Parashat - Vayelech - (then he went out) Deuteronomy 31:1-30
HafTorah - Hosea 14:2-10, Michah 7:18-20, Joel 2:15-27
Dear friends,
As we enter Shabbat Shuvah, the special Shabbat between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, I would like to thank all of you who joined our community Rosh Hashanah services and activities both in-person and virtually on Zoom. It shows that despite the pandemic that continues to dominate everyday life, we can come together as congregants and friends to pray, study, and socialize. Special thanks to our beloved president Eileen Hochstadt and webmaster Barbara D. Johnson for making the accommodations for social distancing within the building and for easy virtual access for those participating on Zoom. And to our chazzan Elliot Shapiro for his beautiful chanting. And to our wonderful Shofar blower, Sarah Sekeres whose mastery of that sacred instrument added so much to our services. Sarah and her sisters Leah and Sammy grew up in our congregation and all had their Bat Mitzvah with us. Leah and Sarah will soon be traveling to Israel under the birthright program. So, please share our pride, mazel tov, and "nachas" with their family!
We have now come to the sacred Shabbat Shuvah with services both in-person this evening at 7:30 pm and tomorrow morning at 9:30 am. Shabbat Shuvah is the Sabbath of Return, also called the Sabbath of Repentance as it precedes Yom Kippur less than a week away from now. In addition to reading the portion of Vayeilech which contains Moses's farewell instructions to the Hebrew nation assembled before him on his last day on earth, we read a unique Haftorah. The Haftorah consisting of the teachings of not one, but three prophets is a very special one for that reason alone. But what makes it an extra special one in our community is that it marks the second anniversary of our adult B'nai Mitzvot (Ana Calderon, Barbara D. Johnson, Barbara E. Johnson, and Art Simon). On Saturday morning, we will hear them chant their Haftorah once again and relive that special day with them. We will continue the celebration with a socially distanced Kiddush luncheon. Please come and share this special day with them either in-person or on Zoom.
The selection from the prophet Micah speaks to casting one's sins into the sea and became the basis for the Tashlich ceremony that we at the JCC were privileged to perform at the Cotee River in front of my house on Wednesday. Thanks to all who attended and made it such a special Rosh Hashanah afternoon! The selection from Hosea focuses on repentance and an assurance that those to return to Hashem will benefit from divine forgiveness, healing, and restoration. The selection from Joel imagines a blow of the Shofar that will unite the people in fasting and supplication as we approach Yom Kippur.
We begin our Yom Kippur services with Kol Nidre at 6:15 pm on Wednesday, September 16th. Then on Thursday, September 17th, we will have in-person and virtual services at 9:30 am until about 12:45 pm and then assemble again at 5 pm for the Mincha, Yizkor, and Neila services followed by the long blast of the Shofar---Tekia Gedola! Unfortunately, we will not be able to safely enjoy a communal break-the-fast again this year, but we remember those wonderful occasions in the past and look forward to relaunching it next year!
L'Shana Tovah/Shabbat Shalom, Ron
Ron Becker
Spiritual Leader
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FRIDAY:
JCC is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Shabbat Service
Time: Sep 10, 2021 07:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
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Meeting ID: 497 903 0958
Passcode: 5QdVaA
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SATURDAY:
JCC is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Saturday Morning Service SHABBAT SHUVAH
Time: Sep 11, 2021 09:30 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
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WEDNESDAY:
JCC is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Kol Nidre
Time: Sep 15, 2021 06:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
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THURSDAY MORNING:
JCC is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Yom Kippur
Time: Sep 16, 2021 09:30 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
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THURSDAY EVENING:
JCC is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Yom Kippur, Mincha, Yizkor
Time: Sep 16, 2021 05:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4979030958?pwd=YXJPT2FGVTdzVVV2bVQ3c1ZnS1lMZz09
Meeting ID: 497 903 0958
Passcode: 5QdVaA
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