When we received the invitation to her baby naming ceremony, I was certain we would attend for two reasons.

I love the baby and her sweet parents at whose wedding I had the sacred privilege of officiating four years ago and was honored to be included in this special event in their lives. And I love the Jewish faith and the richness of it. Its regard for the passages of life and deep appreciation for the importance of community feeds my soul.

Having never attended a Jewish baby naming ceremony, I wondered who might be present and, more importantly, what might be said.

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When I researched it, I learned that the bris for baby boys had for thousands of years welcomed male children, but only in the last century had baby naming ceremonies. called in Hebrew “Simchat Bat” meaning celebration of a daughter, or “Brit Bat” meaning daughter’s covenant, become popular for welcoming girls.

When we arrived at Temple Israel, I was surprised by all the cars. As it turned out several events were happening that evening, including the Hebrew school for children preparing for their bar or bat mitzvah, another tradition in Judaism that enriches the lives of their youth.

Though held in the evening, the wonderful Spinning Dreidel Gift Shop at Temple Israel was opened for business, and we quickly found the baby naming card we had searched for in vain in the card aisles of several stores.

We spotted the parents of baby Penelope, along with her grandparents, other family members, and friends gathering near the sanctuary door. Penny was trying to greet us all, but it was past her bedtime and her eyes were heavy as she comfortably rested in her father’s arms.

She looked stunning in a bright yellow crocheted dress and headband, a gift hand crafted by a dear friend. The contrast with her lovely olive skin was striking. It felt very comfortable and informal as we chatted in the hallway awaiting those the parents knew were coming before entering the sanctuary and finding our seats.

Stefanie Posner, the remarkable Director of Music and Education at Temple Israel, led the ceremony and did a beautiful job of setting everyone at ease. Several of Penny’s young cousins were present, some past their bedtimes, and Stefanie assured that their interest in crawling around the dais was not at all a problem.

Among the many beautiful words and prayers spoken to welcome and affirm Penelope were these words from the Jewish prayer book: “Every person born into this world represents something new, something that never existed before, something original and unique. It is up to us to know and recognize that this new person is unique in the world, a singular character and personality, and that there has never been anyone like this child, for if there had been, there would have been no need for this new life.”

Upon this joyous occasion of Penelope’s naming, I was reminded of the beauty and sensitivity of Judaism, which enters its most High oly Days beginning sunset on Sept. 25 with Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year.

Jewish faithful spend the day and the nine days to follow, known as the days of awe, with a focus on repentance.

The month prior, known by the Hebrew “Elul,” is a time of preparation for the Days of Awe and includes a systematic examination of your life and values. Yom Kippur, observed on Oct. 4 and 5 this year is the day of atonement ending the Days of Awe.

A website that I found particularly helpful in researching Rosh Hashana is titled Rebekah. It includes journaling prompts for the month of Elul for the past few years written by editor and webmaster, Rebekah Lowen.

The suggestions she offers for preparation of the Days of Awe seem particularly helpful to me, not only for our Jewish brothers and sisters, but for us all. You can see them at rebekahlowin.com.

My own congregation has been sharing our life stories one at a time over the past four months. I have been deeply moved by the stories of those I have pastored, many for thirty years or more.

Finding the courage and will to share our stories with one another, honestly and openly, has deepened our appreciation for each other and understanding of ourselves. This is precisely what I believe Rebekah’s journaling prompts for Elul must do for the persons who follow her.

For example, she writes of the meaning of the blowing of the ram’s horn, or shofar, during Elul as a way to rouse one to action. She invites those who are journaling to focus on a word that might act as a shofar to rise them to action during Elul and the new year to follow.

On another day she invites readers to consider what they endured for the past year and how. On yet another day she encourages readers to journal about how they will forgive themselves in the coming year.

Reflecting on Rabbi Jonathan Sacks’ wisdom that “forgiveness means that we are not destined endlessly to replay the grievances of yesterday,” she invites journal writers to name how they will live with the past without being held captive by it.

One of the reasons I deeply appreciate the Jewish faith is its balanced appreciation for God and for the strength of the human spirit, especially in community.

In the baby naming ceremony, the parents were encouraged to guide their daughter with wisdom, the daughter was named a welcome member of the Jewish people, its newest link in the Covenant of the people of Israel, and a prayer was offered that Torah would be in her heart always while her hands would ever be engaged in acts of repairing the world around her.

That same balance is felt by the Jewish faithful during these their Days of Awe. They celebrate the Holy power of Yahweh even as they renew their own commitment to live as Covenant people of Israel, committed to repair the world.

The words spoken to Penny about being unique in the world and significant to it, reminded me of how all of us are important. As we all examine our lives to rid them of resentments and behaviors that are unhealthy, I pray we will remember the difference we each can make in healing the world.

The Rev. Candace McKibben is an ordained minister and pastor of Tallahassee Fellowship.

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