The
Shofar:This year Beth Ora will be introducing a new and exciting babysitting program for 2-5 year olds called Bing Bang. The program will take place all three days of Yom Tov between 10:00 A.M-1:00 P.M. Professional educators will be in place to run this program and many new toys have been donated for the purpose of this program. In order to ensure a proper ratio of educators to children, there will be a maximum number of children that can be accommodated. In order not to be disappointed, we encourage everyone to please register with the synagogue office. Also please note that this program will only be available for seat holders.
Sukkot/Simchat Torah
Everyone is invited to join us for the first two days of Tom Tov, Tuesday & Wednesday, where the service will be followed by a festive Kiddush in the Sukkah,. Please bring you Lulav and Etrog and join in the special Mitzvah of the four species.
Yom Tov begins again the following Monday Night, October 24th, with Shmini Atzaeret. Yizkor is recited on Tuesday morning (at approx. 10:00 AM) and Simchat Torah begin with Kakafot on Tuesday evening, October 25, followed by a sumptuous Simchat Torah dinner.
Everyone is invited to join us for the completion of the cycle of the Reading of the Torah on Wednesday morning, October 26 as we honour this year's Chattanim: JACKIE HARROCH, AMIEL BENDER & HOWARD FREED.
It's no accident that, in one way or another, virtually every Jew participates in the holidays of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. For the significance of these days is so profound as to effect every Jewish soul, regardless of one's degree of knowledge or commitment to Judaism. Rosh Hashana is the day on which G-d completed the creation of this world by creating Adam, the original man. Adam's first act was to proclaim the Almighty as King of the Universe. He called upon all creatures: "Come, let us worship, bow down, and kneel before G-d our maker." That is why, on Rosh Hashana (which literally means at the head of the year) we too proclaim the kingship of G-d, and reaffirm our commitment to serve Him well. Just as on the original Rosh Hashana he reconsiders His creation, examines the quality of our commitment to him, and determines the nature of His relationship with us for the coming year.
The
Shofar:
The Shofar is sounded on both days of Rosh Hashana. The Shofar, the ram's horn, the oldest and most soulful of wind instruments, has many meanings. Among them:
• It proclaims the coronation of G-d as King of the Universe.
• It 'awakens' us to repent and to return to G-d.
It reminds us of the Shofar heard at Mount Sinai, when we accepted G-d's commandments for all time.
Tashlich:
On the second day of Rosh Hashana Sunday, October 1st, in the afternoon, we visit a body of water or a pond containing live fish and recite the Tashlich prayers, in which we "cast away" our sins. As fish depend upon the water, so do we depend upon G-d's providence. Also a fish's eyes never close symbolizing G-d's unceasing watchfulness over us.
Our sages tell us that a symbol has significance. Traditionally, eating the symbolic foods of life on Rosh Hashana influences the Heavenly decision for a good coming year. It also helps us focus on our inner most wishes.
On each night of Rosh Hashana after Kiddush is recited, we perform the following ceremonies:
-Challah in Honey - Dip the challah, over which the 'Hamotzi' was recited, into honey to signify our hope for a sweet year.
-Apple in Honey - Dip a piece of apple into honey. Recite "Boruch ata A-do-nai E-lo-haynu Melech helm, bray puree haetz." Taste a piece, then say: 'Yehee ratzon shetechadesh olaynu shana tova V'metuka [May it be Thy will to usher in upon us a good and sweet year."]
-Carrots - Before partaking of carrots say: "Yehee ratzon sheydrbu z'chuyosenu" [May it be thy will that our merits be multiplied."]
-The Head of a Fish - Before tasting recite: May it be thy will that we be likened to the head, not to the tail.
On the day proceeding Yom Kippur, we eat festive meals, to demonstrate our faith and confidence in G-d's mercy. Another beautiful custom of this day is of parents blessing their children. Yom Kippur atones for sins against G-d, but not for wrong doings between man and man. It is therefore important, on the day before Yom Kippur, to apologize and seek forgiveness from friends, relatives, and acquaintances, to heal any bad feelings which may have arisen.
The two days of Rosh Hashana, the seven days following, and Yom Kippur are ten days especially appropriate for 'teshuvah" - returning to G-d. October 2nd, the day after Rosh Hashana, is Tzom Gedalia - a fast day from approximately three hours before sunrise until 35 minutes after sunset which commemorates the tragic assassination of a great Jewish leader during the Babylonian exile.
Though these 'days of awe', as they are often called, are solemn, they are not sad. In fact, Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year, is in a subtle way one of the happiest. For on Yom Kippur we receive what is perhaps G-d's most sublime gift - his forgiveness. When one person forgives another. It is because of a deep sense of friendship and love that overrides the effect of whatever wrong was done. Similarly G-d's forgiveness is an expression of His eternal, unconditional love. Though we may have transgressed His will, our essence - our soul - remains G-dly and pure. Yom Kippur is the one day each year when G-d reveals most clearly that our essence and His essence are one. Moreover-, on the level of the soul, the Jewish people are all truly equal and inclivisible. The more fully we demonstrate our essential unity by acting with love and friendship amongst ourselves, the more fully G-d's love will be revealed to us.
In addition to the prohibition of work, as on the Sabbath, there are five activities specifically prohibited on Yom Kippur, from Sunday evening October 8th until Monday night, October 9th: eating and drinking, anointing oneself with perfumes or lotions, marital relations, washing [for pleasure], and wearing leather shoes. On Yom Kippur we are freed from all material concerns, and can devote the day to prayer. We begin the evening service with the chanting of 'Kol Nidre,' which absolves us of any vows we may make in the coming year. During each main prayer throughout Yom Kippur, we recite the 'Vidduy' [confession], enumerating all the sins we may have committed, ask for Hashem's forgiveness. The final prayer of the day, as our judgment for the coming year is being sealed, is called 'Neilah.' Neilah is the only service of the entire year of which the doors of the Ark remain open from beginning to end. This signifies that the gates in heaven are wide open to us at this time. Neilah culminates with the 'Shema Yisrael' and other verses said in unison, and the final blowing of the Shofar.
Traditionally, Yom Kippur is a time for Tzedaka. For many years now, we at Beth Ora have been using a community approach in our giving. Through our Torah Fund, we have been instrumental in distributing your kind donations throughout the world.
On an almost daily basis, worthy institutions and needy individuals from Israel, North America and around the world, come to our doorsteps pleading for financial assistance. The escalating costs of feeding and clothing families, settling immigrants and educating the youth have made their situations more desperate than ever.
In addition, tragedies and unforeseen circumstances which strike local individuals and families place heavy financial hardship upon the people of our community. The Torah Fund, discreetly but significantly, eases the burdens and brings renewed hope and encouragement.
During this High Holy Day season, we hope that your generosity will respond to their needs. Kindly bring your Beth Ora Torah Food contribution to the office or mail it to the Synagogue in the enclosed envelope.
With best wishes for a year of health and blessing.
Our sincere appreciation and thanks go out to all those who so generously supported the synagogue in the 2004 Appeal. Your donations will help ensure that Congregation Beth Ora will remain a strong pillar of our community.
While progress has been made in our various fund-raising efforts, the needs of the synagogue are great and once again we ask all members of the family to participate in this year's campaign.
At the same time, we would like to thank our dedicated committee who will be contacting you in the next few weeks to ask for your continued support.
The booklet, listing all those who contributed to the 2004 Kol Nidre Appeal, will be mailed out before Rosh Hashanah with the Beth Ora calendar.
We encourage all those who can to rise to the next level and make this year the most productive year ever. This will guarantee our strength in the community for now and always. May you be blessed with good health, happiness and prosperity. Shana Tova.
The services of the High Holy Days are meant to be a powerful, relevant, and meaningful experience. It's an opportunity to think about the important things in life and to gain encouragement for the corning year. Many people come to shul filled with real concerns about health, livelihood, and security. They seek inspiration and peace of mind through the prayers and sermons. Our worshippers want to be moved by the cantor's beautiful melodies and the choir's harmonious voices. Everyone who comes to shul is entitled to all of this. However,we need your cooperation.
Please do not use the sanctuary to socialize and catch up on the year's news. Be considerate of those surrounding you who may wish to pray undisturbed.
The sanctuary is the House of G-d. Therefore, one's presence in the sanctuary calls for proper etiquette and modest attire. As the verse states, "Walk humbly with the L-rd your G-d." To be specific, blouses and dresses which are sleeveless or which expose the midriff or back are improper in a House of worship.
"Know before Whom you stand."
Pre School: Baby-Sitting 10:00 AM-l:00 PM
Grades K-2: Prayer and Activity Group & Grdes 3-6 Junior Congregation 10:45 AM. - 12:15 PM
High School: Discussion Gronp 11:30 PM - 12:15 PM
Immediately following the awesome days of Rosh Hashana through Yom Kippur, we prepare for the joyous exuberance of Sukkot - the 'Season of Rejoicing.' After leaving Egypt, during the forty years of wandering in the wilderness, the Jewish people were surrounded by protective 'clouds of glory'. In commemoration, and to enhance our awareness of G-d's all embracing love and protection, we are commanded, "In Sukkahs [booths] you shall dwell, seven days" [Lev. 23 :42]. Eating festive meals and spending time in the outdoor Sukkah is a unique religious experience.
Another special mitzvah of Sukkos is the shaking together of the 'Four Species' - the esrog [citron], lulav [palm branch], hadassim [myrtle], and arovos [willow]. One explanation, among many, is that each of the four kinds represents a different type of Jew. The fact that the mitzvah requires all four kinds symbolizes our openess as a people: we all need one another. And the four species are waved in all four directions, and up and down, signifying that G-d is everywhere.
-The Sukkah
During the entire seven days of the festival, from Friday night, October 13th until Saturday night, October 21st, all meals are eaten in the Sukkah, unless it rains. When partaking of a meal containing at least two ounces of bread or cake, we say the blessing "Layshev basukkah." Consult a competent Rabbi for details on building a proper Sukkah, or purchase a prefabricated Sukkah from a reliable source.
-The Four Kinds
Shake the "four kinds" every day of Sukkot except Shabbat [October 15th until October 20th] during the daytime. Hold the lulav, three hadassim, and two arovot in the right hand, with the lulav's spine facing you. Say the appropriate blessings, then take the esrog in the left hand with the point or "pitom" up, bang it together with the other three kinds, and shake it.
The third through the seventh days of Sukkot are called Chol Hamoed - the intermediate days. We do not recite Kiddush or light Yom Tov candles. However, only very necessary work should be done. The seventh day of Sukkot, Oct. 20th, is called Hoshna Rabba. It is customary to stay awake at night and recite portions of Torah the book of Psalms. In the morning, we circle the Bima [platform] seven times, lulav and esrog in hand. Then we recite special prayers, called 'hoshanas' while holding five willow branches bound together. We beat the willow branches on the floor, symbolically 'sweetening' G-d's judgment.
Simchat Torah is the culmination of a month filled with uplifting experiences, enriching every aspect or our spiritual, intellectual and emotional lives. We have been forgiven and cleansed by his mercy, and we have experienced the joy of uniting with G-dliness through His beautiful commandments. Now, we rejoice with His Torah. It is said that the Torah itself rejoices when we take the sacred scrolls in our arms, dance together, the accomplished scholar and the novice, regardless of our level of knowledge. During the dancing, the scroll remains in its cover, for this is not a time for study. The joy of Simchat Torah is far greater than any joy we might derive from intellectual understanding. Here again, we emphasize that sublime level of the Jewish soul where we are all one.
The Festive Meals On the eighth day, October 21st, which is Shemini Atzeret, we continue to eat meals in the Sukkah, but without reciting the blessing 'layshev basukkah'. On Simchat Torah, the ninth day, October 22nd, we resume eating meals indoors.
Hakafot On the evening of Simchat Torah, Saturday October 21st, (and in some communities on the evening of Shmini Atzercl as well), we make seven hakafot [circles] around the bima, singing and dancing with the Torah scrolls. On the morning of Simchat Torah, the final portion of' the Torah is read, completing the yearly cycle anew. Thus we continue to delve into the infinite wisdom of G-d's Torah - the eternal force that has bound us together and sustained us for more than 3000 years.
Enhance your Sukkot Holiday by fulfilling the beautiful observance of the Four Kinds (Lulav, Etrog, Hadass, Arava). Lulav and Etrog sets will be available for purchase through our Chazan Sheini Rev. Amiel Bender.
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