Introduction
This has been a profoundly challenging year for each of us as rabbis. Given the rise of authoritarianism at home and the starvation unleashed on Gaza, we wanted to offer you texts aimed at supporting unflinching, courageous self examination, as well as texts of comfort for this season of repair. Many of these texts reflect on the ways that our natural defensiveness can act as a powerful barrier to accepting responsibility and engaging in deep teshuva. It takes tremendous bravery to see the ways we are complicit in our society’s failings, and even greater courage to commit to changing that landscape. We hope that the sources, brief framing, and guiding questions help inspire and support you as you bring the ethical message of our tradition to your community this High Holiday season.
As the machzor says “May Your Arm fortify those who turn to You in hope expectantly and give them renewed strength and wings to fly.” May this be a year of renewed ethical strength and spiritual flight.