By Zachary Benjamin, President/CEO

As we turn our attention to the High Holidays and the transition to a new year, we also shift from the mundane to a celebration of renewal. We might define the end of Elul and the beginning of Tishrei as the Shabbat of the Hebrew calendar, offering us an extended opportunity to pause, reflect, and recharge. 

These holy days compel us to lower the volume on that which distresses us, thus redirecting our energy to that which fulfills and guides us in becoming better versions of ourselves for those we love, those who depend on us, and those to whom we are accountable.

The narrative thread of renewal is the bedrock of the Jewish experience, coming to a crescendo between Rosh Hashanah and Simchat Torah. From celebrating the dawn of a new year to the introspective process of absolving ourselves of our transgressions; from the promise of the harvest and the ensuing start of a new agricultural cycle to the completion of our annual reading of the Torah and subsequent return to Genesis, the holidays immerse us in the concept of rebirth.

The themes of rebirth and renewal are embedded in our texts, our history, and indeed in the very DNA of the Jewish people. The Jewish story is a series of case studies in perseverance over trauma—of creation, of existential threat, of disruptive forces, and ultimately, of rededication. From Purim to Passover, Shavuot to Sukkot, Hanukkah to Holocaust Remembrance, the Hebrew calendar is a journey through the trials and triumphs of Jewish peoplehood and an exercise in drawing parallels between the Jewish experience and the human one.

The story arc of each Jewish community mirrors, to some degree, that of Jewish peoplehood itself. Perseverance and adaptability are core characteristics that have allowed our communities to evolve and advance from generation to generation. These processes are driven largely by a cycle of acute disruption, adjustment to the conditions created by that disruption, adaptation to a “new normal,” and eventually, the need to respond to new disruptive conditions. While many forms of disruption are constructive, rather than destructive, change inevitably creates uncertainty, which in turn naturally sows anxiety.

Our Harrisburg-area Jewish community is no stranger to cycles of disruption and adaptation, especially with regard to its communal spaces. From Third Street to Front Street to Second Street, the Harrisburg JCC has repeatedly found itself as the focal point of that metamorphosis. So has, at times, almost every Jewish congregation in our catchment area. Whether due to fire, flood, financial necessity, or communal opportunity—to loosely borrow a stanza from the Yom Kippur liturgy—our spaces have evolved to meet the needs of their respective constituencies and the broad community as conditions have necessitated over time. Though my understanding of our community history remains that of an outsider, it would appear that these processes of both planned and forced renewal, though difficult, have ultimately, without fail, brought Jewish life in Harrisburg from strength to strength.

During the High Holidays of 2020, which took place against the backdrop of the Covid pandemic in perhaps its darkest phase, Jewish communal leaders and clergy across North America emphasized the need to be intentional in seeking and maintaining peace as we all struggled to find connection amidst crippling isolation. This year, as we continue to cope with the still-unfolding aftermath of Hamas’ terrorist attacks of October 7, 2023, and as we navigate evolution within our own community, we may feel similarly challenged to seek out and dwell in light.

It is important to remember that to be Jewish is a privilege, and as Jews, we are further privileged to receive this annual opportunity to pause, reflect, and renew our commitment to the lifelong journey of becoming our best selves. This High Holy Days, I sincerely hope that each of us is able to soak in the light of renewal, to bathe in the warmth of peace, and to grow in spirit so that we may face the challenges and opportunities of the coming year with strength, resolve, and to every extent possible, with joy.

All of us at the Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg wish you and yours shana tovah u’metukah: a happy, healthy, and sweet New Year.