We Did That. Together.

Newsletter October 14th, 2024 Together, we're #keepingitsacred...

So much gratitude for the entire Keeping It Sacred community who gathered for the high holy days-- we sang and read, studied and shared, asked ourselves hard questions and offered hopes for the year ahead.

Our incredible team made it all possible! Cantorial Soloist Rachel Rothman lifted up the most beautiful musical prayer offerings, including TWO heart-stirring numbers with her beloved Tracy Cox, an incredible vocalist in her own right, and co-leader of our Spiritual Gentleness Book Club. Kimberly Duenas again gave us precious opportunities to reflect on the past and build for our future. Digital Marketing Director Molly Flanagan and Tech Support Maven Tamir made sure our registration process, sound, and connectivity were working smoothly. Melissa de la Rama and our two kids were amazing hosts to our in-person folks, who also generously participated in the leading of the rituals. And every member of the community from around the world held space for one another, including themselves. It is so meaningful to know that our most fervent and sincere prayers are echoed across so many miles, connecting us all.

This was my 20th (!) year leading High Holy Day services and this year felt like the most cohesive, balanced, and heart-opening services of all. Perhaps it had something to do with the heart-breaking events of this past year. But, my spirit really appreciated all that we co-created together. And thank you for generously providing financial contributions to help cover the costs of creating these kind of spaces. We truly could not do it without your financial help as well. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

In the days since, we have received some beautiful reflections of appreciation for what we built together; and in that spirit I want to also share just one incredible reflection from one of our new members who participated, so that our entire community knows how powerful the gathering of community can be. Thank you for creating this transformative space..

"Just wanted to send a message of tremendous gratitude for the opportunity to join all of you these past couple of weeks. Including for your really meaningful services for Yom Kippur. Even from these brief experiences I have been able to take in what are maybe some of the most valuable gifts a spiritual community can offer: to feel seen and accompanied in my suffering, to feel guided and inspired around self-reflection and skillful action in the coming year, to feel a sense of hope (...wow, yeah, right now that feels huge…). It did not feel punishing or even somber to me — it felt serious and penetrating, but really beautiful and heartfelt, and coming from a place of love. I really loved your take on the beating of our chests being about awakening our hearts, and I really loved the aspect of communally taking on all of our harmful behavior as we each try to recalibrate towards more skillful action in this new year. There are aspects of joining you all that feel like a coming home (like a strong sense of these traditions very much flowing through me/being a big part of me even though I did not grow up observant). Alongside feeling like a newcomer-outsider I also have felt a deep sense of belonging with you all that is not common in most other spaces — it is nice to feel like I belong because I am a Jewish person and not in spite of that (of course not that you only welcome Jews), and it is nice to not have to question whether I am fully welcome as a queer person. Or as a person with my political beliefs or as a person with my religious beliefs. I am looking forward to future connections with you all, and I am today going to start the journey you have laid out in your book Resoulutions."

We did that. Together.

Together, we're #keepingitsacred…

Rabbi Heather Miller

Founder, Keeping It Sacred

P.S. If you found meaning in the services we offered this year and would like to send in a financial contribution in honor of someone or some part of your experience, or, if you just want to make sure this community flourishes in this new year, please feel welcome and encouraged to do so at: keepingitsacred.com/our-future Thank you!

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The above is an excerpt from a Keeping It Sacred newsletter. If you want to read the entire newsletter or any from our archives, please head over to: keepingitsacred.com/news 

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Thanks for your interest, and thanks for #keepingitsacred...