Pardes Hannah’s High Holy Days this year will be co-led by rabbis Elliot Ginsburg and Aura Ahuvia, as it explores the theme Lev Tov, “Good Heart,” taken from a story in Pirkei Avot.
According to the story, Rabban Yahanan ben Zakkai told his five disciples to try figuring out the “right path” in life. “Go out and observe,” he directed. They did, and upon their return, they each had a different answer: a good eye; being a good friend; being a good neighbor, having foresight, and lastly, having a good heart. Ben Zakkai favored having a good heart “because it includes the others.”
We might ask ourselves today: What is good-heartedness? Where does it come from? Is it worth cultivating, and if so, how?
Pardes Hannah explores its thematic questions through prayer, reflection, teaching and discussion. This year, PH welcomes Ahuvia, a musically gifted singer and guitar player ordained in Jewish Renewal over a decade ago, to co- lead.
Ahuvia was enthusiastic about remaining local for this year’s holidays. “I have learned so much from my travels around the country,” said Ahuvia of her stints leading High Holy Day services in San Francisco, Portland, and Dayton over the last five years, “but Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti is where my heart is. I can’t wait to reconnect with spiritual community here in my hometown.”
High Holy Day services mix tradition with innovation. For example, two Yom Kippur services, the Avodah service (close to the end of the morning service) and Yizkor (late afternoon), offer unique options for deep practice. Firstly is PH’s Avodah service, typically a word-filled liturgy recapitulating the dramatic biblical scene in which the high priest entered the central chamber of the temple.
Drawing upon the Zohar, the masterwork of Jewish Mysticism, Rabbi Ginsburg brings reflection, meditation and chant to the question of what it means to enter the Holy of Holies. The goal is to translate the energy of this powerful moment to today’s communities. Later that afternoon Yizkor, a service honoring the memories of those who no longer walk the earth, will offer opportunities for personal sharing in a sacred setting.
Under the devoted spiritual guidance of Rabbi and University of Michigan Jewish mysticism Professor Elliot Ginsburg, Pardes Hannah has become an established Ann Arbor-area institution, anchoring Jewish Renewal within the larger Jewish community of Washtenaw County. Rabbis Rob Dobrusin and Nadav Caine have generously allowed PH to hold its services in the G&S 2010 Building at Beth Israel. PH offers monthly Shabbat morning services, which are co-led by Rabbis Ginsburg and Ahuvia, as well as monthly Torah study, Rosh Chodesh gatherings, and other special events. All practices are taught; new members are not assumed to know either Hebrew or meditation.
The name Pardes Hannah is multi-layered. While it translates as “Ann’s Orchard,” a nod to Ann Arbor, the Hebrew words Pardes and Hannah also have independent meanings.
Pardes is an acronym for multiple levels of Torah interpretation: “P” stands for p’shat, contextual meaning; “R” for remez, allegorical or philosophical meaning; “D” for drash, homiletical, midrashic meaning, and “S” for sod, mystical understanding. Taken together, this PRDS suggests Judaism’s commitment to multi-layered truth, tolerating complexity and diversity while remaining connected to Torah. The second word, Hannah, was the name of a biblical figure who knew how to pray from the heart. We as Jews follow her example today.
PH’s High Holy Day services are open to the public; they are free for PH members, whereas non-members may gain access by purchasing a Days of Awe Passport and Visa, which includes in-person and online access to all High Holy Day services, choir rehearsals and the specially-designed Renewal machzor, or prayer book. Those who decide to join PH after attending its services may apply the cost of the passport to membership.
Since Pardes Hannah nurtures spiritual experimentation in Washtenaw County, it would find your support meaningful whether or not you were to personally join.