Not “Goodbye” but “Be Seeing You”
My dear Am HaYam Family,
Our tradition teaches: kol hat-cha-lot kashot, “all beginnings are difficult.” This phrase has been something that many speakers, ancient and modern, religious or secular, have used. I myself have said it many times. But as I prepare to end my tenure at CAH, I am realizing something deeper about this statement that I never considered before: All beginnings are difficult because all endings are difficult. As we prepare to end this phase, I have been deep in thought:
- How do I put into words what you all have meant to me these past 13 years?
- How do I let you know how much I have learned, how much I have developed as a rabbi, and how much I have deepened as a person because of you?
- How do I let you know that I will deeply miss you, but you will remain with me?
Thankfully, our tradition gives us guidance at saying “goodbye.” We normally think of the High Holy Days as ending with the last blast of the shofar at the end of Yom Kippur. Yet we continue to recite Psalm 27, the psalm for the High Holy Day period, through the seventh day–the final day–of the Sukkot holy day. Our rabbis decided that the High Holy Days culminate on Sh’mini Atzeret, the day after that. Our Sages understood the word atzeret as “stopping,” a day to stop. They envisioned G!d saying to the pilgrims who celebrated Sukkot in Jerusalem: “Stop, stay with Me an extra day.”
I’m proud to say that our transition has taken its cue from this time-honored tradition. We move from the High Holy Days to the next year in stages, and we have done our transition in stages, with affection and purpose and a plan—and with shalom.
Shalom is, after all, central to the Sabbath and Festivals. It is even regarded in our tradition as one of G!d’s Names. Yet our Talmudic Sages had a debate about what the appropriate words of farewell should be. Some said that, when parting from friends, we should say, Lech l’shalom, “Go towards peace.” Others said that the proper words should be Lech b’shalom, “Go in peace.”
Both expressions are appropriate. We part in peace because of what we have accomplished together these past thirteen years. Yet we know that what gives us the most peace and joy are the deep attachments and friendships that we have built here. And on that foundation, we can all go towards peace, looking forward to new relationships and new responsibilities because of the quality of associations and achievements made here at CAH, and that you can continue to forge here at CAH.
We know that the word shalom means “hello” and “goodbye,” as well as “peace.” But it really means completeness, fulfillment, soundness, welfare, well-being, and contentment.
- Thank you for the honor of involving me in your lives, your families, sad as well as happy moments, your worthy activities and visions, your milestone events.
- Thanks for the fulfillment and contentment that all of this has brought to my life.
- Thank you for your questions about Judaism, your thoughts about Torah and Jewish life, your commitment to Israel and social justice, and your search for G!d.
- Thank you for thereby sharing my concern for the welfare of the Jewish People and of our sacred covenant with G!d, and what we might bring to the welfare of our community, our city, our country, our people, and our planet.
- Thank you for your friendship, your attentiveness, and your appreciation through the years.
- And thank you for always being so appreciative of and passionate about Am HaYam. We have defied every prognostication and questions about the viability of a Conservative synagogue in the Ventura area.
So thank you and shalom and farewell as we say not “goodbye,” but “l’hit-ra’ot,” the Jewish hope that we’ll see each other again. And we will–particularly at our June 9 luncheon dedicated to celebrating our time together–and then again as we celebrate Shavuot with dinner and services on Wednesday night June 12 and services on Thursday morning June 13. [NOTE: See elsewhere in this Migdalor for details!]
I am delighted that as of July 1, 2024, Rabbi Ben Goldstein will succeed me here at CAH. I know that Rabbi Goldstein will lead CAH into the next chapter with wisdom, kindness, and compassion. I know that all of you will welcome Rabbi Goldstein with CAH warmth and learn from him with joy. I will be watching from the desert, looking to get naches from your next stage, and yet ready to support when appropriate.
It’s been a great honor to lead CAH these past 13 years. G!d bless Am HaYam and all of our members, friends, and neighbors, the Jewish People everywhere, and all humanity with shalom. Amen.
Rabbi J.B. Sacks