The only synagogue in Bloomington-Normal is in preparation mode for the Jewish high holidays, a two-week period of celebration, introspection and atonement beginning later this month.
Services at Moses Montefiore Temple kick off Sept. 13 with S’lichot, penitential prayers said before and during the high holidays. The Jewish new year, Rosh Hashanah, will be observed Sept. 22-23 at the temple, with Yom Kippur, or the day of atonement, taking place Oct. 1-2. Services are live streamed and available virtually as well.
Moses Montefiore is part of the Union for Reform Judaism, a modern, progressive form of Judaism distinct from Orthodox Judaism. In Illinois, Orthodox congregations are largely concentrated on the North Side of Chicago, straddling the northern suburbs.
The first Jewish community members arrived in Bloomington-Normal around 1850. Moses Montefiore Temple held its first service in Bloomington on Rosh Hashanah in 1882.
“It is a small but mighty community of people whose points of view are wide-ranging,” Moses Montefiore Rabbi Rebecca Dubowe said. “As we enter the high holy days, we’re entering a time that is very difficult, chaotic out there. And yet, at the same time, when we come together for these sacred gatherings, the goal is to reflect and recognize who we are, knowing that each one of us matters.”
As the congregation’s spiritual leader, Dubowe said it’s important for the Jewish community to come together. But unlike Christians in Bloomington-Normal, who can shop for a congregation that best aligns with their personal and spiritual beliefs, Moses Montefiore is a diverse, intergenerational group who does not always agree with one another—especially amid the ongoing war in the Middle East. Oct. 7 marks two years since the Hamas-led attack on Israel which sparked the conflict.
“One of the things we’re so proud of is the fact that there have been people who have come in from all different backgrounds,” said Dubowe. “We’re entering these holy days with an idea of seeking renewal of hope, connection and engagement with the community, even if there are different points of view—especially with what’s going on in Israel and the fact that it’s constantly changing day by day.”
On Tuesday, Israel launched an attack in Qatar which targeted leaders of the militant group Hamas and killed more than 50 people. Qatar is a key U.S. ally in the region. The same day, Israeli officials issued an evacuation order for Gaza City as talks for a cease fire remain stalled.
“It is an ongoing struggle for me as a spiritual leader,” Dubowe said, “but it’s also a very important part of my mission and focus. What I do best is listen. Try not to react but to listen. That is my place.”
Dubowe said she tries to create space for community members to gather and work through conflicted feelings about the war and Israel as both a state and spiritual homeland—and the ripple effect it has had on American Jews as antisemitic rhetoric and violence have escalated.
Bloomington-Normal is generally safe for the Jewish community, but not immune. During the high holidays, Moses Montefiore hires a security guard. Dubowe is a member of Not in Our Town and has reached out to the Bloomington Police Department on numerous occasions—including last month, when a flyer with a swastika-like logo was circulated through the community.
“Some people really don’t want to talk about it, and that’s OK,” she said. “It’s not something we have to roll up our sleeves and sit around the table and see what we can do. It’s a very slow process. I believe, for the most part, we must remember to respect one another."
Making time and space for worship
Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur both fall during the week this year, which complicates things for congregants, some of whom have to decide whether to use sick days to attend synagogue.
Dubowe said she sends Jewish calendars to schools to remind administrators that teachers and students may request time off to worship. But the practicalities of taking the time to attend services and community meals following periods of fasting, she said, are worth it.
“I believe most of our people are really looking forward to coming in,” she said. “Yet, it is rigorous. It is time consuming. Most people in our community are totally unaware that these are our holy days. Then when I come speak with my Christian colleagues in November, I say, ‘Yep, you’re turn.’”
Dubowe said many of the prayers recited during Rosh Hashanah reflect on the past year.
“We also recognize that we’re not perfect, and that leads us to the Day of Atonement 10 days later,” she said. “In our liturgy on that day, our liturgy says ‘we,’ not ‘you’ or ‘I.’ We are all responsible for one another. We are all not perfect. We have all made mistakes. We all have a chance to change and be better.”
Looking after her own spiritual health also requires intentional effort. Dubowe will take a few days off in October. She credits her husband for his enduring support. And while she typically does not wear religious garments during services, this time of year she wears a white robe to remind her of the weight she carries.
“Something about that robe reminds me of who I am and keeps me grounded,” she said. “There’s a little weight on it, and by the end of the holidays my shoulders are sore. To be frank, there’s not much time for me. But even though it’s the busiest time of the year, and it’s stressful emotionally and exhausting, it’s also the most beautiful time of the year. It reminds me we are in this together.”
