Intimate and Inspiring Rosh Hashanah at Gesher
How do we live in a world that is filled with the arbitrary?
What a world we live in! Filled with blessings and immense challenges. It is our profound observation that EVERY challenge is a spiritual opportunity. And there are abundant challenges. From rising costs to the War in Iran, from the impact of terror spread by ICE to the cutback in resourcees to the poor. How do we live given these challenges.
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 a rich and vibrant history. So, Gesher - A Bridge Home approaches this High Holy Day season with careful approach to providing 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.
ROSH HASHANAH MEALS AND SERVICES
Friday, September 12 at 5:30 PM - Rosh Hashanah Evening Feast and Prayer
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 candle lighting, 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.
RSVP is a must. Let us know if you would like to bring a vegetarian holiday dish to share. Donations are greatly appreciated.
An intimate gathering to listen to the Shofar, hear the Rosh Hashanah Torah reading, experience key prayers and explore themes of the New Year.
Where: Gesher, 10701 SW 25th Avenue in Portland
Saturday, September 13th at 10 AM - Rosh Hashanah Morning Services with a festive potluck lunch meal to follow
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.
Where: Gesher, 10701 SW 25th Avenue in Portland | Marshall Park
Planning for the rest of the High Holy Days? Find out about opportunities for Yom Kippur here and Sukkot here.
All events are at Gesher, the home of Rabbis Laurie Rutenberg and Gary Schoenberg 10701 SW 25th Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97219