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The Days of Awe are upon us

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Dear Temple Members,

The Days of Awe are upon us. Rosh Hashanah begins this Friday night and Yom Kippur just ten days beyond that. We have been preparing for this High Holy Day experience for so long it has seemed at times as if this moment would never arrive. But now we have all but arrived at our day of days.  We have prepared New Prayer Books for our hands, Streaming Services for our eyes, the haunting melodies of these days through the voices of our socially distant choir for our ears, and now it is time to prepare our hearts for repentance and return.

Planning for the High Holy Days was always the plan. The entire month of Elul was to be dedicated to day-by-day reflection in preparation for the shofar’s call to return. This age old tradition has not traditionally included prerecording a video message from the governor, sending an HDMI cable to connect your computer device to the flat-screen TV, figuring out a way to gather your beloved collection of family and friends without actually physically gathering, or gathering all the ingredients for a holiday meal from touchless delivery at the grocery store. 

These High Holy Days we have prepared in different ways, we know they will not feel the same once they arrive, but it is our hope that these days might be memorable for more than the pandemic which has created the need for all these preparations, but rather for the message of unity amidst adversity, and the strength of a community of faith which they have taught.

Shanah Tovah, from your rabbis, your Temple leadership, and from all your Temple staff who have worked so hard to make this High Holy Day experience one we will remember: for blessing and not for curse, for sweetness and not for sorrow, for beginnings and not for its end. May the One who has opened the gates of repentance and welcomed us in love through generations of our people, bless you all and those you love in this New Year and for many years to come. 

L’Shanah Tovah, may it be a year of goodness and blessing for us all.

Rabbi Joe Rooks Rapport
Rabbi David Ariel-Joel

High Holy Days Survey Results

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Here are the High Holy Days Survey Results from 5780/2019:

HHD Survey Results
Download Now!

WHAT ARE HIGH HOLY DAYS​?

​As Fall approaches, Jews throughout the world prepare for a unique ten-day period of prayer, self-examination, fasting, and repentance. It is time for the Yamim Noraim, the Days of Awe, the High Holy Days: Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur. These holidays are preceded by a month of reflection: the Hebrew month of Elul. During this time, morning worship includes special penitential prayers and concludes with the blowing of the shofar as a reminder of the approaching season of atonement.  High Holy Day services at The Temple are led from Mishkan Hanefesh, the new Machzor of Reform Judaism, Creative Children’s Services feature storybook themes, and Classical Services are led from the Sinai Edition of the Old Union Prayer book.  Every year we conduct a High Holy Days Survey to learn from our congregants.

Rosh HaShanah
Rosh HaShanah (literally, “Head of the Year”) is the Jewish New Year, a time of prayer, self-reflection, and repentance. We review our actions during the past year, and we look for ways to improve ourselves, our communities, and our world in the year to come. The holiday marks the beginning of a 10-day period, known as the Yamim Nora-im (“Days of Awe” or “High Holidays”), ushered in by Rosh HaShanah and culminating with Yom Kippur (the “Day of Atonement”). Rosh HaShanah is widely observed by Jews throughout the world, often with prayer and reflection in a synagogue. There also are several holiday rituals observed at home.

Rosh HaShanah is celebrated on the first day of the Hebrew month of Tishrei, which – because of differences in the solar and lunar calendar – corresponds to September or October on the Gregorian or secular calendar. Customs associated with the holiday include sounding the shofar, eating a round challah, and tasting apples and honey to represent a sweet New Year.

High Holy Day Your Way 2019

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While we are continued with our Hugim and Babysitting for infants to Grade 3, we have created a new morning program for 4-6 grade called High Holy Day Your Way. Led by Benji Berlow, Rabbinic Assistant, this interactive program makes children the center of the program.  They were able to create, learn, and experience the High Holy Days.

As Fall approaches, Jews throughout the world prepare for a unique ten-day period of prayer, self-examination, fasting, and repentance. It is time for the Yamim Noraim, the Days of Awe, the High Holy Days: Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur. These holidays are preceded by a month of reflection: the Hebrew month of Elul. During this time, morning worship includes special penitential prayers and concludes with the blowing of the shofar as a reminder of the approaching season of atonement.  High Holy Day services at The Temple are led from Mishkan Hanefesh, the new Machzor of Reform Judaism, Creative Children’s Services feature storybook themes, and Classical Services are led from the Sinai Edition of the Old Union Prayer book.

While we are continued with our Hugim and Babysitting for infants to Grade 3, we have created a new morning program for 4-6 grade called High Holy Day Your Way. Led by Benji Berlow, Rabbinic Assistant, this interactive program makes children the center of the program.  They were able to create, learn, and experience the High Holy Days.

As Fall approaches, Jews throughout the world prepare for a unique ten-day period of prayer, self-examination, fasting, and repentance. It is time for the Yamim Noraim, the Days of Awe, the High Holy Days: Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur. These holidays are preceded by a month of reflection: the Hebrew month of Elul. During this time, morning worship includes special penitential prayers and concludes with the blowing of the shofar as a reminder of the approaching season of atonement.  High Holy Day services at The Temple are led from Mishkan Hanefesh, the new Machzor of Reform Judaism, Creative Children’s Services feature storybook themes, and Classical Services are led from the Sinai Edition of the Old Union Prayer book.

Shanah Tovah

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Shanah Tovah!  Thank you everyone for coming to Rosh Hashanah services.  Everyone had a BLAST hearing the shofar call in the New Year.  See you all for Kol Nidre Services on Tuesday, October 8.
Shanah tovah Shofar

So, Shanah Tovah! Rosh HaShanah
Rosh HaShanah (literally, “Head of the Year”) is the Jewish New Year, a time of prayer, self-reflection, and repentance. We review our actions during the past year. We look for ways to improve ourselves, our communities, and our world in the year to come. Additionally, the holiday marks the beginning of a 10-day period, known as the Yamim Nora-im (“Days of Awe” or “High Holidays”). This ushers in wish Rosh HaShanah and culminates with Yom Kippur (the “Day of Atonement”). Moreover, Jews say Shanah Tovah. Rosh HaShanah is widely observed by Jews throughout the world, often with prayer and reflection in a synagogue. There also are several holiday rituals observed at home. Rosh HaShanah is celebrated on the first day of the Hebrew month of Tishrei, which – because of differences in the solar and lunar calendar – corresponds to September or October on the Gregorian or secular calendar. Customs associated with the holiday include sounding the shofar, eating a round challah, and tasting apples and honey to represent a sweet New Year. Finally, Shanah Tovah. Happy New Year.

Summer Intern Update – HHD

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Summer Intern Update – HHD with Clayton Oppenheimer

For the past couple weeks, we’ve been doing several things to get ready for the High Holy Days. Each year these are the most attended services by far, so there are many things to prep. We counted each of the prayer books to ensure we have enough, we helped The Brotherhood with their Book of Remembrance project, and the Yahrzeit database and plaques are freshly updated.

As a Jew, we put loads of emphasis on community because repairing the world, Tikkun Olam, it is much easier to make an impact when we come together instead of standing alone. These services not only are helping people atone and bringing in the new year, but they also help people come to terms with their spirituality and refresh or tighten their relationship to G-d. As you atone and take in the new year, you should look to the future and this fresh year to see what changes you need to be the best you. These days can be looked at as a moral self-assessment. The sense of community is also there for moral support to the many participating congregants.

Summer Intern Update – HHD with Clayton OppenheimerFor the past couple weeks, we’ve been doing several things to get ready for the High Holy Days. Each year these are the most attended services by far, so there are many things to prep. We counted each of the prayer books to ensure we have enough, we helped The Brotherhood with their Book of Remembrance project, and the Yahrzeit database and plaques are freshly updated.

As a Jew, we put loads of emphasis on community because repairing the world, Tikkun Olam, it is much easier to make an impact when we come together instead of standing alone. These services not only are helping people atone and bringing in the new year, but they also help people come to terms with their spirituality and refresh or tighten their relationship to G-d. As you atone and take in the new year, you should look to the future and this fresh year to see what changes you need to be the best you. These days can be looked at as a moral self-assessment. The sense of community is also there for moral support to the many participating congregants.

Yom Kippur

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Yom Kippur ended with a special musical event with Student Cantor Mike Jarvis, an educational with Rabbi Rapport, and our closing Nehilah service.

As Fall approaches, Jews throughout the world prepare for a unique ten-day period of prayer, self-examination, fasting, and repentance. It is time for the Yamim Noraim, the Days of Awe, the High Holy Days: Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur. These holidays are preceded by a month of reflection: the Hebrew month of Elul. During this time, morning worship includes special penitential prayers and concludes with the blowing of the shofar as a reminder of the approaching season of atonement.  High Holy Day services at The Temple are led from Mishkan Hanefesh, the new Machzor of Reform Judaism, Creative Children’s Services feature storybook themes, and Classical Services are led from the Sinai Edition of the Old Union Prayer book.

 

High Holy Day Your Way

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While we are continued with our Hugim and Babysitting for infants to Grade 3, we have created a new morning program for 4-6 grade called High Holy Day Your Way. Led by Benji Berlow, Rabbinic Assistant, this interactive program makes children the center of the program.  They were able to create, learn, and experience the High Holy Days. For Rosh Hashanah, students made a service with yoga, a gameshow, songs from camp, and confetti. We also had a Tashlich service with dissolving paper and Wheel of Fortune.  For Yom Kippur, we examined the song “Man in the Mirror”.  Additionally, we used the lessons about changing our actions to create our own pages of Talmud.