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!
ב"ה