Incremental Growth

1. Did you sign up for Yom Kippur Services? Join us for inspiring services for you and the entire family.
2. Did you sign up for Yom Kippur Dinner? Registration closes Friday at Sundown.
3. Yom Kippur Appeal: At Chabad Intown our doors are open to all for the High Holidays. No Tickets. No Fees. In fact our doors are open year round to all. Please fuel our growth this Yom Kippur appeal as we journey to new heights in 5780! 

In a recent study done by J-Swipe it was shown that the majority of young adults – post college – are participating programmatically and financially supporting Chabad. And while many of the young adults participate in holiday celebrations (Passover wins!) you can be sure that the greater majority don’t look anything like us bearded black hat Chasidim.

So why is this happening?! 

No more Jewish Guilt. It should be a slogan that is painted on poster boards and before the High Holidays we ought to demonstrate outside of synagogues. It’s old news and it doesn’t work any more. And this study shows that in fact it chases away a generation of youth who are actually interested in a meaningful Judaism and content.

So how are we to approach Yom Kippur if we don’t bring along guilt for the ride?

The answer is that Yom Kippur is a day of At-One-Ment. It is a day to reconnect with the deepest of our roots. Recharge ourselves, reconnect with the purity of the child that was born so many years ago and allow ourselves to build on all of the experiences of life but to eliminate the negativity and grow from there.

On a very practical level, when we connect with our core we realize two things; 1. I can climb the highest mountain. 2. To accomplish that means to take the next step.

We have a lot of mountains in Jewish history, the mountain Abraham saw in the distance where the binding of Isaac was to take place, the mountain where Jacob slept, the mountain where the Torah was given and the list goes on.  

Mountains represent our potential. We can climb to great heights. We have that power within.

However, to achieve those great heights our wings are our feet and hands. The next step. Incremental change.

So as we approach Yom Kippur 5780, think about a mountain that you’ve wanted to climb for a long time. Make that resolution that this year you are going to climb that mountain. And then take the next step to making that a reality. A small but very real and tangible next step in your life to move a step closer to that peak.

Gmar Chasima Tova and Good Shabbos!