The High Holy Days are "Awe"most "Awe"pon us!

Growing up Catholic, I remember being amazed at the sudden increase in church attendance at Christmas and Easter. People I didn't even know were Catholics, showed up on those days considered special to the faith. I also remember the grumbling by some of the "regulars" about having to get there extra early in order to obtain their "usual" spot or at least a decent seat. And the judgment in general by some, who took very seriously the commandment to "Keep the Sabbath," was etched upon their faces. In Catholicism that meant it was a sin to miss Sunday services, so those who only came twice a year were scorned by some of those who came every week. The bi-yearly folks would often slink into the back row, hoping nobody would notice, and the judgmental would turn and glare. It was quite a sight to a six year old.

We Jews definitely have our share of guilt and judgment- they are human conditions difficult to fight, but I notice something different at our High Holy Day services. Yes, the numbers increase magnificently from weekly services, but it's more like a reunion of sorts. People seem genuinely happy to see one another- whether they come once a week, a month or only during the Days of Awe. Maybe a big part of the reason for the difference is that though we are commanded to "Keep Shabbat," we can do it in many ways. We can observe the Sabbath at home, in a lovely park, on a vacation with our family- wherever we are. It is our choice.

As a child, I was brought up with the fear of being struck down any minute for not following "the rules." The nuns regaled us with horror stories of what would happen "if..." and I had nightmares every time I did something I shouldn't have done. My mother always knew when I lied because of the look of sheer terror on my face. Part of that, I'm sure, had to do with the time period, and part of it had to do with going to a very strict Catholic school through my third grade year. To be fair, I did receive an excellent education there, and some of the nuns were very lovely, caring people, but we were not allowed to question ideas central to our faith. If we did, we faced the dreaded yardstick, so we learned to accept everything we were told very quickly.

It is exactly that which first attracted to me to Judaism: the idea that we can question Torah- we can even question God. We are given the freedom to think for ourselves and to come up with our own conclusions as to how to best serve God. If that means we attend weekly services at Temple or celebrate with dinner and blessings at home, a picnic in the park or a visit with a sick relative, we are all "keeping Shabbat" in our own way.

The High Holy Days give us another opportunity, not only to serve God, but to serve others and to welcome those we only get to see a few times a year. I'll look forward to seeing "all y'all" in September!