Congregation Beth El High Holy Days 5778 Congregation Beth El invites you to join us for a spiritually uplifting start to the New Year. Beginning with S lichot and continuing through Sukkot and Simchat Torah, we offer a wide array of High Holy Day programming to serve the diverse needs of our community. Please review the information below and on our website to learn about our exciting, inspiring, and meaningful High Holy Day season at Beth El. All services include English and Hebrew, combining honored traditional words with inspirational modern texts. Congregational singing and participation are a core part of our practice. Rabbi Yoel Kahn, Rabbi Rebekah Stern, and Rabbi Reuben Zellman will officiate at all sanctuary services. Our machzor (High Holy Day prayer book) includes English transliteration of all Hebrew prayers.» EARLY SERVICES are shorter, emphasize contemporary English readings, and include folk and contemporary music.» LATE SERVICES emphasize the historical liturgy and the timeless music of the High Holy Days. S lichot The High Holy Day season begins with S lichot on Saturday, September 16 at 7:00 pm. This year, as we begin the process of cheshbon ha nefesh (personal accounting of the ways we have missed the mark), we will turn our attention to the ways in which our own privilege, power, and implicit biases reinforce racism in our society. Join us for a workshop that will support each of us in taking proactive personal steps towards racial justice in the new year. We will also share in a dessert reception, havdalah, and a service of reflection and song. Youth & Family Tickets are not required for these programs. See page 2 for the full schedule. Tot Services on and (10:30 am, under the oak trees) are brief and engaging family services held outside. Services will be led by Rabbi Rebekah Stern and are geared toward our preschool age children and their families. Services will be followed by a creative activity, specifically geared for tots and their families. Teens: BESTY/Sababa Teen Services and Programming on and (11:30 am, Beit Midrash) are designed and led by our high school youth group, Beth El Synagogue Teen Youth (BESTY). These services, exclusively for 6th 12th graders, will include a shofar sounding on Rosh Hashanah, Torah services, and special holiday programming. Family Service (3:00 pm, sanctuary) is a joyful and musical service and program geared toward K 5th graders and their families. All are welcome! The service, led by Rabbi Rebekah Stern and song leader Isaac Zones, begins with adults and children together and continues separately. K 5th graders will gather for engaging and age-appropriate holiday programming led by Camp Kee Tov counselors, while adults have an opportunity to share in a time of New Year s reflection. Children and adults will gather together again at the end of the program to walk to Live Oak Park for the community-wide tashlich ritual of casting away transgressions. Community Tashlich (4:45 pm, Live Oak Park) follows the medieval custom of casting our transgressions into the depths of the sea (or at least a trickling creek which flows into the Bay which flows into the sea). A joyful and contemplative communal gathering, tashlich concludes the observance of day. This year, the entire congregation will gather in the Beth El courtyard at 4:45 pm (immediately following the Family Service) and walk together to Live Oak Park. At the bank of the creek in the park we will sing, reflect, and symbolically empty our pockets of anything we are carrying from the previous year by tossing bread crumbs into the water. (Bread will be provided.) Those who wish to picnic in the park are invited to bring their own meal. Everyone is welcome to participate! Family Service (3:00 pm, Sanctuary) is designed especially for children grades K 5 and their families. A joyful and lively celebration, led by Rabbi Yoel Kahn and song leader Isaac Zones, this service includes special music, prayers, and interactive storytelling for a memorable and meaningful experience. Childcare is available for children pre-school through 5th grade. Childcare is provided by our Camp Kee Tov staff and incorporates activities that reflect the themes of the High Holy Days. Childcare begins 15 minutes before the start of each service and ends 15 minutes after each service concludes. Please note that we do not offer diaper changing services. Advance registration is required. Please register for childcare with the enclosed form or online. Infants and Children Under Two are welcome to play or rest in the Children s Library with a parent or caregiver during services. The services will be audible in that room through our sound system.
Schedule of Services High Holy Days 5778 May you and everyone you love be inscribed for a new year of sweetness, health, and blessings. S LICHOT SERVICE Saturday, September 16 Dessert reception, havdalah, and a service of reflection and song... 7:00 pm EREV ROSH HASHANAH Evening Service*... 7:30 pm ROSH HASHANAH Early Service*... 8:45 am Tot Service...10:30 am Late Service*...11:30 am BESTY/Sababa Teen Service...11:30 am Family Service...3:00 pm Community Tashlich, Live Oak Park... 4:45 pm SECOND DAY ROSH HASHANAH Friday, September 22 Service & Lunch...10:15 am KEVER AVOT V IMAHOT: VISITING THE GRAVES OF LOVED ONES Sunday, September 24 At Tel Shalom Cemetery, Rolling Hills Memorial Park...11:00 am EREV YOM KIPPUR: KOL NIDRE Early Service*...6:00 pm Late Service*... 8:30 pm * Tickets required. לשנה טובה! l shanah tovah! YOM KIPPUR Early Service*... 8:45 am Tot Service...10:30 am Late Service*...11:30 am BESTY/Sababa Teen Service...11:30 am Afternoon Discussions & Programs, Session I...2:30 pm Family Service (K 5th grade)...3:00 pm Afternoon Discussions and Programs, Session II...4:00 pm Mincha (Afternoon Service)...4:00 pm Yizkor Circle...4:00 pm Yizkor (Memorial) Service...5:30 pm Ne ilah followed by Break-Fast... 6:15 pm SUKKOT Wednesday, October 4 Festival Evening Service and Dinner in the Sukkah... 6:15 pm Thursday, October 5 Festival Morning Service and Lunch in the Sukkah...10:15 am Friday, October 6 Sangria in the Sukkah...5:30 pm New Member Welcome Shabbat Evening Service in the Sukkah... 6:15 pm Sunday, October 8 Nechama Garden Planting...9:00 am Nechama Yizkor Service: Remembering Our Children Who Have Died...1:00 pm Wednesday, October 11 Sukkot Yizkor (Memorial) Service...7:15 pm SIMCHAT TORAH Thursday, October 12 Simchat Torah Celebration... 6:15 pm Dancing, Music, Torah Reading, and more! * Tickets required. High Holy Day Food Drive Every year we collect food for the Alameda County Community Food Bank to help feed the hungry in our community. Please take home a bag after services and return it to a volunteer or red bin before. Thanks to your generous donations last year, Beth El played a big role in helping the Food Bank distribute nearly 3 million pounds of food per month. They were also named Feeding America s 2016 Food Bank of the Year! pg. 2
Ticket Request Form If you haven t already done so, please be sure to complete your Annual Membership Renewal Form for 2017-18 so that we can process your High Holy Day ticket request. Name Address Phone Email I plan to attend: Member A congregant who has renewed their annual commitment for 2017 2018 Member Guest A guest of a current member Visitor A visitor to Congregation Beth El Number of Member Tickets Adult & Youth (ages 13 25) No cost q EARLY SERVICE, 6:00 pm Number of Member Guest Tickets Suggested contribution $125 per person, ticket covers all services q LATE SERVICE, 8:30 pm Number of Visitor Tickets Suggested contribution $250 per person, ticket covers all services Please clearly write first name, last name and circle M for Member or G for Guest: Name 1 M / G Name 4 M / G Name 2 M / G Name 5 M / G Name 3 M / G Name 6 M / G Total Contribution for Requested Tickets $ A Childcare Sign-Up Please include the total in the box above (A) in the Contribution Total, next page» Childcare is available for ages two through 5th grade. A single $20 donation is requested to cover all High Holy Day childcare needs, regardless of the number of services attended. Advance registration is required, and capacity is limited. Please note: There is no childcare at /Ne ilah (Closing) services; children are invited to attend with their families. Parent(s) Name(s) Child's Name(s) & Age(s) I/We need childcare for: q EARLY SERVICE, 6:00 pm NO LATE SERVICE CHILDCARE Total Contribution for Childcare $ B pg. 3 Please include the total in the box above (B) in the Contribution Total, next page»
Yizkor Book of Remembrance Beth El publishes an annual Book of Remembrance which is distributed on Yom Kippur at the Yizkor (Memorial) Service. The Book of Remembrance is dedicated to the memory of loved ones who have died and can be a meaningful and permanent remembrance for family and friends. By honoring their memory through gifts of tzedakah, our contributions become a living memorial ensuring the continuity and renewal of Jewish life and community. I/We would like to include the following name(s) in the Book of Remembrance In memory of: Remembered by: Name 1 Name 2 Name 3 Name 4 Name 5 Name 6 As a donation in memory of a loved one, I/we wish to contribute (suggested donation is $36 per name) $ C Annual Appeal Please contribute now to Beth El s Annual Appeal. This fundraising effort begins each year during the High Holy Days and supports the Beth El community s ability to provide financial aid for Youth and Family Education, Camp Kee Tov, and other programs. Return this form œ in the enclosed envelope or register online by Wednesday, August 30, 2017 Contribution Totals My/our donation to the Annual Appeal High Holy Day Tickets Childcare Yizkor Book of Remembrance Donation Annual Appeal Donation CONTRIBUTION TOTAL (A+B+C+D) œ $ D A $ B $ C $ D $ $ Please register and pay online: www.bethelberkeley.org/highholydays If you prefer snail mail, use the enclosed envelope, and return all forms and payment by Wednesday, August 30 to: Congregation Beth El, High Holy Days 5778, 1301 Oxford Street, Berkeley, CA 94709. Please make checks payable to Congregation Beth El and write HHD5778 in the memo line. Your tax-deductible contributions support the congregation s ability to offer a meaningful holiday experience for you, your family, and everyone who shares the High Holy Days with us. Thank you. Continue planning for your High Holy Days on the following page.» pg. 4 REMINDER We need your completed Annual Membership Renewal form in order to issue your High Holy Days 5778 tickets. If you need a duplicate form, contact the Membership Accounts Coordinator, Jaqui McCabe at 510-848-3988 x235 or jaqui@bethelberkeley.org.
Service Participation Beth El s High Holy Day services are enhanced by the involvement of many members of our community. You are invited to participate in a portion of the service, be an usher, or help out in another capacity. Please let us know your preferences below. Name Phone Email In which service(s) would you like to participate? q EARLY SERVICE, 6:00 pm q LATE SERVICE, 8:30 pm Please indicate your participation preference(s): Torah Honors (Open/Close the Ark; hold, lift, carry, or dress the Torah) Any of the above English Reading Hebrew Reading Sound the Shofar Chant Torah or Haftarah (short portions for all morning services) Other Request Ushers & Greeters Assistive Technology & Accessibility Ushers play a key role in our High Holy Days services. They distribute books, check tickets, assist those with special needs, help guide people to their seats, and most importantly, make everyone feel at home. Ushers are asked to arrive twenty minutes prior to the scheduled start of the service. (A volunteer will contact you to confirm your role.) I am available to usher during the following services (check all that apply): q EARLY SERVICE, 6:00 pm q LATE SERVICE, 8:30 pm We are eager to provide access to everyone who wishes to join us during the holiday season. Please contact us if we can be of help with members or guests with special needs. Phone: 510-848-3988; email: frontoffice@bethelberkeley.org Number of Assisted- Listening Devices We invite you to reserve yours in advance. Number of Wheelchair Seating Spaces We invite you to reserve yours in advance. Number of persons in your party. If you are reserving wheelchair space, please let us know the size of your party, including yourself. pg. 5 THE CHORUS is always open to new singers! Rehearsals take place on Wednesdays at 7:00 pm beginning on August 2 at Beth El. Please check the box if you would like to join! For any questions, contact Music Director Rabbi Reuben Zellman at rabbizellman@bethelberkeley.org.
Kever Avot v Imahot & Yizkor Service Visiting Graves of Loved Ones Sunday, September 24, 11:00 am Jews have a long-standing tradition of visiting the graves of relatives between and. Everyone is invited to join us for our annual High Holy Day cemetery visit, Kever Avot v Imahot. Following the brief service, we will visit the graves of our own loved ones as well as those who lived among us. We will also recall our loved ones who rest elsewhere and whose memories we carry with us. Join us at Tel Shalom, Beth El s cemetery, at Rolling Hills Memorial Park, El Sobrante. Nechama Yizkor Service: Remembering Our Children Who Have Died Sunday, October 8, 1:00 pm We will hold a special Sukkot Yizkor service in memory of children who have died. We will recognize those lost by miscarriage, and those stillborn and we will recall those who died as infants, as children, and as adults. Yizkor, Judaism s communal service of remembrance and mourning, is observed four times a year: on afternoon and at the conclusion of the three biblical pilgrimage festivals: Sukkot, Pesach, and Shavuot. This special Yizkor service has been created by Project Nechama, Beth El s response to pregnancy and neonatal loss. In addition to this special service, the congregation will hold its Sukkot Yizkor Service in memory of all our loved ones on Wednesday, October 11 at 7:15 pm. Call for Open Sukkah Hosts! Are you building a sukkah this year? Would you like to host a gathering in your sukkah? Join the growing numbers of Beth El members participating in Beth El s Open Sukkah Event! 1. Contact the Front Office at office@bethelberkeley.org or call 510-848-3988. 2. Choose a date and time between sundown Sunday, October 4 and sundown Sunday, October 11. 3. Tell all of your friends! We will circulate announcements and flyers listing your sukkah as a place for Beth El members. You can tailor your event to your particular interest; for example, a preschool family might want to host a weekend bagel brunch. Make it potluck; make it easy! Beth El will even provide the paper goods and utensils if you need! Let s make this a festive Sukkot together! Save the Dates Tuesday, November 14, 2017... Israel at 70 Event Sunday, December 3, 2017...Chanukah Bazaar Friday, December 15, 2017...Latkefest and Camp Kee Tov Reunion Shabbat Saturday, February 10, 2018...Beth El Gala February 16 17, 2018...Scholar-in-Residence Shabbat Weekend Wednesday, February 28, 2018...Purim Festivities Friday, March 30, 2018...Erev Pesach Saturday, March 31, 2018...2nd Night Pesach Congregational Seder Saturday, April 7, 2018...Pesach Havdalah & Yizkor Service May 25 27, 2018...Shabbaton 2018 pg. 6