Dear Sha’are Shalom members:
Take note that the High Holy Days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur fall much earlier than usual this year.
Rosh Hashanah is just a couple of days after Labor Day, and Yom Kippur falls on Shabbat at the end of the following week. See the schedule on page 1 for dates and times.
We’re so fortunate at Sha’are Shalom that so many of our congregants prepare, participate in, and lead most of our Shabbat and holiday services. Rabbi Saltzman will be with another congregation during the High Holy Days, and so, as in past years, our members will lead the various services and the Yom Kippur study session, as well as perform the readings from the Torah on both Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
If you’d like to take part in preparing, leading or participating in one or more of the services – and we hope you will – let me know within a few days. Then we’ll organize a planning meeting – online if necessary, but preferably in person – and can work up the various services. I’m delighted to report that Nancy Gould and George Gazarek have already volunteered to lead at least one service each, and that Sharon Mills will lead the singing at all or almost all the services. If you’d like to do just a Torah reading, let me know; it’s not necessary to attend the planning meeting.
In addition, we very much hope that many of our congregants — especially our new members – will perform the various honors of saying Aliyot before and after Torah readings*, along with carrying the Torah*, carrying the children’s Torah*, lifting the Torah*, helping dress it after the readings, lighting the candles at the evening services, and opening and closing the ark doors. (You must be Jewish to perform the honors with asterisks.) Also, at the Yisgor (memorial) service on Yom Kippur, several congregants will take turns reading the list of names.
And of course, there’s the potluck break-the-fast, which is traditionally meatless.
See you at services on Saturday, July 13 at 10 am.
Pat Myers
Religious Affairs Committee