“blow me open, Divine Transformer!
meet me in the field, Queen!
ready us for the work of repair, Holy Mender!
unravel us, Artisan of Being!
gentle me as I take a long hard look at myself, Rock of Refuge!
remind me I am love itself, Beloved!
let me dwell in your house, Becoming, all the days of my life.
oh my god, I hardly know how to pray but
if I am my Beloved’s and my Beloved is mine
and there is no time but now
and God is Change
and wounds are portals
and just to live is a blessing
and the only way is through
and together
and prayer is subversive
then
show me how to love this broken self
this broken world”
[an incantation for Elul by Dori Midnight, published in For Times Such As These: A Radical Guide to the Jewish Year]
As the secular calendar turns to August we feel summer rushing to an end. School will be in session again in a few weeks. The daylight hours are noticeably shorter, if still blissfully long. This year, the Jewish month of Elul will be here in less than two weeks. Are you prepared?!
During Elul we look ahead to the High Holy Days of Awe. This year, Kehilat Sukkat Shalom will proudly welcome Annie Prusky, a rising fourth year student at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, to guide us through Rosh haShanah and Yom Kippur. Student leaders like Annie enhance our prayer services and social gatherings with new ideas and and fresh perspectives on contemporary Jewish practice. This summer, lay leaders from our Worship Design Working Group are working with Annie (she/her) to ensure our services also maintain Sukkat Shalom minhagim (traditions) like the soul-stirring rendition of Kol Nidre arranged for cello and piano. Mark your calendars and join us!
Annie Prusky is a community builder and a lover of Jewish tradition. Her background is in Jewish education, and she specializes in creative rituals and meaningful learning for those navigating Jewish life beyond traditional institutions. Some of the organizations she’s worked with include Mem Global, OneTable, Bruchim, Hillel, Abrahamic Interfaith House, and the Center for Small Town Jewish Life. She’s been a guest on the Judaism Unbound podcast and shared wisdom during Shavuot Unbound celebrations. She loves collaborating with people of all ages to inspire a love of tradition and ritual made modern. Annie grew up in Philadelphia and received her A.B. in Sociocultural Linguistics from Brown University. Outside of work, you can find her color-coding spreadsheets, planning her next home improvement project, and dancing to musical theatre soundtracks. Annie lives with her husband, Dayton, their 1-year-old Zev Mathieu, and their cats, Schlimazel and Thibodeaux.
Welcoming Elul:
Wednesday, August 12 on Zoom (7-8:30pm)
Join us as Annie zooms in from Philadelphia for Rosh Chodesh Elul – the start of the month of contemplation leading to Rosh haShanah and a new Jewish year.
Read more and RSVP here
Rosh haShanah:
Friday, 9/11 – Rosh haShanah Evening Service (8-9:30pm)
Saturday, 9/12 – Rosh haShanah Morning Service (10am-12:30pm)
– Shofar/Tashlich Service and Potluck (4:30pm-7pm)
Yom Kippur:
Sunday, 9/20 – Kol Nidre Evening Service (8-9:30pm)
Monday, 9/21 – Yom Kippur Morning Service (10am-12:30pm)
– Lay-led Yizkor Service & Story Circle (12:45-2:15pm)
– Neilah Service & Break Fast Potluck (6pm – )
Click here for more about our High Holiday Days of Awe observances and visit our calendar to add them to yours.