Intimate and Inspiring Rosh Hashanah at Gesher: How do we live in a world we cannot control?
This year has been a hard year for Jews. Especially Jews without deep memory and connection. What happened on October 6th still reverberates. So many dead. On both sides. A resurgence of antisemitism. In one sense, Israel outs us as Jews. In another it is a land of connection, promise and meaning for our people. In our age, we cannot help but realize that so much of our world is out of our control. This leads to angst, a sense of powerlessness and a spiritual quandary. So, what do we do?
Enter High Holy Days. High Holy Days are, in Hebrew, called the Days of fear/awe. There is no preparation really. Even those of us who hear the clarion call for the whole month of Elul that precedes Rosh Hashanah feel overwhelmed by the demand to face the spiritual opportunity presented by the intense Jewish season that begins on Rosh Hashanah. This year is no different. Especially for unaffiliated Jews, who may be more used to being Jewish in hiding (or more precisely, being hidden from Jewish offerings of spiritual opportunity) than celebrating. So, Gesher - A Bridge Home approaches this High Holy Day season with some careful attempt to provide an alternative to walking into services and feeling overwhelmed and estranged.
What Gesher offers is this – two intimate Rosh Hashanah experiences. Rabbi Laurie Rutenberg and Rabbi Gary Schoenberg extend an invitation to wine and dine, to explore traditional prayers at a pace that will allow for conversation of the heart, and the opportunity to be still with your soul in the forest.
WEDNESday, October 2, 5:30 PM - Rosh Hashanah EVENING Feast and prayer
Where: Gesher, 10701 SW 25th Avenue in Portland
Gesher invites you to join Rabbi Laurie Rutenberg and Rabbi Gary Schoenberg at their home for an intimate heart-centered and delicious Rosh Hashanah dinner to enter into the Jewish New Year.
The Rosh Hashanah dinner with candlelighting, song, prayer and the sharing of our blessings and our spiritual opportunities, will be Covid Safe, and will take place under the trees and stars, weather permitting.
RSVP is a must. Let us know if you would like to bring a vegetarian holiday dish to share. Donations are greatly appreciated.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 10 AM - ROSH HASHANAH MORNING SERVICE, LUNCH, AND TASHLICH
Where: Gesher, 10701 SW 25th Avenue in Portland | Marshall Park
Gesher invites you to join Rabbi Laurie Rutenberg and Rabbi Gary Schoenberg at their home for an outdoor, welcoming Jewish prayer experience that offers opportunities for sharing where we are in our soul-life as we enter the Jewish New Year with prayer, song, and Torah.
A festive vegetarian lunch and a walk to Marshall Park for Tashlich follow the service.
RSVP for Saturday morning is very helpful to us.
Please let us know if you would like to bring a vegetarian holiday dish to share.
Donations are greatly appreciated, but not required.