Conservative Synagogues Get Artsy for Selichot
Rabbis and community members from around Atlanta gathered to express themselves in an artistic fashion.
Members of Atlanta’s seven Conservative synagogues expressed their past year through art Sat., Sept. 1, at a joint, late-night program for Selichot, the official kick-off of the High Holiday season.
Rabbi Michael Bernstein of Congregation Gesher L’Torah in Alpharetta, where the joint event was held, said the synagogues were inspired to focus on art as the theme of the gathering based on a quote by Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel:
“Above all, remember that the meaning of life is to build a life as if it were a work of art.”
Selichot is the opportunity to begin the High Holiday season with teaching and prayers about reflection on the past year and inspiration for the new one, Bernstein said. All in attendance had the opportunity to use a collage of various colors to represent the important aspects of their past year, he said.
“With innovative approaches – even if without, for the most part, artistic expertise – participants shared their pieces and learned together ways to make the coming year more meaningful.”
“The Art of Teshuvah” interactive program and discussion at 9:45 p.m. was followed by a Selichot service led by the rabbis from the Conservative congregations.
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