It is hard to believe, but this week I’ll celebrate that I moved to Arlington a year ago!

While sheltering in place, fighting a pandemic, helping our household members to adapt to a new work or school reality, and taking care of each other, we were able to keep nurturing our sacred community as well. Being creative and flexible, we were able to share meaningful moments of our lives.

We have spent hundreds of hours on zoom meetings, classes, and religious services. We learned that our parking lot is not a space just for cars, but for Jewish Education, Social Action, schmoozing and much more. We have met new people and reconnected with old friends. At the end of the day, this is all about the relationships we develop.

Aiming to strengthen this relationship with each one of you, I would like to invite you to celebrate this small milestone with me in a few different ways:

• Let’s chat! I would love to meet you, if we haven’t met yet, or just catch up with what’s been going on recently.

Here is my calendar link. 

Click on the link above and pick a date and time that works for you.

If you are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and want to meet me for coffee at the office, I am happy to have you here. If you prefer zoom, a link will be sent to you automatically when you sign up for a slot.

• We are back! Join us for Shabbat services

Fridays at 6:15 PM. Saturdays at 10 AM.

No registration required, just come! If you have a milestone coming up, let’s celebrate it together at shul. If you are just curious – we are waiting for you!

• Beit Midrash

Twice a month we have an opportunity to learn together. According to our tradition, Torah is like water, and we need it constantly present in our lives to give us physical energy and spiritual connection. We are currently discussing topics relating to Judaism and Modernity. Soon we will talk about Israel and then start preparing spiritually for the upcoming High Holidays. Click here to see the list of upcoming virtual classes. 

• Havdalah

Bringing back our very successful Havdalah summer series from last year, let’s welcome the new week together. Last year, the series was exclusively online. This year we also have wonderful CEH members opening their homes and inviting us in. Keep an eye open for the upcoming communication about that.

• Do a mitzvah!

The Pirkei Avot teaches that the reward for practicing a mitzvah is the mitzvah itself. As partners of God in creation, we have a continuous responsibility to do our part of the covenant. This is a great way to celebrate milestones as well. While you may perform multiple mitzvot on a regular basis, I’m inviting you to expand your consciousness and focus on a particular mitzvah that is dear to you right now and do it wholeheartedly. Can’t think of any? Let’s chat and maybe do some of them together! Click here to set up a time to meet with me.

• Renew your membership

You will receive an email soon to renew your membership with us. This is not just a financial transaction, but a way to celebrate our relationship. Your financial contribution is essential for our maintenance and growth, but alone, it doesn’t full represent you and all your potential. If you are interested in contributing to our community in additional ways, please be in touch and let’s make it happen.

If you are as excited as I am about everything we are doing, or at least almost there, I want to ask you to be an ambassador of our community. Spread the word. We are a wonderful community! We are a warm, kind, open, inclusive, diverse, traditional yet modern, and unique sacred community, a Kehilah Kedoshah. If you know anyone who might be interested in joining us as we are returning to our regular mode, don’t be shy – ask them to join us! And let me know; I’m happy to meet with them for a nice coffee and show them how wonderful we are!

I can’t wait to see you soon and celebrate together all these moments we have ahead.

Rav Natan