The High Holy Days

We welcomed in the new year, Rosh HaShanah 5763, with Shofar blasts from young and old, as well as with traditional liturgy and modern song. Oh, and we had a nosh too!
We celebrated Tashlich as we have in years past, by going down to the beach where we can cast our sins into the depths, as it says in Micah. As you can see, it was a beautiful day, and this year, Spectre came along for his very first trip to sand and ocean! The sand didn't bother him, but he was a little put off by the roar and wetness of the ocean.
Here the surf is showing it's willingness to come in and take our sins, and drag them back out to sea. It is a tradition to go to the water's edge and empty the lint from one's pockets, the lint symbolizing ones sins. We use breadcrumbs, since it's much easier to accumulate for everyone to participate.
Our two newest Tashlich observers, enjoying the sun and each other.
The Days of Awe are a time for atonement and reflection. With the new moon and the lights of Santa Cruz and the sunset as a backdrop, Joyce is caught in her moment of reflection.

May we all find our names inscribed in The Book this New Year!

I found this following story to be quite inspirational. And the fact that it arrived at this time of year in my email, was due to a greater Plan than mere mortals may devise.

Malachi 3:3 says: "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver."

This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God.  One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible Study.

That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work.  She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver.

As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up.  He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities.

The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot, then she thought again about the verse that says, "He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver."  She asked the silversmith if it were true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined.  The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire.  If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.

The woman was silent for a moment.  Then she asked the silversmith, "How do you know when the silver is fully refined?"  He smiled at her and answered, "Oh, that's easy - when I see my image in it."

May it be on your heart to say, "Not my will, Lord, but Thine." 
And may He see His image in each of us.