Dear Friends,

There is a story about a rabbi and a soap maker who were walking together. The soap maker turned to the rabbi and asked, “What good is religion? For all of its talk about good and evil, right and wrong, look at this world! It’s filled with pain and evil and wickedness. So I ask you, Rabbi, what good is religion?”

The rabbi turned to his friend and pointed out a boy playing in a field: “Look at him, he’s filthy! There’s all this soap in the world, and that young boy is still filthy! What good is soap?”

“But Rabbi,” the soap maker protested, “soap is good only if it’s used.”

“Yes,” said the rabbi. “It is the same with religion.”

Which brings us to the High Holy Days. For many of us, it is a given that we come to services. It may be the only time we come to temple all year, but they are the High Holy Days for goodness sake! Others come because we have some serious repenting to do (or maybe we are on the forgiving side). But for those of us who are drawn to the holidays more out of obligation, I would like to suggest taking full advantage of them.

Like the man in the story, I know I did not use the High Holy Days until I started studying to be a rabbi. Once I did, though, I started to appreciate all they have to offer. The High Holy Days are quickly approaching. This year, when you are sitting with us in the Social Hall, I hope you consider what the High Holy Days can do and take advantage of all they have in them. They offer growth, forgiveness, understanding, wisdom, and peace. But they only work if we use them.

Yours,
Rabbi Benjamin