By now, you have most likely seen our congregation’s new, bright, and colorful logo. I want to express our community’s immense gratitude to our very own Shane Granja, who — with her spiritual and artistic sensibilities and graphic design expertise — brought to life this dynamic visual display. Shane and I spent many hours this summer meticulously refining our ideas, receiving feedback from others, and finally arriving at the image we now all see. I believe that this logo communicates the exciting energy and meaningful values that abound within our reinvigorated congregation, and I hope that its entry onto the pages of our website and promotional literature will help usher in a new era of success for Temple Ami Shalom. I would like to begin sharing some of my interpretations of the logo, with the hope of inspiring additional excitement about the present and future of our community. I might repeat this exercise with new ideas throughout the year, and I invite each of you to think of your own interpretive perspectives.
Upon viewing the logo, one immediately sees two prominent images — the menorah, the traditional seven-branched candelabrum, and the magen david, the star (or shield) of David — perhaps the two most easily recognizable symbols of the Jewish people. So, the first message our logo communicates may be that we are a community rooted in tradition. For a Conservative synagogue, this is an appropriate message; yet, it only tells one part of our story. Perhaps you are the type of person who looks beyond the big-picture shapes in front of you; maybe you focus instead on the other symbolic meanings of the images, or on that which is not visible, or on other ways in which the images are presented — their placement, their colors, their symmetry, etc. Or, maybe you take note of the interaction of the different images. Each manner of viewing the logo offers a fresh understanding not only of one’s own predispositions and potentially one’s spiritual nature but also on our strengths and possibilities as a community.
The menorah is more than just a general signifier of Jewish community and history. It is a constant reminder of the importance of the number seven in Jewish life — particularly the seven days of Creation and of each week, both of which, of course, culminate with Shabbat. Our unique rendering of the menorah adds even greater emphasis to the centrality of Shabbat. One will notice that our menorah really consists of six interlocking branches — the seventh rises up out of the middle of the design in a way that suggests elevation or transcendence. It even supports a flame that is shaped like the Hebrew letter shin, most obviously standing for “Shalom” (as in “Ami Shalom”) but also reminding us of the words “sh’vi’i” (seventh) and “Shabbat.” So, too, the seventh day rises as a day apart from the six days of the work week, and so, too, it is on Shabbat that we at Ami Shalom have the greatest opportunity to celebrate our heritage and our values. The seventh and central branch calls out to current and potential members of the Ami Shalom community to be a part of our Shabbat observance — our Saturday morning service, with its communal kiddush that follows, along with stimulating Torah study both in the sanctuary and after lunch; our heymish First Fridays; our spiritually uplifting musical services both for families and adults; our various “101” options for learning the service from more of a beginner’s perspective; our children’s services; etc. It brings me great joy to know that ours is a congregation that takes gathering for Shabbat worship and celebration as something fundamental to our success, and I hope to see many of you partaking in this great gift of our tradition.
The only part of the menorah that is ablaze is the “seventh” branch — an ironic fact, considering that it is on Shabbat that we traditionally don’t light fire. This curious point leads us, however, to the very center of the logo, where we see a different light from the one at the top of the logo — the light emanating from within the star or shield. This light provides the chromatic crescendo of our logo, one of the two points to which the eye is most drawn. The other, as I discussed above, is the vertical apex of the shin-shaped flame. The flame claims distinction within the logo for climbing higher than any other element, but the light within the magen david is distinctive because of its brightness. For me, that brighter light is the light of creation. It is the inner “light-bulb” of inspiration, the enlightening experience that occurs to us individually and communally when we become partners with the Divine in the ongoing act of creation. It is the primordial light of goodness and peace that entered the cosmos with God’s first utterance; the light that tradition says was hidden away for the righteous for a future time; that is only partially visible for us today and needs to be contained so as not to blind us with its radiance; it is the spiritual light that we find by looking inward as opposed to always having to look upward for visions of transcendence. After all, as Moshe tells the Israelites, Torah is not in the heavens; rather, “the word is very near to you, . . . in your heart, that you may do it.” (Deut. 30:12-14). This is the light that remains eternally present for us, available on both the six days of the week and on Shabbat, fundamentally different from any mere physical spark we can create from a match. It comes from our center and stretches into all directions. Yes, there is a certain elevation that occurs on the seventh day; but as the light in the center reminds us, that climbing flame is also only part of the story.
So, our logo also reminds us that we are a “full-service” community, one that extends beyond the special experiences that occur once a week. We offer ongoing kindness to those in need, regular opportunities throughout the week for education and fellowship across the lifespan, and we are prepared to gather for celebration or comfort regardless of the day. Our new publicity brochure, skillfully designed through the tireless efforts of Suki Kunitz, emphasizes these qualities, as well as those successful aspects of our congregation I shared above in discussing the focus on seven. Our logo also presents six interlocking branches, each with a top and a bottom, leaving us with twelve distinct “limbs”. Twelve reminds us of the number of Israelite tribes and the number of months in a normal year. These associations buttress the idea that the light and strength of Ami Shalom is available to all members of our community and is present at all times, from the hottest days of summer to the darkest days of winter and everything in between.
Mentioning the year cycle reminds me of another ascendance of the number seven: We are embarking upon the “seventh month,” Tishrei in the Hebrew calendar (and even September, as its root implies, was also once the seventh month), the month that begins with a blasting of the horn to usher in a new year. Rosh HaShanah is fast approaching, and celebrating it is another celebration of seven. So, before I conclude, I want to wish for us all the blessings of a new year filled with calming safety and peace; vibrant health, prosperity, and courage; radiant joy; transcendent love; and enlightening wisdom.
I believe that underlying the fulfillment of those wishes is the interconnectedness of community. We can imagine that behind the magen david in our logo is a busy intersection of branches. In that coming together of the disparate parts of our larger community, a greater, unifying light shines forth. It is only through connection with others that we can sustain such light. We need each other — we need to cross paths with one another. In our coming together this fall for the Days of Awe, may we rise to new and greater heights with an ever-brightening glow. Shanah tovah um’tukah — wishing you all a sweet and good year.
B’shalom,
Rabbi Rick