A reopening of school ritual practiced by some heads of school is to stand at the school driveway entrance and wave to greet students and families when they return for the first day of school.
As it is hurricane season, the weather this morning at 8:30 outside the school building was as my mother would describe it “pluchy” which means pretty much what it sounds like.
That said, I opened my umbrella, stood at the entrance to the school driveway and waved at students and parents as they drove into AHA and arrived for preschool this morning. I must say that standing in the rain never felt so nice.
Even under adverse weather conditions being able to witness the return of even part of our student body drive up to school was a privilege I took for granted in the past.
Then like Noah must have felt when he left the ark, the rain soon stopped and I put my umbrella down and stood at the entrance with a sense of gratitude that at least we have been able to reach this point bruised but not broken.
Today is Rosh Chodesh Elul which is the time Jews around the world traditionally look forward to the approaching New Year with hopes and dreams of a better future.
This year perhaps even more than any year in recent memory we all hope and pray that there will be a new beginning for the world at large, our community, and our families.
As the song says “who knows what tomorrow brings” but today is a day to celebrate a new beginning and a new chapter in Addlestone’s history as we begin our 65th year of opening Charleston’s Jewish day school to serve our community.
For that alone we can say Shehecheyanu and Dayeinu. Please let me take this opportunity to wish you and your family a happy and healthy New Year.
Shabbat Shalom, Chodesh Tov, and Shanah Tovah,
Rabbi Elisha Paul
