When I was growing up, my family never built a sukkah. We were too tired. We had just taken off from work and school to attend high holiday services, and we’d prayed and repented, and fasted, and hosted people for break fast. Besides, building a sukkah was something the synagogue did and something the rabbi did, and you could go to those sukkot if you really wanted your sukkah fix.

Shana Tova, Everyone!

My name is Samantha Malott Brown, and on behalf of the Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue’s board of directors, I want to welcome you to this year’s High Holidays celebrations.

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?

Gut yontiff. 

So many questions preoccupy us on Yom Kippur, this day of moral inventory, of heshbon ha-nefesh, of taking stock of our souls. It's a serious business. We've got to grapple with questions of self-worth and mortality; of reflection and renewal; and, of course, of forgiveness, repentance... and hunger.

Gut Yontev. For just shy of four years now, I have had the honor and privilege of serving as the Executive Director of the Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue. I am fortunate to be part of an outstanding team comprised of our dedicated Board of Directors, our remarkable rabbi, our exceptional professional staff, and our engaged and diverse congregants.

The fall chagim (holidays) are a time of joy and renewal. Their transformative power can also get lost in the logistics of service times and holiday meal menus. As we immerse in the Yamim Noraim (Days of Awe) let's make sure to seek and dive into moments of awe and wonder