Some thoughts "early" holidays

The end of the holiday cycle is here...  Sukkot's 8th day (if you celebrate the extra day)/ Simchat Torah.  And now, SHABBAT!

So much has been said of the calendar this year.  Most people in shock that Rosh Hashanah began the Wednesday after Labor Day.  And, upcoming in November-- Thanksgiv-ukkah.  The first night of Hannukah and Thanksgiving happening the same day.  Apparently the only time in history that this could possibly happen.  We're going to have deep fried turkey nuggets for the girls!  But that's another blog to come.

For us clergy, the early holidays require some earlier prep, but I find them to be slightly easier than "late" holidays (of course, Rosh Hashanah always come "on time"- on the 1st day of the Hebrew month of Tishrei!).  When holidays are early, we are spared what I had last year, which was the opening day of Sharing Shabbat, in an orchard, with no microphone, the day before singing before a couple thousand congregants in a white robe.  The opening days of  Sharing Shabbat this year are mercifully after the holidays have completed, allowing me to focus my energies on one at a time.

The more interesting part of these holidays though, are the days of the week on which they fall.  Wednesday night-Thursday Rosh Hashanah = Shabbat Yom Kippur (longer liturgy... reading the red "Szechuan menu" sections too).  But it also = Wed night/ Thursday Sukkot and Wed night/ Thursday Simchat Torah.  + Friday night/ Saturday Shabbat.  And for conservative Jews out there, that's chag (holiday) for 4 days in a row... 3 times in one month.  And for day school parents like us, very little school for our kids. 

Sorry for all the math, don't lose me here...

Four days in a row of holidays/ shabbat can be amazing-- cessation from work, lots of time at synagogue... (it can be slightly overwhelming for people leading services).  Also it makes getting into a routine and getting work done hard for all o
f us.  How can we get work done if we don't email multiple days in the week and not just on Shabbat?  And do we, in the New York area, need to put an away message up for Shabbat and holidays?  Or do people not expect emails back, even tho they send them, on these holy days?  What does it mean for us to rest on the holidays and Shabbat given the busy lives we lead today?

Last night we went with friends to the Park Avenue Synagogue in Manhattan with the girls to celebrate Simchat Torah.  The music was loud, rhythmic, fun-- the Hakafot (processions with the Torah) celebratory, and the room was packed with kids.  Halfway through blue and white balloons even fell from the ceiling!  I kvelled to see Mikaela kissing the Torah as each one passed.  And I enjoyed meeting new people and seeing old friends there.  We sat as a family (very rare for us) and celebrated the joy of the holiday.  Was it restful?  Not so much.  But hopefully my girls will remember the ruach (spirit) and the family togetherness inside the balagan (craziness) of Simchat Torah and this time of year in general. 

Next week begins the Hebrew month of Cheshvan.  Looking forward to some quiet and full weeks of school for my kids!