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The Ten Days of Repentance, from Rosh Ha'Shanah to Yom Kippur, present us with the opportunity to make resolutions for the year ahead, examine our behaviour and generally look at our lives from a different, broader perspective. In a way, we are fortunate to have another chance to take stock, in January, with the start of a secular new year. Although our Jewish year is well under way, we can look back at our thoughts and resolutions of Rosh Ha'Shanah, and assess how we have done so far. Has anything changed? Have our family and personal relationships been revalued? Have we strengthened our Jewish life and commitment?

As far as that last question is concerned, there are several ways we can do this, ways in which we can immediately have a positive impact, both on our lives, and certainly on the life of the PJCEA. We have a good momentum going, but we need to make an effort to continue that in the coming year.

Make a point of attending our monthly communal services and Engaging With Judaism sessions. Put the dates in your diary well in advance. Please volunteer to do security during services – we need your help. The Hebrew group would be delighted to welcome you – they have been terrifically self-motivated, and I know they are reaping the benefits of their work and commitment. We look forward to your help in seeing our Cheder go from strength to strength. Come and sing with us on Shabbat morning – our more confident singing has greatly enhanced the experience of our services. Deborah Carpenter, who organises the mitzvot in our services, needs your co-operation and willingness to accept the honour of performing a mitzvah. The latter requires participation in ark opening, lighting candles, reciting the Torah blessings, reading the Haftarah and its blessings, among other mitzvot. If you don't feel confident, don't let that stop you. Next month, during our morning EWJ session, we will be doing a 'Mitzvot Training Session'. I hope that it will help to make members of the community feel more comfortable about performing mitzvot, especially during the Shabbat morning service. We'll learn about the 'choreography' of the Torah service, and we'll engage in a serious 'how to' session. Doing something new almost always feels uncomfortable at first, but I am always there to guide and help, as are others who are there to assist at services. DO come to the session, and participate. Performing a mitzvah in a service will give you a sense of pride, of reward and of togetherness, and you will be doing a service for the community.

Now is an opportunity to take another step and support each other, to make us more cohesive and ready to face 2008, and the rest of 5768, with a new strength. I look forward to seeing you at the end of this month.

— Rabbi Rachel Benjamin