This Shabbat we are pleased to welcome Rabbi Shai Held, one of the founders of Yeshivat Hadar, a traditional egalitarian yeshiva in New York. Rabbi Held has a new book out titled Judaism is About Love. In it he deftly argues that we Jews need to reclaim Judaism’s essential commitment to love. Yes, we are committed to Halakhah, to Jewish Law, but Jewish Law does not negate nor replace the purpose of Judaism which is to love God and through God love each other. Rabbi Akiba was once asked, for example, “What is the most important commandment in the Torah?” His answer, “V’ahavta et ray’ekha kamokha – Love your neighbor as yourself.” This mitzvah implies that one must learn to love oneself to learn to love another. Rabbi Hillel takes this teaching one step further when he says, “The rest is commentary, go and learn.”

This weekend is also Selichot, the late-night service in which we formally begin the process of asking for and granting forgiveness. Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are upon us. True teshuvah, repentance, can only be achieved through love.

We hope you will join us this Shabbat as we learn with Rabbi Held and as we usher in these High Holy Days.

Shanah Tovah – May this be a New Year of blessing, health, success, and peace.