High Holy Day Services 2010/5771

Preparing for the High Holy Days or Yamim Noraim (the Days of Awe)

As fall approaches, Jews throughout the world begin to 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. This ten-day period is 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. In some communities, this is also a time to visit the graves of loved ones.

S'lichot, a Hebrew word meaning "forgiveness," refers to the special penitential prayers recited by Jews during the High Holy Day season. The S’lichot liturgy contains some of the finest Jewish religious poetry ever composed. Reform congregations usually observe S’lichot on the Saturday night just prior to Rosh Hashanah, a solemn and fitting preparation for ten days of reflection and self-examination.

Join us for our S'lichot Service of Forgiveness

Saturday, Septemer 4th at 8:00 PM

Rosh Hashanah (literally, "Head of the Year") refers to the celebration of the Jewish New Year. The holiday is observed on the first day of the Hebrew month of Tishrei, which usually falls in September or October, and marks the beginning of a ten-day period of prayer, self-examination and repentance, which culminate on the fast day of Yom Kippur. These ten days are referred to as Yamim Noraim, the Days of Awe or the High Holy Days.

While there are elements of joy and celebration, Rosh HaShanah is a deeply religious occasion. The customs and symbols of Rosh Hashanah reflect the holiday's dual emphasis, happiness and humility. Special customs observed on Rosh Hashanah include; the sounding of the shofar, using round challah, eating apples and honey (and other sweet foods) for a sweet new year.

Yom Kippur is the "Day of Atonement" and refers to the annual Jewish observance of fasting, prayer and repentance. This is considered to be the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. In three separate passages in the Torah, the Jewish people are told, "the tenth day of the seventh month is the Day of Atonement. It shall be a sacred occasion for you: You shall practice self-denial?"(Leviticus 23:27). Fasting is seen as fulfilling this biblical commandment. The Yom Kippur fast also enables us to put aside our physical desires and to concentrate on our spiritual needs through prayer, repentance and self-improvement. It is customary in the days before Yom Kippur for Jews to seek out friends and family whom they have wronged and personally ask for their forgiveness.

Sukkot, a Hebrew word meaning "booths" or "huts", refers to the Jewish festival of giving thanks for the fall harvest, as well as the commemoration of the forty years of Jewish wandering in the desert after Sinai. Sukkot is celebrated five days after Yom Kippur on the 15th of Tishrei, and is marked by several distinct traditions. One tradition, which takes the commandment to "dwell in booths" literally, is to build a sukkah, a booth or hut. A sukkah is often erected by Jews during this festival, and it is common practice for some to eat and even live in these temporary dwellings during Sukkot.

Join us for our Erev Sukkot Service on Wednesday, September 22nd

Dedication of new Temple Sukkah and Leonard Baskin Ark Doors in memory of Steve Meltzer (z"l)

Decorate the Sukkah - 5 PM / Pot-Luck Dinner - 6 PM / Festival Service with T'filah Band - 7 PM

Sukkot Festival Service

Thursday, September 23rd at 10:30 AM
 

Simchat Torah, Hebrew for "rejoicing in the Law", celebrates the completion of the annual reading of the Torah. Simchat Torah is a joyous festival, in which we affirm our view of the Torah as a tree of life and demonstrate a living example of never-ending, lifelong study. Torah scrolls are taken from the ark and carried or danced around the synagogue seven times. During the Torah service, the concluding section of Deuteronomy, or D'varim is read, and immediately following, the opening section of Genesis, or B'reishit is read.

Join us for our Simchat Torah-Consecration Celebration on Wednesday, September 29th

Festival Service with TERS and Di Bostoner Klezmer - 5:00 PM / Congregational Dinner - 7:00 PM

Simchat Torah-Yizkor Serivice

Thursday, September 30th at 10:30 AM 

Chanukah, meaning "dedication" in Hebrew, refers to the joyous eight-day celebration during which Jews commemorate the victory of the Macabees over the armies of Syria in 165 B.C.E. and the subsequent liberation and "re-dedication" of the Temple in Jerusalem. The modern home celebration of Chanukah centers around the lighting of the chanukiah, a special menorah for Chanukah; unique foods, latkes and jelly doughnuts; and special songs and games.

Tu BiSh'vat or the "New Year of the Trees" is Jewish Arbor Day. The holiday is observed on the fifteenth (tu) of Sh'vat. Scholars believe that Tu BiSh'vat was originally an agricultural festival, marking the emergence of spring. After the destruction of the Temple in 70 C.E. this holiday was a way for Jews to symbolically bind themselves to their former homeland by eating foods that could be found in Israel. In the sixteenth and seventeenth century Kabbalists created a ritual for Tu BiSh'vat similar to the Passover seder. Today, Tu BiSh'vat has also become a tree planting festival in Israel, in which both Israelis and Jews around the world plant trees in honor or in memory of a loved one or friend. To plant a tree in honor or in memory of a friend or loved one, please contact The JNF Online Tree Planting Center.

Purim is celebrated by the reading of the Scroll of Esther, known in Hebrew as the Megillat Esther, which relates the basic story of Purim. Under the rule of King Ahashuerus, Haman, the King's prime minister, plots to exterminate all of the Jews of Persia. His plan is foiled by Queen Esther and her uncle Mordechai, who ultimately save the Jews of the land from destruction. The reading of the megillah is typically a rowdy affair, which is punctuated by booing and noisemaking when Haman's name is read aloud.

Purim is an unusual holiday in many respects. First, Esther is the only Book of the Bible in which God is not mentioned. Second, Purim, like Chanukah, is viewed by tradition as a minor festival. The elevation of Purim to a major holiday was a result of the Jewish historical experience. Over the centuries, Haman became the embodiment of every anti-Semite in every land where Jews were oppressed. The significance in Purim lies not so much in how it began, but in what it has become-a thankful and joyous affirmation of Jewish survival against all odds.

Pesach, known as Passover in English, is a major Jewish spring festival, commemorating the Exodus from Egypt over 3,000 years ago. The ritual observance of this holiday centers around a special home service called the seder (meaning "order") and a festive meal; the prohibition of chametz (leaven); and the eating of matzah (an unleavened bread). On the eve of the fifteenth day of Nisan in the Hebrew calendar, we read from a book called the hagaddah, meaning "telling," which contains the order of prayers, rituals, readings and songs for the Pesach seder. The Pesach seder is the only ritual meal in the Jewish calendar year for which such an order is prescribed, hence its name.

The seder has a number of scriptural bases. Exodus 12:3-11 describes the meal of lamb, unleavened bread, and bitter herbs which the Israelites ate just prior to the Exodus. In addition, three separate passages in Exodus (12:26-7, 13:8, 13:14) and one in Deuteronomy (6:20-21) enunciate the duty of the parents to tell the story of the Exodus to their children. The seder plate contains various symbolic foods referred to in the seder itself.

Yom HaShoah, also known as Holocaust Remembrance Day, occurs on the 27th of Nissan. Shoah, which means catastrophe or utter destruction in Hebrew, refers to the atrocities that were committed against the Jewish people during World War II. This is a memorial day for those who died in the Shoah.

The Shoah (also known as the Holocaust, from a Greek word meaning "sacrifice by fire,") was initiated by the members of the National Socialist (Nazi) Party, which seized power in Germany in 1933. The Nazis believed in a doctrine of racial superiority, centering around the idea that that people of Northern European descent were somehow better than members of all other races – especially the Jews, who were "unworthy of life."

After taking power, the Nazis gradually restricted the rights of German Jewish citizens and encouraged their followers to commit acts of violence and destruction against Jews and their property. During World War II (1939-1945), the Nazis implemented their "final solution," a plan to concentrate and annihilate all European Jews. Jews were first crammed together in ghettoes and slave-labor camps, where disease, brutality, and malnutrition ran rampant. Eventually, they were sent to death camps, where millions were murdered in special facilities designed to kill a tremendous number of people over a brief period of time. In addition to the six million Jews who died - two-thirds of the European Jewish population – the Nazis also killed millions of others, including Roma (Gypsies) and Slavs, political and religious dissidents, the handicapped, and gays and lesbians.

Today, many commemorate Yom HaShoah by lighting yellow candles in order to keep the memories of the victims alive. Most synagogues and Jewish communities gather together to commemorate the day through worship, music and the stories from survivors.

Yom HaAtzmaut, Israel Independence Day, marks the establishment of the modern state of Israel in 1948. It is observed on the 5th of Iyar in the Hebrew calendar, which usually falls in April.

Lag Ba'Omer is the 33rd day of the Omer, a long standing tradition of counting the seven weeks from the second day of Pesach to the festival of Shavuot on the 50th day. The Omer is a 50 day period of semi-mourning in the Jewish tradition. The 33rd day of the Omer provides a much needed spiritual lift where many communities celebrate with bonfires, music, food and dance.

Special customs on Shavuot are the reading of the Book of Ruth, which reminds us that we too can find a continual source of blessing in our tradition. Another tradition includes studying Torah and Mishnah in a custom called Tikkun Leil Shavuot, staying up all night to study which symbolizes our commitment to the Torah, and that we are always ready and awake to receive the Torah. Traditionally, dairy dishes are served on this holiday to symbolize the sweetness of the Torah, as well as the "land of milk and honey".

Tishah B'Av, which means the "Ninth of Av", refers to a traditional day of mourning the destruction of both ancient Temples in Jerusalem. In contrast to Orthodoxy, Reform Judaism has never assigned a central religious role to the ancient Temple. Therefore, mourning the destruction of the Temple in such an elaborate fashion did not seem meaningful. More recently, in Reform Judaism Tishah B'Av has been transformed into a day to remember many Jewish tragedies that have occurred throughout history.

NOTE: Each holiday begins and ends at sundown on the days listed.
JEWISH YEAR	5769	5770	5771
SECULAR YEAR	Sept 2008– Sept 2009	Sept 2009– Sept 2010	Sept 2010– Sept 2011
S'LICHOT SERVICE	Sat SEP 20	Sat SEP 12	Sat SEP 4
ROSH HASHANAH	Mon–Wed SEP 29–OCT 1	Fri–Sun SEP 18–20	Wed–Fri SEP 8–10
YOM KIPPUR	Wed–Thus OCT 8–9	Sun–Mon SEP 27–28	Fri–Sat SEP 17–18
SUKKOT	Mon–Mon OCT 13–20	Fri–Fri OCT 2–9	Wed–Wed SEP 22–29
ATZERET - SIMCHAT TORAH	Mon–Tues OCT 20–21	Fri–Sat OCT 9–10	Wed–Thurs SEP 29–30
CHANUKAH	Sun–Mon DEC 21–29	Fri–Sat DEC 11–19	Wed–Thurs DEC 1–9
TU BISH'VAT	Sun–Mon FEB 8–9	Fri–Sat JAN 29–30	Wed–Thurs JAN 19–20
PURIM	Mon–Tues MAR 9–10	Sat–Sun FEB 27–28	Sat–Sun MAR 19–20
PESACH	Wed–Wed APR 8–15	Mon–Mon MAR 29–APR 5	Mon–Mon APR 18–25
YOM HASHOAH	Mon–Tues APR 20–21	Sat–Sun APR 10–11	Sat–Sun APR 30–MAY 1
YOM HAZIKARON	Mon–Tues APR 27–28	Sat–Sun APR 17–18	Sat–Sun MAY 7–8
YOM HAATZMA-UT	Tues–Wed APR 28–29	Sun–Mon APR 18–19	Sun–Mon MAY 8–9
LAG BA'OMER	Mon–Tues MAY 11–12	Sat–Sun MAY 1–2	Sat–Sun MAY 21–22
SHAVUOT	Thurs–Fri MAY 28–29	Tues–Wed MAY 18–19	Tue–Wed JUN 7–8
TISHAH B'AV	Wed–Thurs JUL 29–30	Mon–Tues JUL 19–20	Mon–Tue AUG 8–9
NOTE: Each holiday begins and ends at sundown on the days listed.