A rediscovered artifact from Temple Hesed's past and a draft prayer service that its members will help shape for future use will both have prime roles in the congregation's observance of Yom Kippur this week.
The Jewish day of atonement begins today at sundown.
On Wednesday morning, Rabbi Daniel Swartz will read from a 150-year-old Torah, likely the congregation's first, that he found in a closet about two years ago. A visiting Torah scribe helped date it this spring and was surprised to discover that it was written with decorative letters drawn from the Jewish mystical tradition that add layers of meaning and emphasis to the text.
"It's this fascinating gem that not only had we ignored but when we had earlier scribes come by, they just completely missed this," he said.
Coming together
Wednesday will be the first time the Torah is used during high holy day services since it was stored away.
Rabbi Swartz will read from a portion of Deuteronomy - luckily, one that has not faded from the century-old scroll - that describes a covenant with both present and future generations.
"We have this choice set before us of life and good or death and evil. 'Choose life and you may live,' " he said.
"Yom Kippur is about us coming together; it is about transmitting these ethical imperatives to future generations and it's about making those kinds of choices."
Draft prayer service
In the afternoon, the congregation will have a unique opportunity to use a draft version of a high holidays prayer book that is being developed by the Reform Jewish movement. Temple Hesed is one of about 10 percent of the country's Reform congregations involved in the pilot program. Its members are invited to share feedback and reflections on the service to help shape its final version, which Rabbi Swartz said is at least six years away.
"There will be things that work for people and I'm sure there will be things that won't work," he said. "It's neat to be in on this stage when you can do something other than decide to buy it or not buy it, but actually to help shape it."
The draft prayer service explores middot, or virtues, such as peace, patience and gratitude.
The new focus of the service-in-progress reflects the traditional mood of the afternoon Yom Kippur service, which casts forward into the new year, he said.
"Here, it's not just about thinking what have we done wrong, but what can we do right."
Contact the writer: llegere@timesshamrock.com