From the relative calm of summer, September comes and we are back into the rush of life. School starts and the relaxed moments of the summer fade into the norm of life. Which do we like - the calm or the activity? Probably some combination of both, but such thoughts call us to try and set some balance for our lives.

That hope for balance is at the very center of the season that we as Jews are entering. Though it is September for all, the High Holy Days are solely ours. What shall we do with these days this year? Will they be opportunity for reflection, change and hope? Or will they merely fly by sunset to sunrise like most days of our lives?

The choice is ours! As simple as that may seem, how we choose to live our lives is always in our hands and hopefully in our hearts. The challenge is whether we take seriously the gift of life we have been blessed with. The High Holy Days are that moment when we should learn to value time once again. It is our first step towards setting our paths, knowing our values and living our lives as Jews. The big questions of life begin with an appreciation of time - of our time and how we will live our lives.

The balance we search for is there for all of us, if we but open our eyes and hearts to the sacred moments ahead. Together in Temple we find these truths and challenges before us. For some the words of the High Holy Day prayer book are their guide book, for others the words are hard to understand. That is fine - as long as we each choose to find ways to make more of our lives and our gift of time in the coming year.

May the coming New Year 5768 bring to us a new sense of wholeness and peace. May the sacred moments of our lives and our community be joined together like the calendars that place us in time.

A Happy and Sweet New Year to all of us. From our family to yours.
Rabbi Laurence and Merrill Kotok, David and Rachel

You may know someone who might benefit from membership in our TBK community. Please encourage them to give us a call. Or, give us their name and contact information; we'll reach out with warmth.

TBK is a caring community of congregants. We are leaders and innovators in Jewish learning and practice. Just consider some of the sweet spots at TBK:

• The Rochester Kollel: our Center for Lifelong Jewish exploration
• A 21-station computer learning lab
• Gan Yiladim for three- and four-year olds on Sunday mornings
• Nationally accredited Religious School
• Warm Shabbat and holiday services
• Welcoming to interfaith families
• Welcoming to gay and lesbian (GLBT) Jews
• Singles/young peoples programs
• Award-winning, rewarding social action programs
• Senior activities
• Fully accessible, including elevator to Sanctuary bimah (pulpit)

Our dues policy is flexible and makes membership possible for all who are interested. Special dues categories are available for young singles and young families. With so much to offer at TBK, let's spread the word together.

Baruch Haba B'shem Adonai
Bayrachnuchem Mibeit Adonai

We welcome you in the name of God. May you be blessed as you enter this House of God.

Our Synagogue. May you find here the courage and faith to meet the needs of the hour and the demands of eternity.

Ours is a Reform Jewish congregation. We teach the richness of Jewish tradition and memory and yet are open to insights from our own age. We seek a faith that will insult neither heart nor mind.

Celebrate with us the joys of life and find comfort in times of need.

We link ourselves in bonds of civilization and responsibility with the Jewish people in all times and places. We identify also with all people who seek decency and kindness in our world. Together we seek to nurture our spiritual values.

In our synagogue one need not feel alone. We extend to each other the hand of friendship.

See you at Temple!

Rabbi Laurence A. Kotok
Senior Rabbi