Together, We Begin Again.
- Oct 27, 2025
- 2 min read
Together, We Begin Again. It feels fitting that, just as we emerge from the High Holy Days we shared here at the Danforth Jewish Circle, the Torah itself begins again, reminding us that creation and re-creation are at the heart of Jewish life. These weeks have taken us from Bereishit’s formless beginnings to the floodwaters of Noah. Soon, we will reach Lech Lecha — God’s call to Abraham: “Go forth… to the land that I will show you.” Creation, destruction, and courageous beginning again — this is the rhythm of these early chapters of Torah. It’s also the rhythm of our world right now. Hours before the Jewish world rejoiced on Simchat Torah, the last living hostages were released from Gaza, at long last returning home. What extraordinary light broke through that long, dark night! The joy and relief are real and deep, and yet, as with Noah’s floodwaters, the aftermath remains unsettled. Some families still wait for bodies to be returned for burial. Others now begin the slow work of rebuilding life after the unthinkable. Vast destruction remains in Gaza, and the road to recovery and rebuilding will be arduous. The rainbow in this moment is imperfect, but like in the story of the Flood, it is still a covenant sign: a promise that life continues, that creation begins again, and that hope remains a buoy of possibility to which each of us must hold fiercely. Against that backdrop of pain and rebuilding, we witnessed a different kind of renewal at the DJC. This one was born of music, courage, and shared humanity. On October 10, the Jerusalem Youth Chorus filled our sanctuary with radiant harmony; Hebrew, Arabic, and English voices rising together in courage and beauty. Their music carried the spirit of Lech Lecha: a willingness to step out toward the unknown, to imagine a world not yet seen, and to journey toward real relationship and peace. For one shining evening, we glimpsed what humanity can sound like when we choose creation over destruction and courage over fear. Those in the room witnessed truths and harmonies that carried beyond the lyrics.
As our community continues to grow into this season of renewal, I’m excited to invite you into two new opportunities for connection and learning: Bite-Size Torah: a weekly 15-minute, text-based teaching on the week’s Torah portion… small bites of wisdom to nourish your week. Kiddush Conversations: Following our monthly Shabbat morning services, gather with me around the Kiddush table for a short, relaxed learning experience — exploring the history and meaning of our prayers. In this season of beginnings — from creation to flood to first steps of faith — we are reminded that building and becoming are never finished. We are called again and again to create light where there is shadow, to rebuild what’s been broken, and to go forth even when the way is uncertain. Let us continue to build our Circle together. Rabbi Ilyse Glickman