‘Other portals to Jewish life’

I read the Sept. 3 article regarding the dropoff in Rosh HaShanah synagogue attendance after the first day with some interest.

My question would be for those who choose to observe only one day and somehow see the second day as unimportant, why observe any days at all since those individuals have totally devalued the Jewish high holidays?

The problem is not with these individuals but the institutions that view Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur as entry points into Jewish life. This is clearly a bad idea, since one needs to develop a taste for the High Holidays by having a commitment to Jewish life and learning first. One could not appreciate an art museum without some background first.

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There are other portals to Jewish life – Sukkot, Pesach, Shavuot, the Shabbat, etc. – that are far more appropriate as entry points to Jewish life. Without such entry or background, it is little wonder that any day of Rosh HaShanah has such little value.