom, and even across layers of Jewish text. Perhaps the commandment to hear the Torah was about hearing the stories and laws, and just as much about showing up to be part of the experience conversation.
As we approach the high holy days, marking a new Jewish year, how will you choose to show up and be part of community this year? Who will you invite to show up with you? And, if you’re not yet sure about the Jewish community you seek, reach out to us , we’d love to get to know you, help connect you with community, and be part of your Jewish journey. As we move into the last Shabbat of Hebrew year 5785, I want to wish you and your family a shabbat shalom and a shanah tovah u’metukah, a good and sweet new year.
This week, as we read Parshat Nitzavim, we are reminded that a strong community is built by every person who shows up to find their place within it. Moses speaks to the entire community—every individual standing together—and reminds us that the choices we make can open the door to renewal, connection, and a life lived with purpose.
This week was full of exciting accomplishments for our Disability Program Services department. On Saturday, after a series of sessions with staff from AZPM, Tucson Spotlight, and WordSlaw to learn how to craft personal stories, four participants in our Taglit B’Yachad program were featured in a culminating showcase at the new Paul and Alice Baker Center for Public Media. During the event, a packed house enjoyed a video where each participant shared their story about a time they were brave; after the video, there was a Q+A with the participants and team who facilitated the event. This week also marked the official launch of DPS’ new Pathways to Employment program with an inaugural cohort of three! We are thrilled to offer this new opportunity for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to learn vocational skills that will prepare them for work outside the J upon graduation from the program. Lastly, Taglit created a piece of art as a thank you to Congregation Anshei Israel for lending their space to the participants while Camp J was in session over the summer; they presented the art to Anshei leadership on Thursday. Each of these milestones represents a person taking a new step, sharing their voice, or opening a new door—with a community of support around them.
BBYO teens are back in action after a lot of fun during Rush Week. Throughout the week, Kadimah (girls) and Abba Gadol (boys) met up for activities including Pins Bowling, wing night, s’mores around a campfire (with an absolutely incredible AZ sunset!), and henna and yoga, and will conclude the week with a joint Shabbat celebration this evening. It is moments like this that remind us of the power of giving young people the space to choose how they want to connect, build friendships, and become part of something bigger than themselves.
Also this week, Jennifer Lorch Selco, Senior Director for Jewish Life and Engagement, traveled to the big apple to participate in a convening at the JCC Association Mercaz (Center). The group of talented leaders from across the JCC movement explored what adult Jewish education looks like in JCCs and to imagine future opportunities. It was an honor to be invited and to be asked to facilitate a Judaic framing moment for the group. By deepening our work around Jewish learning, we help ensure that our community continues to grow, learn, and find new ways to live out its purpose.
Today, children in our Early Childhood Education program welcomed Rabbi Cohon to their weekly Shabbat celebration. Since we are in the month of Elul leading up to the Jewish New Year, Rabbi Cohon brought his vast collection of shofars (ram’s horns) and shared the different sound each makes with the kids, making for a delightfully noisy morning. Even in these foundational moments of Jewish life, we see the power of gathering together, experiencing something new, and beginning again.
As we approach the High Holidays, we are grateful for the many people who make our community what it is—and for the many ways each of us can help build the vibrant, inclusive Jewish community we want to see. Shabbat Shalom.
Reminders, Resources + Learning
Each week we share resources for more learning:
This week’s resources:
- When Teshuvah Feels Impossible by Rabbi Noam Blauer (Jewish Theological Seminary)
- The Singers and the Song by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks
- On This Day God Calls To You by Rabbi Dr. Bradley Shavit Artson (My Jewish Learning)
Last week’s resources:
- The God of Ki Tavo and Our God by Rabbi Keith Stern (reformjudaism.org)
- Forging the Intergenerational Self by Rabbi Jethro Berkman (My Jewish Learning)
- We Are What We Remember by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks
Is there a topic you’d like to learn more about? Email Jenn Selco with requests.
