Two days of Rosh Hashanah celebration and services are now over. Four of our Congregation Bet Shalom writing group members read five different poems and essays at appropriate times during the services. Their contributions were greatly appreciated by the congregation.

The first evening’s service was opened by Sophia Bressler, reading her explanation and prayer “Teruah.” Later she told me that she had felt quite nervous when she began to read, but she was happy as she realized that people were listening and engaged in what she had to say. Everyone shared in her blessing: “Avinu Shebashamayim, I pray to You for Peace on Earth…”

Rachel Port read her midrash on Abraham, “Love.” Here is the final stanza:

Love has brought me no joy. Love is pain.

Perhaps that has been God’s lesson for me.

They just told me Sarah has died. I who am

not yet dead, now I am truly old.

I want no more love. It is time

For Isaac to marry and take on the burden

of the promise. As for me,

I will settle for peace.

She also wrote an essay about how she came to Abraham’s voice, which she has published with Associated Content:

Both of these stories show our patriarch Abraham as a frightening father….These stories have always troubled me…. Beginning the second year of the writing group I also wrote a series of poems about abuse in my own family, using symbolism from Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. All three are written from my point of view, but the first focuses on my mother's father, the second on my mother, and the third and last on me. From the beginning I conceived of this as a set of three poems. The first two came quickly, one after the other, and were read the second and third years. The third poem was harder for me to write; I could not figure out how to focus the final poem for another two years. When I finally did, I realized that I had not been able to forgive my grandfather, who died before I was born, for his abuse of my mother, and until I could let go of my anger, I could not find my own voice. The third poem was read last year.

And I think I couldn't get over my anger at Abraham until I let go of that more personal anger. My life has been fuller and more meaningful since I was able to forgive two old men I never knew. So this process of writing for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur over time has allowed me to work through important personal issues by understanding the Biblical family of Abraham. The group has helped me make the inward journey of the High Holidays and extend forgiveness to all concerned, even myself.

Rachel commented that as she read the poem from the bima this morning, after we read the Genesis story of the binding of Isaac, she felt the voice of Abraham completely take over her own.

I didn’t have a chance to talk to the other readers about their experiences, but they read confidently and with great feeling. People paid attention during the readings and could be seen looking at the booklet where all the work appeared. Several people in the congregation told me how much the creative work added to their experience. Everyone seems to be encouraged in their own searching by hearing the original words of their friends as part of the service.

Tashlich, Yom Kippur, and more readings will take place in the next week. For me, great satisfaction comes from knowing that my work with this group has helped both the writers and so many others to grow spiritually. And several people have told me that they hope to join the group in the future. I’m looking forward to resuming our meetings before too long….