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From Rabbi Stephen Cohen | Guest RSVPs | Prayerbooks
| Personal Practice Guide | Giving | Food Drive | Book of Remembrance
A Message From Rabbi Stephen Cohen
Every year at about this time, I return to re-read This Is Real and You Are Completely Unprepared: The Days of Awe as a Journey of Transformation, by Rabbi Alan Lew, of blessed memory. When Rabbi Lew wrote that book in 2003, he could not in his wildest dreams have imagined the Covid pandemic world in which we will be observing Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur this year. And yet his title feels even more relevant, more arresting, and more important than it ever has before: This is real, and we are completely unprepared.
We face an extraordinary spiritual challenge this year: to make these pandemic Days of Awe a “Journey of Transformation.”
I am writing these words in the midst of my summer sabbatical, and I am thinking deeply about this year’s High Holy Days. I am convinced that if we seize the opportunity offered by this mysterious, global, soul-shaking crisis, we can experience the most meaningful High Holy Days of our lives.
Never before have we felt so vulnerable.
Never before have we felt so interconnected with the rest of humanity.
Never before have we been so forced to re-examine all of our priorities.
Never before have we been so in need of wisdom, of guidance, of meaning.
Never before have we felt so unprepared.
All of which points us toward Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, the Days of Awe.
So much will be missing this year: the bustling crowds, the chance to hug and kiss old friends, the voices of the choir, Cantor, and congregation vibrating through our bodies. The loss is heartbreaking.
But even missing all of this, if we seize the opportunity this year…. to truly open ourselves to the power and wisdom of our tradition, in a spirit of humility and vulnerability and a commitment to transformation….we may experience the most meaningful High Holy Days of our lives.
Guest Information for Non-Members
We do not require tickets to view our High Holy Day services.
At CBB, we do not require tickets for High Holy Day services, and this year, we once again open all of our services to anyone who would like to participate. Nonetheless, we do ask all of our non-member guests to please RSVP, so that we can send you the link to view this year’s online High Holy Days services. If you know of someone who would enjoy attending services, please forward them the link to RSVP.
HHD Prayerbook Information
Below are 3 ways to access the new Mishkan Hanefesh prayerbooks to follow along with services:
Miskhan Hanefesh Rosh Hashana
View the flipbook online (Free)
- File can take up to several seconds to load
- Book reads right to left
Download the Kindle e-version (approx $10 per book)
Purchase Your Own Books from CBB ($50/set)
- We have completed this purchase program. If you did not order a new set and would still like to, please contact ron@cbbsb.org
Mishkan HaNefesh Yom Kippur
View the flipbook online (free)
- File can take up to several seconds to load
- Book reads right to left
Download the Kindle e-version (approx $10 per book)
Purchase Your Own Books from CBB ($50/set)
- We have completed this purchase program. If you did not order a new set and would still like to, please contact ron@cbbsb.org
Personal Practice Guide
This year’s Days of Awe are a unique opportunity to open ourselves to the power and wisdom of our tradition. Join us on the path through interactive Zoom sessions, and our weekly learning and resources for reflection. We will travel to place of humility and vulnerability, creating the possibility of personal renewal and transformation. Together, even at a distance, we travel back to our best selves in preparation for this new Jewish year!
Giving
2020 High Holy Days “T3 Appeal”
Teshuvah – Tefillah – Tzedakah
Throughout the year we are committed to providing a place for connection and spirituality, lifelong learning and support for those in need. With your gift of tzedakah, we can continue to grow to meet the needs of our community. Thank you for your tax deductible donation, earmarked High Holy Day T3 campaign, which helps us fulfill our mission of being a diverse, inclusive group of individuals and families building together a vibrant house of living Judaism.
HHD Food Drive 2020
Due to the pandemic, CBB will not be collecting food drive donations ON SITE this year.
Like everything else this year, giving tzedakah has taken on a new look, but we will still hold our annual CBB Food Drive for the Santa Barbara Food Bank. Now, more than ever, funds and food are needed to make sure that local seniors and others in need, have nourishing food supplies and deliveries during the pandemic! This year, you can help in these 3 new ways.
Virtual Donation (Give anytime!)
This year, the preferred donation method is to donate virtually, with no contact, via our group fundraising site, directly to the Santa Barbara Food Bank. This method gets the funds directly to the food bank instantly, provides a safe, no-contact option and helps the Santa Barbara Food Bank purchase much needed items for less! (Did you know that for every $1 donated, the SB Food Bank is able to purchase $7 worth of food? $1 of yours = $7 of actual food purchased for those in need).
Donate Directly to the Food Bank
Non-perishable food items can be delivered directly to the Santa Barbara Food Bank. If you have excess shelf-stable food you would like to donate, please deliver directly to the Santa Barbara Food Bank at 4554 Hollister Ave between 1 and 3pm only, or to the bin located outside at 490 W. Foster Rd.
