In his collection of supplementary readings for the High Holy days, Kaplan writes:

"In English-speaking congregations that use the traditional liturgy there are unmistakable signs of a growing demand for supplementary prayers and readings, which would translate the religious aspirations of our ancestors into terms of present-day experience. This condition is not without precedent in Jewish life. The large output of piyutim, or sacred verses, during the Middle Ages came in answer to a similar need. To be true to the living spirit of the Jewish religion, we should not content ourselves with past formulations of its ideals, but always seek to reformulate those ideals in terms of current situations and thought patterns. Every age should have its own piyut; and none should be more creative in that respect than ours. The infinite ramifications of modern life and knowledge reveal new and unsuspected implications in the religious insights of our prophets and teachers."

I’m reminded of the quote from Bamidbar Rabbah, talking about how Torah itself is a varied thing: it has flavors, faces, aspects, all of which are valid.

Our task, this year as we come into the holidays, is to remember that there is substance behind tradition, and that the newness we seek can be found within it as well. Are your metaphorical grapes dark or clear - mixed or unblended? What will you bring to the interpretation of the words so many have said for over 2000 years? How will you share it with others? Kaplan reminds us that to re-engage with text is a living task, an expected reality.

This year, we are giving you two ways to contribute: a traditional one and a new one. The Kaplan Center strives to bring you the most interesting and relevant programming, and we are committed to quality and to recognising our speakers with thanks, admiration and honoraria. Your ongoing financial support, in the form of a Rosh HaShana donation, sponsorship of webinars, or simple 'love money' of even a small amount makes a huge difference in our ability to maintain our offerings and send Rabbi Kaplan's words far and wide to touch hearts and engage new minds. Our YouTube channel is about to be buzzing with wonderful videos to reach a new audience. Talmud pages are being prepared, webinars are in the offing, and new books are being read and shared: please help us to grow and prosper in 5787 with a donation.

If you prefer to read than compose, and sip the wine instead of trading the grapes, here is a little piece for you from Yehudah Amichai. You will know it is written for all humans, women and men, just he needed a starting place: 

A Man in His Life
by Yehuda Amichai

A man doesn’t have time in his life
to have time for everything.
He doesn’t have seasons enough to have
a season for every purpose. Ecclesiastes
was wrong about that.

A man needs to love and to hate at the same moment,
to laugh and cry with the same eyes,
with the same hands to throw stones and to gather them,
to make love in war and war in love.
And to hate and forgive and remember and forget,
to arrange and confuse, to eat and to digest
what history
takes years and years to do.

A man doesn’t have time.
When he loses he seeks, when he finds
he forgets, when he forgets he loves, when he loves
he begins to forget.

And his soul is seasoned, his soul
is very professional.
Only his body remains forever
an amateur. It tries and it misses,
gets muddled, doesn’t learn a thing,
drunk and blind in its pleasures
and its pains.

He will die as figs die in autumn,
Shriveled and full of himself and sweet,
the leaves growing dry on the ground,
the bare branches pointing to the place
where there’s time for everything.

Just a reminder – this is a great time to think of sharing the metaphorical figs that you have been blessed with with others.

Shana Tova U’mtuka,