Rabbi Mark Hyman: Our High Holy Days Rabbi

Words for Sof

Wishing my dearest new and old friends at Sof Maʻarav the Promise of a healthy, happy, and meaningful New Year! I learned early on that it was somewhat appropriate to begin extending heartfelt wishes to each other for a K’tivah v’Hatimah Tovah, even a Shanah Tovah as early as the month of Elul immediately preceding Rosh Hashanah. That acknowledgment seems to affirm that the joy and promise of the New Year is imminent, and that it is never too early to begin the process of Teshuvah, of returning to our best selves, and to improved relationships with God, Family, Community, and Creation. I cannot begin to tell you how excited Risa and I are to have been invited to participate in the Yamim Noraim, the Days of Awe at Sof Maarav. We have been attending Shabbat services at Sof for years whenever we get to Hawaiʻi – and even more frequently via Zoom during the Covid era.

We feel so very welcomed and literally at home at your friendly and haimish shul which ultimately motivated us to affiliate and become ‘official’ members of the Sof community. The special and warm bonds we celebrate with the Armstrong and Littman families are so very cherished, and I therefore look forward with abundant excitement and humility at being able to create new and wonderful relationships and experiences within your sacred community as I prepare to  facilitate your High Holiday observance beginning just two months from today. Sof Maarav has so many positive attributes in common with my home shul, Congregation Tikvat Jacob Beth Torah in Manhattan Beach, California – and explains why it feels so comfortable and so right to daven, schmooze, study and celebrate with you. Thank you again for the Kavod, the honor of sharing your sacred space and time that will frame our journey to 5783. Hazak v’Amatz – May we all be strong and strengthened by each other.