High Holidays Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur 2021/5782
Beit Chaverim Jewish Community of Greater Zion is pleased to announce that our upcoming High Holiday services will be at an inviting, special location. For our first time ever, the solemn musical service of Kol Nidre will be played by nationally renowned cellist, Daniel Gaisford, accompanied by Christian Bohnenstengel, professor of piano at SUU.
The Jewish Holidays of Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur begin September 6, 2021, concluding on September 16, 2021. We refer to this time as The “Days of Awe”, our High Holidays.They are a culmination of a month-long period of time for study and self reflection; a time of repentantance, prayer, and just actions.
It is said that three books are opened in heaven on Rosh HaShanah. In the first are the names of the very good people. In the second are the names of the very bad people. In the third book are the names of everyone in-between. On Rosh HaShanah, G-d writes the names of the very good in the Book of Life; the very bad in the Book of Death. For those in between, they are not written down until Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. On that day G-d decides whether they are to be written in the Book of Life or the Book of Death.
This passage from the Talmud, our book of Jewish laws and beliefs, shows us that Judaism is a religion of righteous actions. God’s decisions are based on a person’s ability to truly change his or her behaviour. T”shuvah is accomplished when one tries to express a feeling of regret for things left undone in the past year. T’fillah is a person’s process of becoming humble in their thoughts and communications to God when expressing praise or seeking forgiveness. The values by which we live as Jews are expressed by our actions of Tz’dakah, that is acting justly when people are in need. It shows an inner spirituality to loving others.
The shofar, or ram’s horn, is blown throughout the Rosh HaShanah services to awaken us and remind us to become better people through righteous actions and words.
If you wish to join us in prayer over the High Holidays, please email ewmargles@gmail.com with your contact information so that we may provide you with details on times and location.
May you all be blessed for “L’Shanah Tovah U’Metukah” “A Happy and Sweet New Year.”
Rabbi Helene Ainbinder, Beit Chaverim Jewish Community of Greater Zion
