Dear Temple Shalom Family,

“Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve….”  Tempting as it may be to look for excuses (there are plenty of those, of course), or to place blame (there’s lots to go around), here we stand on the precipice of the Day of Atonement, and it is possible we may not have all of our affairs in order.  We may not have gotten around to asking for forgiveness, we may not have completed (or even started) the many acts of repentance we had planned, we may not be ready, but time waits for no person.

If you’ve made the most of the past month, and even better the past year, congratulations: we hope that standing before the congregation, with the Book of Life laid open wide, the page with your name on it will have nothing but positive things to say, for every note is written by our own hands, thanks to our own words, choices, and actions.  If, however, you “aren’t ready,” that’s ok as well; each of our shortcomings offers us another blessed opportunity to try again.

If we have missed the mark, if we have fallen short, if we haven’t yet completed all we ought to have done, fear not.  Later this weekend, and all day on Monday, we’ll stand together as individuals and as a sacred congregation, and acknowledge the simple unavoidable fact that none of us is perfect.  Try as we might, we all fall short from time to time; the most important lesson is not to give up on trying.  If we’re willing to move forward, there’s still a chance to do better.

Here at Temple Shalom, we are grateful for the opportunity to take small steps toward larger goals, and find ourselves supported by friends and neighbors in our Temple family along the way.  Through our worship, learning, social action, and socializing, we hope to find the inspiration to rise to meet the challenges before us, and to make this New Year ahead better than the one that just drew to a close.  We look forward to seeing you soon, here at the Temple.

 WORSHIP 

Wine Down Kabbalat SHABBAT SHUVAH

FRIDAY, September 18 at 5:00 p.m.

Join us for a special Wine Down Kabbalat SHABBAT SHUVAH!  Shabbat Shuvah is the Sabbath between Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur, a time for turning toward the people we hope to become.  Join us in our Temple Foyer, THIS FRIDAY at 5:00 p.m. for tasty refreshments, and a special service to mark the occasion.  Thank you to Perri Pokorney and Chuck Slosky for being our generous sponsors!  Our worship will conclude in time for you to enjoy Shabbat dinner with family and friends.  For those unable to attend, the service will be broadcast LIVE on our YouTube page.  If you are feeling ill, please stay home and watch online.

KOL NIDRE: EREV YOM KIPPUR

SUNDAY, September 20 at 8:00 p.m.

We’ll take the Torah Scrolls from our Ark and hear the haunting melody of Kol Nidre as we begin the Day of Atonement together in our Sanctuary on SUNDAY NIGHT, September 20 at 8:00 p.m.   All are welcome, but if you are unable to attend, the service will be broadcast LIVE on our YouTube page.  If you are feeling ill in any way, please stay home and watch online. 

YOM KIPPUR CHILDREN’S SERVICE

MONDAY, September 21 at 9:30 a.m.

Join Rabbi Lief for some prayers, a story, and the sounding of the shofar, as we say we’re sorry for the things we’ve done wrong, and resolve to do better in the New Year ahead.  For those unable to join us, the service will be broadcast LIVE on our YouTube page, and if you are feeling ill in any way, please stay home and watch online.  

YOM KIPPUR MORNING SERVICE

MONDAY, September 21 at 10:30 a.m.

Join us in the Sanctuary as we strive for Repentance and mark the Day of Atonement together.  For those unable to attend, the service will be broadcast LIVE on our YouTube page, and if you are feeling ill in any way, please stay home and watch online.  

YOM KIPPUR AFTERNOON SERVICE

MONDAY, September 21 at 2:00 p.m.

Join us in the Sanctuary as we remember the journey from Creation to Redemption, and our own journey toward becoming better people in the New Year ahead.  For those unable to attend, the service will be broadcast LIVE on our YouTube page, and if you are feeling ill in any way, please stay home and watch online.  

YOM KIPPUR YIZKOR SERVICE

MONDAY, September 21 at 4:30 p.m.

Join us in the Sanctuary as we remember all of our dear departed loved ones and reflect on the impact they’ve made on our lives.  For those unable to attend, the service will be broadcast LIVE on our YouTube page, and if you are feeling ill in any way, please stay home and watch online.   

YOM KIPPUR NEILAH SERVICE

MONDAY, September 21 at 5:15 p.m.

Join us in the Sanctuary as the Day of Atonement draws to a close.  Remember to bring your shofar so you can join us on the bimah as we sound the final tekiah gedolah together!  For those unable to attend, the service will be broadcast LIVE on our YouTube page, and if you are feeling ill in any way, please stay home and watch online.  Our wonderful Congregational Break-the-Fast will follow, so don’t miss out! 

 

ONEG SHABBAT?

We’ve got a new board for the new year now available!  Pick any week available when you’d like to host: First Friday dinner, a Wine Down Kabbalat Shabbat, or any Friday evening; we’ll all be grateful for your help and support!

 Rakefet Update!

 Temple Shalom uses a special database called Rakefet to keep track of all of our membership data.  Thanks to a new upgrade, each member family is now able to log in online to their own account, enabling you to make payments, see announcements, check yahrzeits, and more!  

 Use the link below to learn more!

 https://vimeo.com/showcase/8613894

SOCIAL ACTION

High Holy Days Food Drive:

Help feed others while we’re Fasting!

All of us here at Temple Shalom are truly blessed, and we have an obligation to make our world a better place.  Please bring canned goods and other non-perishable food items when you attend worship during the upcoming Holy Days.  If you would like to make a monetary contribution, please make your check out to the Catholic Charities Neighborhood Center, and put “Temple Shalom” on the memo line.  We’ll collect all of the food and any monies, and deliver them all after the end of Sukkot on Monday, October 5.

HIGH HOLY DAYS ARE HERE!

The High Holy Days are coming soon and we hope you’ll all be able to join us here at Temple Shalom!  Please find a schedule attached to this edition of Temple Times.

THANK YOU!

Thank you to our Temple Sisterhood for the beautiful Rosh HaShanah Tea last Friday night!

 OUR FUTURE

 Temple Board Meeting – TONIGHT, September 16 at 7:00 p.m.

Wine Down Kabbalat SHABBAT SHUVAH – FRIDAY, September 18 at 5:00 p.m.

Tanakh Study Breakfast – SATURDAY, September 19 at 9:45 a.m.

EREV YOM KIPPUR – SUNDAY, September 20 at 8:00 p.m.

YOM KIPPUR – MONDAY, September 21:

Children’s Service at 9:30 a.m.

Morning Service at 10:30 a.m.

Lifelong Learning at 1:00 p.m.

Afternoon Service at 2:00 p.m.

Yizkor Memorial Service at 4:30 p.m.

Neilah Concluding Service at 5:15 p.m.

Congregational Break the Fast to follow

EREV SUKKOT Sook Out! – Friday, September 25 at 6:00 p.m.

SUKKOT Morning Service – Saturday, September 26 at 10:30 a.m.

Religious School in the Sukkah! – Sunday, September 27 at 9:30 a.m.

Sukkah Party at the Lief home – Sunday, September 27 at 4:00 p.m.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!  WE HOPE TO SEE YOU FOR SHABBAT AND YOM KIPPUR THIS WEEKEND!

REMEMBER: LYNN IS OFF ON MONDAYS AND THE TEMPLE OFFICE IS CLOSED.