Shabbat Netzavim-Vayelech 2024

“Where have the gates closed in your heart this year, and where can you maybe start to pry them open a little bit? Where have you been cut off from the deepest and best part of yourself? Where have doors closed between you and the Divine this year, however you define it? Where have doors felt impossible to walk through with others in your family or in your community? Not that every door can be reopened, but there are some doors that slam in a moment of anger and can be gently opened up again?” Rabbi Marisa James asked us important questions as we go into Yom Kippur and this New Year in her drashah prior to Rosh Hashanah. 

She continued with blessings, which we share: “In this new year, I want to bless all of us with the ability to hold more doors open, to wedge in a foot when possible, to have strong arms and strong hearts, to pull them wide open. And when Ne’ilah comes, I bless everyone that you feel able to walk through that gate with open arms to greet the person you thought you might have been closed off from, to greet yourself and to greet the Divine.”

We hope that these questions and blessings can enrich the Ten Days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, and that you will share blessings and answers with us here in the comments or over the course of the year. 

Rabbi Marisa Elana James delivered this drashah at Kabbalat Shabbat services on Friday, September 27, 2024 / 25 Elul 5784.

Be in community with CBST at Kabbalat Shabbat services, Fridays at 6:30pm EST, either in person or streaming live on CBST’s website at cbst.org/livestream. 

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