The High Holy Days don’t begin with a shofar blast—they begin with intention. At Temple HBT, that journey starts now, with connection and community. I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately, especially as I watch summer winding down and feel that familiar pull toward something deeper. You know that feeling when August hits and suddenly you’re aware that time is moving differently? The Jewish calendar knows this rhythm better than we do sometimes.
For many people, Rosh Hashanah feels like it appears out of nowhere—suddenly there are apples and honey at the store, and oh right, the holidays are here. But there’s another way to live this. There’s an arc that begins weeks earlier, a gentle slope that carries us toward those holy days not with panic, but with readiness.
At Temple Hillel B’nai Torah in West Roxbury, our community—led by Rabbi Aliza Schwartz—is figuring out something important: the journey to the High Holidays isn’t about getting your prayers perfect or your theology ironed out. It’s about reconnection. With each other. With the parts of ourselves we may have lost track of. With what actually matters.
One recent Shabbat, Rabbi Aliza said something that stuck with me: Preparing for Rosh Hashanah doesn’t happen in a rush the week before. It starts earlier, bit by bit over the summer, if we let it.
And honestly, that helped something click. The events at HBT this season aren’t just “summer programming” or things to fill the calendar. They’re part of that arc. Each one, even the casual ones, is there to gently pull us in. To help us arrive at the High Holidays not just on time, but ready—more grounded, more open.
The Season That Holds Us
This year, that slow build starts with Tisha B’Av, the ancient day of mourning that reminds us how brokenness can live close to holiness. Just a few days later, we reach Shabbat Nachamu, the “Shabbat of Comfort” marking the beginning of a seven-week journey of consolation that leads us to the High Holidays.
At HBT, we’ve learned to live that arc not just in prayer, but in community. The music gets brighter, the gatherings a little more joyful. We have pizza and prayer, backyard singing, organizing meetings rooted in Jewish values, and Shabbat mornings with tunes from summer camp.
It might look like a busy calendar, but it’s really a path—one that helps us show up with more heart when the Days of Awe arrive.
Jewish tradition tells us, Mi shenichnas Adar, marbin b’simcha—when the month of Adar arrives, we increase joy. That teaching isn’t just seasonal. It’s a reminder that joy can be a communal practice. Not something we’re forced to feel, but something we build together. The communal mood doesn’t erase our individual feelings; it holds them—and sometimes, it transforms them.
Our Arc of Intentions: Upcoming Highlights at HBT
Each of these gatherings is more than just an event—they’re steps along our shared spiritual journey toward the High Holidays. In addition to our weekly Shabbat and Kabbalat Shabbat services, and our contemplative Moment for Maariv offerings, these special programs create a rhythm of reflection, joy, and reconnection—offering a true taste of HBT’s spirit and community.
- Political Moment Gathering – July 27
A chance to reflect, organize, and act in this critical civic year—rooted in Jewish values of justice, community, and moral clarity. - Summer Shakin’ Shabbat – August 8
A popular, interactive, musical Shabbat service geared toward families with young children—joyful, welcoming, and full of movement. - #SecondSaturday Family Shabbat – August 9
A spirited morning service featuring music from Camp Havaya, designed to bring comfort, connection, and joy. - Fourth Friday Outdoor Shabbat – August 22
Song-filled services under the open sky, followed by conversation and community connection. - Fall Cookout & Open House – September 5
Candle lighting, a grilled kosher dinner (with options for all), and a warm Shabbat welcome. Bring a friend, bring the kids—this is what community tastes like.
These aren’t just one-off events. They’re invitations—ways to begin showing up with intention, long before we arrive at Rosh Hashanah (Sept. 22-24) and Yom Kippur (Oct. 1-2).
Why Support and Membership Matter
Our doors are open to all, but it’s our members who help keep them open. Every song, every gathering, every joyful or quiet moment is made possible by the people who sustain this community. If you find meaning here, consider becoming a part of what keeps it going.
Membership doesn’t just support the programs—it deepens your connection. Participating as a member adds richness and resonance to each experience, grounding it in community and shared purpose.
Come As You Are
Whether you’re seeking tradition, community, reflection, or a fresh start, the journey to the High Holidays begins now. Not with stress or pressure, but with small acts of connection.
Start with any Shabbat service—Friday evening or Saturday morning—or come to one of our summer gatherings. Try the musical joy of our #SecondSaturday Family Shabbat, the Summer Shakin’ Shabbat for young children and their grownups, the Political Moment Gathering to ground us in shared values, or the Fall Cookout and Open House on Sept. 5.
The truth is, you can read about this arc all you want, but the only way to really understand it is to step into it. Come see what it feels like to be part of something that’s quietly, intentionally building toward something meaningful.
You don’t need to commit to everything. You don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need to show up once and see what happens. The path to the High Holidays is already unfolding—and there’s a place in it for you.
Find us at emplehbt.org. Questions? Just call us at 617-323-0486—we’d love to hear from you.
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