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by Rabbi Nathan Kamesar
It’s hard to put to words the experience of relief many of us are feeling in response to the release of the living Israeli hostages this week, and an apparent end to the war — an experience, which, to state the obvious, must be but a shade of the experience of those most directly impacted: the hostages and their families, and the people of Israel, Gaza, and beyond.
This has been a harrowing two years — essentially exactly two years according to the Jewish calendar: Hamas’ violent attack of October 7, 2023, fell on the dual Jewish holiday of Sh’mini Atzeret/Simhat Torah, which this year fell two days ago, on October 14, 2025.
We commemorated that occasion here at Society Hill Synagogue in our observance of Simhat Torah — traditionally a joyous, even raucous holiday, with dancing and flag waving, celebrating both the conclusion and beginning of the cycle of reading the Torah all the way through — with an extended moment of silence and a collective Mourner’s Kaddish (the Jewish memorial prayer) among the 200 people who were present at the beginning of the service, a small nod to the considerable heartbreak of the experience, held alongside the joy that also makes up Jewish, and human, life. This is the experience of being Jewish and being human: knowing heartbreak and knowing joy, both expressed through the same vessel — the heart; both found in the same story — for us Jews, the Torah.
Simhat Torah was the capstone of the fall Jewish holiday season, our 17th service in 26 days (but who’s counting?), an exhausting and nourishing experience all at once. People have shared with me how a meaningfully-engaged-with fall holiday season can spiritually carry them through much of a year.
And yet, there is more to come. Jewish life, despite the challenges of the past couple of years, continues undaunted — in many ways inspired.
As we’ve shared, over 1,000 people joined us for our Rosh Hashanah services, and again nearly 1,100 joined us for Yom Kippur. More than 100 students come together each week in our Hebrew School, and typically at least 50 more adults join us for each Friday night and Saturday morning Shabbat service, with bustling Oneg dinners and Kiddush lunches following each one. Over 125 students have registered for our adult education classes this year, and you can still sign up here. Forty volunteers have signed up to join our new Hesed Committee, providing care as best we can for our community members in need. Dozens more volunteer for our Food Insecurity initiative in partnership with Old Pine Community Center. Opportunities for participation in Jewish communal life, experiencing the strength, the nourishment, and the inspiration that brings to us in times of need, abound here at Society Hill Synagogue.
In fact, on the heels of the fall holiday season, we hold a special Friday night dinner and service in honor of Jewish communal service and what it takes to sustain communities like this one. In particular, each year, we honor two members of our community who have given years of service to this congregation. This year, our honorees, who receive the titles of Hatan Torah and Kallat Bereshit, are Michael Hafter and Susan Berman. Tomorrow, October 17, following 6:00 pm TGIShabbat services, over dinner, Michael and Susan will share their stories of service with us, helping us all learn and reflect on how to build Jewish community.
