At the heart of the Rosh Hashana service is the Unetaneh Tokef prayer, famously known for the phrase: “Who will live and who will die?” Associated with the prayer, there is a certain sense of trembling and fear. We know the only predictability of life’s circumstances is its unpredictability. One can’t help but wonder whether the phrases will directly impact in the year to come.
Posts by Rabbi Nicole Guzik
It Takes a Village
This week, we are celebrating the Bat Mitzvah of our colleague’s daughter. The family hosted an online gathering of the women who have impacted their daughter’s life. Some of the women have known the Bat Mitzvah girl since her birth, others involved later. Grandmothers, aunts, cousins, rabbis, teachers, and friends each offered the Bat Mitzvah a special blessing, letting her know how loved she is. Throughout the evening, I realized how grateful I was to be part of her village. And since the gathering, I realize even more…we all need a village.
Come Closer
There is an understanding that during this time of year, God comes closer. In spiritual proximity, God is explained to be “in the field” rather than enthroned on high, seemingly far from approach. Meaning, God is ready for conversation, eager to hear our thoughts, joys, and frustrations. The question is less about God’s ability to listen. The challenge is whether we will let ourselves pause long enough to admit what it is we need God to hear.
Sweeter Than Honey
One of our Guzik-Sherman family traditions is displaying our apple and honey dishes. Over the years, we have collected a beautiful assortment—some of which are precious gifts, others our children have created over the years. We take about 20 minutes to determine which dish should go where and marvel over what our now big kids brought home during the preschool years. But always, we ask the question, why do we eat apples dipped in honey?
Getting Ready
Last week, our clergy team stood on the corner of Wilshire and Beverly Glen, filming a pre-High Holy Day message for the community. Rabbi Taff blew the shofar. Loud, piercing, emotional blasts that caused the clergy to pause and stare. Not just us. Car by car, drivers rolled down their windows, unable to turn away, some with looks of awe, others with curiosity. One person yelled out, “Shana Tovah!” And as the blasts continued, I wondered if we are truly ready for Rosh Hashana to begin.
The Second Day
I am thoroughly enjoying the social media posts of children and grandchildren’s first day of school: The well-choreographed poses, clean shirts, and bright smiles. We’ll certainly post pictures as our children begin Sinai Akiba Academy next week.
Write Your Fortune
In San Francisco, we received a great tip to visit the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory. Tucked within a decorated alley, we almost missed this hidden gem. A narrow door revealed fortune cookie wonders: All different flavors of cookies and best of all, the chance to write your own fortune and watch it get folded into a cookie.
The Middle Seat
As we flew home to Los Angeles from Philadelphia, we noticed a young girl sitting between an older man and woman.
Lessons from Putt Putt
Our family spent a morning playing Putt Putt. As someone with little patience during any kind of game, I am not an avid player. Unsure of whether it’s a universal rule, I was happy to learn that we’d have a limit of five turns per player before we moved to the next hole.
A Little Bit of Both
Another summer beach day. Sitting on the shore, I noticed two different kinds of people.
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