High Holy Days
at Ohavi Zedek Synagogue
5768

A Season of T’Shuvah
The Congregation is reminded that High Holy Day services are a time for prayer, meditation, and reflection. Socializing and conversation disturb our fellow congregants and diminish the dignity of the service. This is a season of t’shuvah (repentance, return); of seeking to increase our self-respect and respect for others. Refraining from unnecessary noise during the prayer service is a good and important way to help us move toward that goal. ~Religious Committee

Selichot
9:30pm – Selichot Program
11:00pm – Refreshments
11:30pm – Selichot Services
Midnight – Shofar Blowing

Memorial Service
There is a tradition for Jews to visit the graves of loved ones as Rosh Hashanah approaches. We will gather at the Hebrew Holy Cemetery on Patchen Road on Sunday, September 9, at 1:00 pm for a brief Memorial Service. At this time we will bury the contents of Synagogue’s genizah: worn sacred books and other materials which, because they have the name of God in them, require such care.

High Holy Days Food Drive
The prophet Isaiah said: "This is my chosen fast...share your bread with the hungry, take the homeless into your home, clothe the naked, when you see him, do not turn away from people in need." (Isaiah 58:6-7)

On Yom Kippur, we will be gathering together in prayer. We ask each congregant to bring a pound of non-perishable food to the synagogue for distribution to the Chittenden County Food Shelf. Please bring food to the Library anytime before Kol Nidre, September 22nd.

We also make a financial contribution at this time. If it is more convenient, please consider contributing a check made payable to The Chittenden County Emergency Food Shelf. Todah Rabah- Much thanks.

Rosh Hashanah
On the first night of Rosh Hashanah (after Kiddush) it is
customary to dip an apple in honey and say the following:

" May it be your will, Hashem, our God and God of all our ancestors,
that you renew us for a good sweet year".

• Young Family (Ages 0-6):
  10:00-11:00am, stories and age-appropriate activites related to the New Year. Located in the Samuelson Saiger Sanctuary, and to conclude on the front lawn.
• Family Services (Ages 7-12):
  10:30am - 12:30pm, an age-appropriate opportunity for children to experience prayer, song, and the richness of the High Holy Days. The service will be held at Fern Hill. Parents must accompany their children to & from Fern Hill, regardless if choosing to stay at the service or not.
• Yom Kippur Evening Family Service will be in the Samuelson-Saiger Sanctuary immediately following Kol Niedre, with Morah Sarah. There will be singing, storytelling, and a prayer experience. Please Enter through the Office.
  

Childcare will be available throughout the Holidays.

Celebrate Rosh Hashanah by the Lake
All are welcome at the Burlington Community Boathouse, Thursday, September 13, 2:30-4:00pm.

• For Children and Adults of All Ages
  
• Jewish Storytelling and Song, Apples and Honey
  
• Hear the Shofar Sound

Check back soon for more information.

Tashlich
Join us on the Boardwalk near the Boathouse, for a traditional Tashlich Service of symbolically casting out sins into the water (don’t need bread - pocket lint will do). This year, Tashlich is on Thursday, September 13th at 4pm.

Yom Kippur

The Myron Samuelson Memorial Ne'ilah Honor
Jeff Alpert has been selected to receive the Myron Samuelson Memorial Ne’ilah Honor. Each year the honor is given to a member of the congregation in recognition of his or her commitment of time and energy to Ohavi Zedek Synagogue. The Ne’ilah Honor holds a special pace for the Samuelson family because of Myron Samuelson’s long association with it. His family has established the Myron Samuelson Memorial Ne’ilah Endowment Fund so that each year the Ne’ilah honor can be given to a congregant the community wishes to recognize. Jeff, a native of Burlington, is a lifelong member of Ohavi Zedek, who has served on the Borad of Directors, and most recently has been spearheading the Building taskforce for the Capital Campaign. Jeff lives in Shelburne with his wife Beth, and their children Sam and Rebecca. He is the son of Richard and Shirley Alpert.

The Fast
Fasting is held in high esteem by many religious traditions and health regimens. In the Jewish tradition fasting is taken quite seriously and so we find that on a major Holy Day like Yom Kippur, those who fast do so because they believe fasting to be good for either the body or the spirit or both. The discomfort that is produced by fasting is thought to have instructional value and is intended to help us reflect on our human frailty.

Sukkot
Legend has it that Abraham sat in his tent, with the flaps of the tent folded up on all four sides, so he could welcome weary wayfarers from every direction. This lovely image of generosity is evoked by the holiday of Sukkot. In the Bible, God instructs the ancient Israelites to "dwell in booths (or tents) for seven days of the holiday of Sukkot, because your ancestors dwelt in them during their sojourn in the desert when they departed from Egypt."

Sukkah Decorating Party
The Hebrew School will be making decorations during school hours on Sunday, September 23 (10-12pm).

Click here for High Holy Day Service Times

Click Here for a Downloadable copy of the High Holy Day Service Times Packet

Click Here for a Downloadable copy of the High Holy Day Information Packet