Why I do NOT go to services

As English is my second language, I sometimes find it difficult to connect with some of the words used in the Jewish community.

People are talking about where they are going for High Holiday Services. The word Service catches me funny. It brings to mind car services, the military, the help at a hotel or how many bars I have on my cell phone.
Why spend my Jewish New Year looking for a service? Almost like I am going to synagogue to get my muffler changed.

But it isn’t a prayer either. Prayer means that there are two entities. One has what the other needs and through prayer, hopefully the needy one gets what he wants. Kind of like begging nicely. We don’t want to do that either. Maybe during the year we might do that but in the High Holidays prayer book, the concept of asking for our personal needs is largely absent.

So, what are we trying to do on Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur “services?”

The Hebrew word for prayer is tefilah. The etymology is from the word tofel, which means to bond. Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur are all about connecting. Connecting to the source of our life and connecting to the essence of who we are. It is reconnecting the deepest part of ourselves with the deepest part of God.

I hope you don’t pray to your parent or your spouse. And you don’t get services from your friend. Instead, you have a heart-to-heart conversation and share what is on your mind. They then naturally want to do their best to make it happen.

When I lead the community here in Hewlett, during the High Holidays I try to move people on a personal journey together with me. We have a conversation with our Creator and try to share with the most accepting and loving God everything on our mind.

At Chabad of Hewlett, I strive to make an environment where you can come without any distraction to be true to yourself. Sing the songs you know, hear an inspiring story that moves your heart and read the prayers that generation upon generation of our parents whispered as they reconnected to all that was dear to them.

Our High Holiday services are open to ALL regardless of affiliation Reserve at (no charge, but donation is suggested) jewishhewlett.com/HighHoliday or (516) 295-3433.    

So, don’t just go to services. Come and reconnect. 

Tenenboim is the spiritual leader of the Chabad of Hewlett.