On behalf of our board and staff, I want to wish you a Hag Sameach! We are so glad to have you with us today! And, of course, we hope to have all of you back tomorrow for round two. 

I want to speak today about what drives us to engage with our Judaism. It’s a question many Jewish organizations are trying to answer; what are the meaningful and engaging programs that will get people through our doors?

Personally, with such a wide selection of Jewish offerings in our community and an increasingly limited amount of time, I’ve been reflecting on what I find most meaningful. I can’t speak for others, but for me - I connect with community - I love, for example, interacting with others at Friday night services and building bonds over our community meal. I also connect intellectually - I recently studied the topic of Jewish peoplehood with Rabbis Silverman and Starr and I found it fascinating. 

But, I’m beginning to realize that perhaps the most powerful driver is a visceral, almost unconscious drive. More and more, I notice these thoughts, mostly fleeting ones, where I feel a gut connection to the Jewish people. I sense it whenever I’m at Kabbalat Shabbat and sing yedid nefesh. I felt it when watching the news coverage of the shootings in Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life Synagogue almost a year ago now. And I feel it in my kishkes every time I hear Violinist Itzhak Perlman playing the theme from Schindler's List.

We can rationalize and analyze, we can do sociological studies and review pew polls, and that is all important. But, we must also accept that there is a part of the mind which is inaccessible to the conscious mind, but which affects behavior and emotions, often very powerfully. 

I’m not sure if these are subconscious or unconscious and I’m sure someone will come up to me after services and correct me on the proper psychological term. 

Regardless, these are valid drivers of our Jewish engagement. I’m sure you have these moments. And in those moments, I hope you embrace the connection and find an outlet among all the offerings in Jewish Detroit, especially, and I’m biased here, at the Downtown Synagogue. So:

1. When you’re saying Kaddish for your parent’s yahrtzheit, know that every week people are reliant on you to make a minyan so they can recite Kaddish at the Downtown Synagogue. 

2. When you have a moving experience at the Western Wall with Jews from all over the world, remember that the Downtown Synagogue does dancing in the streets for Simchat Torah with people from all over metro Detroit.

3. When you’re blasting Adam Sandler’s Hanukkah song while driving, remember that we have the host an annual Hanukkah party and ugly sweater competition. 

4. When you recall the role of so many Jewish activists in organizing labor in the 1920’s and 30’s, know that Detroit Jews for Justice organizes solidarity events with the GM employees on strike. 

5. When you’re heartbroken with all the hate and division in our country, remember that we are intentionally building relationships between the people at the Downtown Synagogue and Breakers Covenant Church through motown lip syncs interfaith seders, and other events. 

6. When you’re touched by an act of selfless kindness, remember that Repair the World has regular volunteering opportunities and that the Downtown Synagogue partners with the Eden Garden Block Club on the east side, and they always need help tending to their community garden.

7. When you sense that social media isn’t sufficient and you want human connection, join us for a sukkah hop, a dance party, or a warm shabbat meal, free of charge and obligation.

So, If you’re anything like me, you’ll have these gut connections from time to time. I hope that, on occasion, you act on those connections and plug into our community. Join the hundreds of people of all ages, races, and religions that pass through our iconic, historic red doors each month, whether it's for services, holidays, educational programs, dance parties, simchas, saying kaddish, or just to be part of a community.

Thank you and Shana tova u’metuka. May you have a good and sweet new year.