Just before The Jewish New Year began, one of the battery run candles that I bring to health centers would barely light up. Many immediately assumed that the candle was broken. Of course, I wasn’t so quick to toss the candle out. I tried some new batteries and, not only did the candles start glowing again, they were brighter than they had been in a very long time. The new batteries recharged the candles and gave them new life.

The period in between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur is about recharging our batteries. It is about getting re-energized. I was at a Zumba class recently. I was excited to be there as my favorite teacher was away at the Zumba Convention in Orlando the week before.

Well, she just about killed everyone in the class. No, she wasn’t angry with us. It’s just that she was so full of energy that we were all sweating like crazy. The class was great and, as it ended, I joked with the instructor that, next year, we are not going to let her go to the convention. She knew why I said that ,and she gave a big smile and a hearty laugh. Then she told me that she hoped she didn’t work us too hard, but that her time at the convention with all the other Zumba teachers had renewed her energy; it had recharged her battery, and, while she always loves teaching the classes, having just come back from the convention everything seemed fresh and new again.

So, since so many people have lost contact with the Temple, lost their enthusiasm for their faith, and since so many people who come regularly to worship have simply made it into a blah routine, perhaps we should look at the Holy Days as a Judaic Super Convention. This is a convention in which Jews of all denominations, those who are members and those who have no affiliation, have a decision to make.

What is the decision? Am I going to attend the convention? Am I going to pay the price of a ticket? Am I going to come together with all the others who have lost, or perhaps never had a passion for their faith, the faith of their Fathers — Abraham, Isaac,and Jacob, the faith of theirmothers — Sarah, Rebecca, Am Igoing to commit myself to learn the steps of Judaism?

Rosh Hashana is over [ends tomorrow at sundown], but you still have time to attend the convention. You might not be all that familiar with the prayers. Well, when people first start Zumba, it takes them time to learn the steps and some are harder than others.

Some may know the prayers with a certain melody and might hear the Cantor use some newer melodies. In Zumba, part of the excitement is learning new steps. It keeps you on your toes.

I have been doing Zumba for a long time now. I am decent at it, and I love going to class. I love the steps that are familiar to me, but I also love when the instructor adds something new, something different; and, I know I still have much to learn.

Judaism is similar in that respect; those who think they cannot take part give up without taking the time to learn the steps; and those who think they know it all, well, they close their hearts to learning anything new; and in our faith, there is always something new, there is always room for improvement.

So come to Temple, learn the steps to Judaism. Come dance with us, and, together, we will dance with G-d.

Shalom my friends,

Rabbi Craig H. Ezring

Rabbi Ezring is a member of the National Association of Jewish Chaplains and of the Association of Professional Chaplains, He works professionally in this capacity with a number of healthcare facilities in the area, and with hospice. Rabbi Ezring is the spiritual leader of Temple Beth Israel of Deerfield Beach. High Holy Days tickets are now on sale in the Temple office off of Hillsboro and Military. Regular Shabbat services are open to everyone on Saturday mornings from 10 to 11:30 a.m.