Refresh. Repair. Renew. What do these themes mean to you?
Refresh:5776 is an opportunity to explore big questions about self and community at a time of year when Jews the world over are celebrating the New Year in a multitude of ways.
But our way will be different:
Our way will be creative. Our way will be self-directed. Our way will be musical, theatrical, boundary-pushing and thought-provoking.
Our way will have no strings attached, no tickets required, and no expectations.
Just you - and others - seeking a different kind of Rosh Hashanah experience: outside the walls of the synagogue and into the hearts and minds of us all. What will we be doing at refresh:5776? We’ll begin at 6pm with go-at-your-own-pace activities to help us reflect on this past year, accompanied by heavy appetizers, good music, and good wine. At around 7 we will move into a musically uplifting prayerful experience highlighted by a theatrical rendition of the story of Jonah, breakout discussion groups, and a consciousness to teach and re-teach that which makes the High Holidays the most sacred time of the Jewish calendar. Who can come to this? Refresh:5776 is geared towards those in the 20ish to 30ish age range seeking an alternative yet meaningful Rosh Hashanah experience without the pressure of synagogue dues or formal High Holiday tickets. Our goal is to make Rosh Hashanah accessible to all.
And yes - there will be wine. Which means you've got to show us you're at least 21. So bring your IDs - we'll be checking them at the door!
What will I get out of this? Our hope is that you will leave this unique evening with a renewed sense of who you are and your place within an extraordinarily diverse Jewish community; that you will connect with others and explore a new way of engaging with your Judaism, Jewishness, or Jew(ish)ness.
What does it cost? This program is entirely free of cost for all participants. That was made possible by a generous grant from the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle.
What should I wear? Is a suit required? Wear what you're comfortable in - nice jeans, khakis, a dress, a kilt. Be yourself, and don't worry about what you're wearing. And no, suits are not necessary, unless you're into the whole three-piece-ensemble thing.
After I “refresh,” what comes next? Ah, our favorite question! We hope that this one event will not be the last time we see you. There are incredible things happening in the Jewish community of Seattle and we want to help you find your place. Essentially, we want to be your “Seattle Jewish community yenteh,” minus the guilt.