Our Hanukkah narrative typically focuses only on the post-solstice period, the Festival of Lights. What about the pre-solstice period, the Festival of Darkness?

“There is a strong current that asserts that social justice urgency requires the speediest of responses,” writes Rabbi Nate, as he considers what it means to disrupt that current.

R’ Arthur reflects on the role of “Prophetic Envoy”, and the mottos newly guiding him in “speaking to the best of how I can hear the Spirit, as close as I can get my ears and heart and soul to hear its music.”

Robert Kuttner of The American Prospect writes, “More Trump screwball nominations are going down, and he belatedly agrees to let the FBI vet nominees—meaning that still more will fall.”

Barton Kunstler, Ph.D., raises the question, “What constitutes effective political action that works without our toppling into chaos?” The answer is a multi-prong list of suggested actions that all fall under the heading, “Resistance is just another word for constructive policy”.

Torah urges us to be especially careful to “Justice, justice, shall you pursue” — “even or especially when it seems to be running away from you,” added the Rabbis.

We may well face a new attempt by power-holders to smash much of what we have created. How do we prevent this?

Democracy, by Leonard Cohen

We may not know exactly what comes next, but we do know it’s not back to what has been.

Two weeks ago tonight we hosted The Great “Save-In,” our Hoshanah Rabbah actifest that marked Reb Arthur’s transition to Prophetic Envoy and mine to Director, as well as the world at a crossroads. And while there were a variety of crossroads we had in mind in planning that event, it was the national election that was most present in our thinking. Well, here we are. Two weeks later. Election day.

R’ Arthur shares an excerpt of a recent thought-provoking piece by Rick Perlstein, columnist for The American Prospect.

Reb Arthur’s first note from his desk as Prophetic Envoy.

After the passing of the lulav, messages of gratitude and welcome, and an invitation to action.

Rabbi Nate's remarks at The Great "Save-In," telling the story about his journey to becoming Director, articulating The Shalom Center's shared vision for the next chapter, and expressing his well wishes and appreciation for Arthur, as he passed the lulav to Nate and became our Prophetic Envoy, a title he has already embodied so meaningfully for many decades.

Please join us tonight, as we traverse the cosmic crossroads of this moment, tending to our hearts and caring for our spirits.

This Hoshanah Rabbah, October 22nd, in-person in Philadelphia or online via Zoom, come celebrate Arthur’s 91st birthday. Honor his legacy. Be present for his final moments as Director of The Shalom Center, 41 years after founding the organization, as he passes the lulav of leadership to Rabbi Nate DeGroot and the next generation.

Three celebratory markers for Sukkot

Our suggestion for Yom Kippur: A blessing brought together by Rabbi Toba Spitzer, the spiritual leader of Congregation Dorshei Tzedek in Masssachsetts and a former president of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association.

A Hoshanah Rabbah actifest honoring Reb Arthur at 91 and marking the world at a crossroads, now accessible via Zoom livestream!.

Forget waiting for something or someone else to save us, we know that sometimes we need to take our saving into our own hands. We are not free to desist.