Written by Jackie Schicker

Rosh Hashanah morning just as we were beginning to pray the Amidah, my heart began to race. All morning I had tried to keep calm and collected and focus on beginning the New Year as sweetly as possible. Still I shook and worried, in anticipation of the task ahead. But finally as I was bowing and davening I was struck with awe by the momentous and beautiful tradition in which I was to play a vital role.

This Rosh Hashanah on my synagogue's bimah I was privileged to chant from the Torah. I have had few experiences more thrilling than standing before my entire congregation on the holiest of days in the Jewish calendar, carrying on a tradition that has been practiced for thousands of years. For my small congregation it was the first time they allowed a youth member of the congregation such an important honor.

I was intensely gratified to find however that many other teens across the country were also being honored in various ways within their communities on the High Holy Days. I spoke with students from Dallas and California, Spring, Texas and Georgia. “As I was on the Bimah, chanting what Moses said to the Israelites thousands of years ago, I felt like I was recreating the scene; delivering this message to my fellow Temple congregants. Reading and chanting Torah is like going back in time; it's a great way to feel personally and spiritually connected to Judaism.” Jana Cohen shared these words with me, when I broached the topic speaking to her about chanting on both Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

Encouraging young Jews to “personally and spiritually connect to Judaism” is what thousands of programs strive to do in their work. We are so willing to become the leaders of the future and are forever grateful for the chance to learn and grow into them now. The awesome truth is the power to change lives and enrich them with Jewish values is in the hand of every rabbi and every synagogue.