For a moment the world stood still, at least if you were in Madras, Oregon. Totality. An otherwise regular Monday morning had everyone staring up at the sky in anticipation of that dramatic moment.
Except that there were plenty of warnings to go along with it. Don’t look directly at the sun. Use a pinhole projector. Or to really get the full experience, get a pair of certified eclipse glasses.
Why the hype? Why were schools giving out pairs of glasses that tomorrow would serve no purpose? Why did 
people travel great distances to be in the path?
It’s the same urge that compelled us to fly to the moon (other than trying to beat Russia in the space race). It’s the same desire that fuels people’s desire to climb Mount Everest or to invent new technology.
It’s the desire to touch the impossible. To transcend nature. To challenge, change and transform the limitations of yesterday with a quantum leap into the future. Not to let the norm get in the way of achieving our dreams.
The moon is not “meant” to wield influence on the sun. Hey, it’s not even supposed to be out at that time of day. Usually, we can’t even attempt to gaze at the sun. And now, we are given this incredible opportunity to relate to and interact with this powerhouse called the sun. Yes, we have to approach with caution, using the proper tools and having the proper appreciation for the magnitude of the experience. But then, we’re in for a treat. Totality. The summit. Out of the world.
This is what the High Holidays are all about. Approaching, interacting and communicating with the King, who is, under normal circumstances, beyond reach. It’s an opportune time of access. It’s the ability to transcend our selves. The ability to sing on a higher octave. To rocket out of the atmosphere.
Seize the moment for a truly other-worldly experience. While to better appreciate and to magnify the High Holiday experience preparation is always a plus (did you know that it's a custom to blow the Shofar the entire month preceding Rosh Hashana?), fortunately, no eclipse glasses are necessary.
From the Rabbi's Desk
The Eclipse
Welcome Back to School!
Welcome back to school!
Whether a parent, professor or simply a casual shopper at your local department store, it's impossible to ignore. It's the new semester.
Classrooms are shining, with colorful decor and each desk placed perfectly in its row. Children are back and re-energized from summer (perhaps from an awesome time at Camp Aleph). Uniforms are pressed and pencils 
sharpened, glue sticks and colorful crayons arranged neatly in a brand new supplies box. Teachers smile and greet each child with enthusiasm.
Class begins and everyone is into it. The material is engaging. Participation is at a high. The energy incredible.
Rewind the cassette (#vintage) to a few months prior, and these are the same characters who were experiencing major burnout. Just going through the motions. One foot in front of the other. Wake up, do this school thing, complete my homework overload, watch a movie to forget about it all, repeat.
What is going on? Are all these people simply pretending on the first day? Or does this represent who they truly are and the goals they strive for. Only life doesn't make it easy to stick with the plan, to keep the motivation alive, to perform at star quality all of the time.
This is what the High Holiday season is all about. Renewal. A fresh start. Tapping back into who we really are. Taking an extended moment to reflect on how we want our ideal Jewish "classroom" to look like.
When we show up for Services, dip the apple in honey or simply hear the sound of the Shofar, we are that star pupil bringing our A-game to the new year.
This week is the beginning of Elul - the prep month before Rosh Hashana. So get out there, and take the opportunity to pack your school (shul?) backpack. The kids will be making their very own Shofars at The Shofar Factory, there's a wonderful evening for women decorating New Year's cards, and there's plenty more. From an elegant Rosh Hashana dinner to our user-friendly services, to the Tashlich Meditation & Shofar blowing at Luchessi Pond.
Welcome back to Shul!
Jammed Machinery
This week I was overseeing the Kosher wine production at a local winery. The wine was being bottled by a mostly automated high-tech assembly unit. The bottles marched along a conveyor belt stopping for no more than an instant at each station. They were purged of any particles by a blast of nitrogen, then filled to a precise 750ml, then journeyed on to be corked, sealed, and labeled. After a quick quality check, off they went to reside in a cardboard box until they next appear for a Shabbat Kiddush or simply to enjoy a great glass of Kosher Napa wine.
I wrote mostly automated because every now and then this highly complex piece of machinery needed some TLC. Something as simple as a seal missing its mark or a cork getting jammed in the conveyor belt could cause a backup which would, in turn, set off a chain reaction of additional issues.
It reminded me of the disastrous result of the space shuttle the Challenger. A mere 73 seconds after liftoff, the multi billion dollar vessel broke apart. What was the cause for the failure of this futuristic flying behemoth? An O-ring. Not designed to withstand extremely cold temperatures, a catastrophic series of events was inevitable.
This week's Torah portion is called "Eikev" - which translates literally as a heel. The idea is that when we are careful with regards to "small" and "unimportant" Mitzvahs that one tends to trample upon with their heel, this leads to the bountiful blessings that the Torah enumerates.
When we are dealing with high efficiency, technologically advanced supersystems, the critical importance of every detail contributing to a synergetic well-oiled process becomes evident.
The takeaway? Never underestimate a good deed. An act of kindness, lighting a Shabbat candle, hanging a Mezuzah on your door, these simple acts can have an impact of cosmic proportions.
Wishing you a Shabbat Shalom!