HEART HOPE STRENGTH לב תקוה חיזוק HIGH HOLY DAYS 5779 קוה אל יי חזק ויאמץ לבך וקוה אל יי ADAS ISRAEL Congregation
TAKE STRENGTH Heart Hope Strength Table of Contents 3 Service Schedule 10-11 Message from the Rabbis 4 Youth Schedule 12-13 AND WITH COURAGEOUS HEART The Days of Awe 5 Ticketing & Seating 14 Service & Experience Guide 6-7 HHD Programming 15 Sermon Guide 8 Kever Avot Services 16 PLACE HOPE TOWARDS GOD New & Noteworthy 9 General Information 17-19 קוה אל יי חזק ויאמץ לבך וקוה אל יי Psalm 27 2 3
Message from the Rabbis קוה אל יי חזק ויאמץ לבך וקוה אל יי Hope to God--be strong and build a courageous heart-- Hope to God. Shanah tovah! This year our theme for the Yamim Noraim is centered around the last line of Psalm 27. The Psalm ends with the mantra: Hope to God--be strong and build a courageous heart--hope to God. This phrase might be familiar as it is the Psalm we begin reciting at the beginning of the month Elul in preparation for the High Holidays, and continue all the way through Hoshanah Rabba. Psalm 27 maps the emotional and theological journey of a person who begins with the certainty that God will provide shelter and protection from any ill the world presents: Adonai is the foundation of my life, whom shall I fear? But then the Psalmist abruptly descends from this faith-filled reliance and begins to plead: do not hide your face from me...do not abandon me. In a raw, yet trustful plea, the author longs to return to the promise of a divine haven that once felt ever present. And finally, in the last 2 lines of the Psalm, the writer offers: לולא האמנתי לראות בטוב יהוה בארץ חיים Had I not the assurance that I would enjoy the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Hope to God; be strong and build a courageous heart, Hope to God. In other words, the Psalmist yearns only to be sure that God would actually be there. But certainty is not the world we inhabit. We all know this to be true. Therefore, we are commanded to place hope in God, a unique hope embedded with one of the finest tools for constructing a connected life: a strong and courageous heart. This year, it s a phrase that feels palpably appropriate. We have encountered together the trials and triumphs of your lives and we have witnessed the enormous strength, doubt, hope, pain, and ultimately, the abundant quality of resilience you possess. We have traveled with you through illness, divorce, addiction, and loss. We have been witness to you struggling with the hardships of life-- suffering no one can escape--yet return with an undying hunger and resolve to live, to love again, and to be open and vulnerable enough to reignite hope. This is the eternal process for reaching that last line of Psalm 27: Face the world with a heart that seeks to connect, and when the world does not give us what we had longed for to feel the loss and face it and then rise again with hope and courageous heart. And it s also a sacred formula for these days of immersive, inner reflection: They call us to locate and access the emotional planes inside each of us. They call us to investigate the relationships around us. They call us to be honest about where we have met ourselves, and where we sought to hide. Together we are invited to face each other and ourselves, and to build space for honesty, loss, longing and ultimately connection. And we will be right here with you. May it be a year of health, growth and connection. Many blessings for a shanah tovah. Lauren and Aaron SELICHOT ROSH HASHANAH KEVER AVOT Saturday, September 1 Monday & Tuesday, September 10 & 11 Sunday, September 16 KOL NIDRE YOM KIPPUR Tuesday, September 18 Wednesday, September 19 4 5
HIGH HOLY DAYS Service & Experience Guide SELICHOT Several days before Rosh Hashanah, Jews around the world gather together to recite the Selichot, a beautiful series of penitential prayers and meaningful liturgy. As we gather together, and we are introduced to the High Holy Day melodies to come; this tradition invites us to open ourselves up to the essential work of the Days of Awe. Reflective 1 hour EREV ROSH HASHANAH We come together again at the completion of another year in our lives. We encounter the quiet of the evening that introduces us to the first day of possibility. We gather the strength to engage in personal and communal renewal. We dedicate ourselves to bringing in the New Year in prayer and rededication to our ideals. Anticipation & Wonder 1 hour ROSH HASHANAH DAY 1 Today is the birthday of the world. We have arrived. It is the day to hear the call of the shofar deep within us all, to be in radical amazement of the world that surrounds us. The synagogue is buzzing as our friends and community members are called together for a day of reflection and renewal. Awe-Inspired & Reflective 4.5 hours ROSH HASHANAH DAY 2 The reflection continues. We resolutely gather again to resume our search. The Akedah, the story of Abraham s nearsacrifice of Isaac, challenges us to our core and defines the mood of this service. Through the liturgy, we seek acceptance of our limits and the finding of our truth. Determined & Passionate 3+ hours KOL NIDRE The sun sets, ushering in the holiest day of the year. Kol Nidre gives us the permission to pray with each other, with all of our imperfections and longings for healing. The liturgy and legendary medley of songs speaks of our annulment of vows and invites us in to break new ground and create space for something new. Yearning & Contemplation 1.5 hours YOM KIPPUR This is the day we all pass before God a God who is merciful, compassionate, abounding in love, and forgiving. We ask to be granted release. We seek to be made whole, to begin anew, to move forward with our lives with all of the potential and promise that lies within each one of us. Humility & Catharsis All day 1 2 6 7
HIGH HOLY DAYS Sermon Schedule Hear from our inspiring rabbis throughout Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Get connected, get engaged, and get activated as the rabbis set an intention for the year and guide us through the spiritual journey of the holiest of days. New & Noteworthy Important Features For This Year... RABBI AARON ALEXANDER ROSH HASHANAH DAY 1: Kay Hall @ 11am ROSH HASHANAH DAY 2: Charles E. Smith Sanctuary @ 10:45am RABBI LAUREN HOLTZBLATT ROSH HASHANAH DAY 1: Charles E. Smith Sanctuary @ 11am ROSH HASHANAH DAY 2: Kay Hall @ 10:45am RABBI SARAH KRINSKY EREV ROSH HASHANAH: Charles E. Smith Sanctuary @ 7pm KOL NIDRE (TEM): Gewirz Beit Am @ 7:15pm Reserved Seating Times Seating in the Charles E. Smith Sanctuary is reserved at the following times. Tickets can be requested through your High Holy Day forms. Rosh Hashanah Day 1: Beginning around 10:45am with the Musaf Service, and concluding at the end of the sermon Yom Kippur Day: Beginning around 10:30am with the Torah Service, and concluding at the end of the sermon Please Note: Reserved seating ends on both days with the conclusion of the sermon, at which time all open seats will become available. KOL NIDRE: Charles E. Smith Sanctuary @ 7:15pm YOM KIPPUR: Kay Hall @ 12:45pm KOL NIDRE: Return Again Service @ 8:30pm YOM KIPPUR: Charles E. Smith Sanctuary @ 12:45pm YOM KIPPUR: Biran Beit Midrash @ 11:15am Kol Nidre Updates Due to the overwhelming success of our musical outdoor Kol Nidre service, there will be two clergy-led services on Kol Nidre; one in the Charles E. Smith Sanctuary and one in the Adas Israel Parking Area. There will also be a Lay-Led Traditional Egalitarian service in the Gewirz Beit Am. Please Note: There will be no Kay Hall service on Kol Nidre. All services will have open seating, please see above for when reserved seating applies. Livestream Services & Biran Beit Midrash Overflow Room On Rosh Hashanah Day 1, there will be a live feed of the Charles E. Smith Sanctuary service broadcast into the Biran Beit Midrash. This will provide some additional seating for those who need it, or for those who would like to step out of the service spaces and still follow along with the prayer experience. Charles E. Smith Sanctuary and Kay Hall services will also be broadcasted live at adasisrael.org/hhdlive. 8 please note: sermon times are approximate 9
EREV ROSH HASHANAH Sunday, September 9 ROSH HASHANAH DAY 2 YOM KIPPUR 2 Tuesday, September 11 Wednesday, September 19 COMMUNITY SUNSET SERVICE 6:45-7:45pm Led by Adas Clergy Charles E. Smith Sanctuary SHACHARIT 8:15am Led by Hazzan Goldsmith Charles E. Smith Sanctuary SHACHARIT 9:00am Led by Hazzan Goldsmith Charles E. Smith Sanctuary Service Schedule HIGH HOLY DAYS AT ADAS ISRAEL (Full Sermon Schedule: pg. 8) (Full Schedule of Youth & Family Services: pg. 12-13) 1 ROSH HASHANAH DAY 1 Monday, September 10 SHACHARIT 8:15am Led by Michael Leifman & Clergy Charles E. Smith Sanctuary Lay-Led, Traditional Egalitarian Gewirz Beit Am (begins 8:45am) TORAH SERVICE 9:15am Led by Adas Clergy & Return Again Band Charles E. Smith Sanctuary Lay-Led, Traditional Egalitarian Gewirz Beit Am Livestream Overflow Biran Beit Midrash FAMILY SERVICE 10:30am Family Experience w/ Rabbi Solomon Cohen Hall (Gan Space) MUSAF SERVICE 10:45am (Sermons at 11am) Led by Rabbis Holtzblatt & Alexander, Sermon by Rabbi Holtzblatt Charles E. Smith Sanctuary Led by Rabbi Krinsky & Cantor Brown, Sermon by Rabbi Alexander Kay Hall Lay-Led, Traditional Egalitarian Gewirz Beit Am Livestream Overflow Biran Beit Midrash COMMUNITY TASHLICH 5:30pm Led by Rabbi Krinsky Meet at Quebec St. Entrance MINCHA/MAARIV 6:45pm Led by Hazzan Goldsmith Biran Beit Midrash TORAH SERVICE 9:15am Led by Rabbi Alexander & Cantor Brown Charles E. Smith Sanctuary MUSAF SERVICE 10:45am (Sermons at 10:45am) Led by Rabbi Alexander & Cantor Brown Charles E. Smith Sanctuary Led by Rabbi Holtzblatt & Michael Leifman Kay Hall MINCHA/MAARIV 6:00pm Led by Michael Leifman Biran Beit Midrash KOL NIDRE MINCHA 5:45pm Led by Hazzan Goldsmith Biran Beit Midrash KOL NIDRE 6:30pm Led by Rabbi Alexander & Cantor Brown Charles E. Smith Sanctuary Lay-Led, Traditional Egalitarian Minyan Gewirz Beit Am RETURN AGAIN KOL NIDRE 7:30pm Led by Rabbi Holtzblatt & Return Again Band Adas Israel Parking Area With Instruments: Reflective, Soulful Sounds With Instruments: Traditional, Cantorial Melodies Tuesday, September 18 TORAH SERVICE & YIZKOR 10:30am (Yizkor ~11:10am) Led by Rabbi Holtzblatt & Cantor Brown Charles E. Smith Sanctuary Led by Rabbi Alexander & Michael Leifman Kay Hall Lay-Led, Traditional Egalitarian Gewirz Beit Am FAMILY SERVICE 10:30am Family Experience w/ Rabbi Solomon Cohen Hall (Gan Space) YOM KIPPUR UNPACKED: A HIGHLIGHT EXPERIENCE 11am-12:30pm Led by Rabbi Krinsky Biran Beit Midrash MUSAF & MARTYROLOGY SERVICE 12:45pm (Sermons at 12:45pm) Led by Rabbis Holtzblatt & Return Again Band Charles E. Smith Sanctuary Led by Rabbi Alexander & Cantor Brown Kay Hall Lay-Led, Traditional Egalitarian Minyan Gewirz Beit Am AFTERNOON DISCUSSION 3:15pm Invisibilia w/ Alix Spiegel & Hanna Rosin Charles E. Smith Sanctuary MINCHA 5:00pm Led by Michael Leifman Charles E. Smith Sanctuary LATE YIZKOR 5:00pm Led by Rabbi Krinsky & Hazzan Goldsmith Biran Beit Midrash N EELAH 6:15pm (Shofar ~8:05pm) Led by Adas Clergy Charles E. Smith Sanctuary 10 TRADITIONAL N EELAH 6:45pm Lay-Led, Traditional Egalitarian Gewirz Beit Am 11
Youth Schedule HIGH HOLY DAYS AT ADAS ISRAEL We are blessed to have so many families in our community. Children, like adults, can feel drawn toward different modalities of prayer. We have a variety of service options to allow our children and their grown-ups to engage in meaningful, communal experiences over the holidays. ROSH HASHANAH DAY 1 ROSH HASHANAH DAY 2 YOM KIPPUR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION All Services @ 10:30am Please Note Times All Services @ 10:30am For Youth & Family Services FAMILY SERVICE with Rabbi Kerrith Solomon Cohen Hall: For families who want to share the experience with their elementary school age children (grades K 6). TORAH & TEFILLAH for Tots through K Youth Lounge: For families with young children to celebrate together, led by Menuhah Peters. CHILDREN S SERVICES Funger Hall: Grades 1-3. Parents welcome (not required) to attend. Sisterhood Hall: Grades 4-6. Children-only service. FAMILY TASHLICH Families should meet on the Connecticut Avenue Patio after services at 12:15pm. All children must be accompanied by an adult. YOUTH@AI TASHLICH Students in grades 7-12 meet Sarah Attermann in the Quebec Street Lobby at 12:30pm. PRESCHOOL CHILDREN & FAMILY ROSH HASHANAH CELEBRATION Cohen Hall @ 9:30 10:30am: With Robyn Helzner. TORAH & TEFILLAH for Tots through K Youth Lounge @ 10:30am: For families with young children to celebrate together, led by Menuhah Peters. CHILDREN S SERVICES Funger Hall @ 10:30am: For students in grades 1-6. Parents welcome (not required) to attend. FAMILY SERVICE with Rabbi Kerrith Solomon Cohen Hall: For families who want to share the experience with their elementary school age children (grades K 6). TORAH & TEFILLAH for Tots through K Youth Lounge: For families with young children to celebrate together, led by Menuhah Peters. CHILDREN S SERVICES Funger Hall: Grades 1-3. Parents welcome (not required) to attend. Sisterhood Hall: Grades 4-6. Children-only service. TEEN CHAT Sisterhood Hall @ 12:30pm: Grades 6-8. Gather for a discussion and reflection on Jewish values in our modern lives. Funger Hall @ 12:30pm: Grades 9-12. Gather for a discussion and reflection on Jewish values in our modern lives. N EELAH Connecticut Ave. Patio @ 7:45pm: Students are invited to gather on the Connecticut Avenue Patio for a short program and to join the services in the Charles E. Smith Sanctuary. An activity room staffed by madrichim will be open for students in grades K-6 from 9-10:30am & 12-1:15pm when Children s Services are not in session. Location: Third Floor Art Room. There are no separate services for children in grades 7 and above. We encourage our older learners to attend services with their families and join their peers for the Youth@AI Tashlich and Teen Chat. Everyone is welcome at N eelah, the concluding service on Yom Kippur. Children are encouraged to wear white & bring shofarot. For safety reasons, we ask parents to make sure that their children are supervised at all times, either directly by their families or in synagogue activities. 12 13
HIGH HOLY DAYS HHD Programming Ticketing & Seating HIGH HOLY DAY LEARNING Presented by MakomDC in the Biran Beit Midrash SPIRITED PREPARATIONS The Jewish Mindfulness Center of Washington @ Adas All members are entitled to High Holy Day seats for all adults and children living in the household (up to age 29) as part of your membership. Additional tickets are available as space permits. Tickets required for entry to building for all services except Erev Rosh Hashanah, Rosh Hashanah Day 2, and N eelah. Please return your ticket request form by July 20. ALL TICKETS FOR ALL MEMBERS OF YOUR HOUSEHOLD WILL BE SENT APPROX. TEN DAYS BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS. If you are a dedicated seat holder in the Charles E. Smith Sanctuary, you will need to request the number of your seats that you intend to use for the coming holidays. If you are not a dedicated seat holder in the Charles E. Smith Sanctuary, you can still request sanctuary seats (with limited availability.) These seats can be requested on your ticket request form in this packet. PLEASE NOTE: THIS YEAR, AFTER THE SERMONS IN THE CHARLES E. SMITH SANCTUARY, A SEAT THAT HAS NOT BEEN OCCUPIED WILL BE CONSIDERED AVAILABLE FOR SEATING. THIS APPLIES TO BOTH DEDICATED & RESERVED SEATS. Each session offered will unpack and build upon the essential Days of Awe texts and prayers that prepare us to bring our full selves to Rosh Hashanah & Yom Kippur. Come and ready yourself. MAKOMDC / JMCW HHD MASH-UP with Rabbis Alexander, Holtzblatt & Krinsky Tuesday, Aug. 28 @ 7pm Join Rabbis Alexander, Holtzblatt and Krinsky for an evening of preparation that will cater to all of our senses. Gather together at 7:00pm for some noshing and schmoozing. Rabbis Holtzblatt, Alexander and Krinsky will lead a text study followed by a guided meditation. Join us as we prepare for the Yamim Noraim. THE TEXT, Tuesday Night, Sept. 4 @ 7:30pm Join guest Rabbi Elianna Yolkut and explore High Holy Day themes in traditional texts. SHABBAT POST-KIDDUSH TEXT LEARNING Saturday, Sept. 8, after Kiddush Learn with Rabbi Alexander on hope and strength in Halakhah. MASTERING CHANGE MINI-SERIES, Tuesday, Sept. 4 & Wednesday, Oct. 3 @ 6:30-8:30pm Enter the season of renewal on a powerfully reflective note. Through coaching techniques and mindfulness exercises, participants will bring intention to the start of 5779. Led by Rabbi Sarah Tasman & Executive Coach, Gideon Culman SOUND OF THE SACRED: SHOFAR BLOWING WORKSHOP, Tuesday, Sept. 4 @ 6:30-7:30pm Come explore shofar blowing, the techniques and the significance for spiritual connection. Led by Jennie Litvack YOM KIPPUR KATAN: A ROSH CHODESH WORKSHOP, Wednesday, Sept. 5 @ 7-9pm Women of all ages and bodies are invited to partake in Yom Kippur Katan, an especially poignant mind/body cleansing practice for the High Holy Day season. Join us for an immersive practice of Jewish yoga and mindful discussion. Led by core JMCW faculty ROCK CREEK SH MA: WALKING MEDITATIONS, Saturday, Sept. 8 & 15 @ 2pm Set your kavannah for the new year with silent walking meditations in Rock Creek Park. Current research has found that immersing in nature has profound healing effects. Join us for one or both Shabbat walkabouts. Led by core JMCW faculty BECOMING PRESENT: MEDITATION & SONG WORKSHOP, Wednesday, Sept. 19 @ 4:45-5:45pm Use the rhythms of guided meditation and melodic singing on the threshold of a new year. Led by Susan Barocas & Michelle Buzgon IMMERSING IN HOLINESS, Adas Israel Community Mikvah Physically and mindfully enter the holidays email mikvah@adasisrael.org or call Naomi Malka at 202.841.8776 to schedule appointments. 14 RETURN AGAIN HIGH HOLY DAY WORSHIP Immerse in the soulful, reflective sounds of community worship with the Return Again band. Look for the symbol on the schedule. 15
HIGH HOLY DAYS Kever Avot Services SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 16 @ 10:30AM ADAS ISRAEL CEMETERY SERVICE 1400 Alabama Avenue SE, Washington, DC With Rabbi Lauren Holtzblatt JUDEAN MEMORIAL GARDENS SERVICE 16225 Batchellors Forest Road, Olney, MD With Rabbi Aaron Alexander Jews worldwide mark the approaching High Holy Days with the Kever Avot (graves of the ancestors) service, annual visits to the graves of departed loved ones. Gathering at the grave facilitates healing within families by creating an opportunity to grant forgiveness to one another. Others visit graves to connect with their past and to contemplate the life they want to live. A bus leaves from the congregation to Adas Israel Cemetery at 9:30am. Call the synagogue office, 202.362.4433 to reserve a seat. Space is limited. The Adas Israel Cemetery on Alabama Avenue will be open on Sunday, September 16, from 9am until 3pm. If you wish to visit at any other time, please contact the synagogue office at 202.362.4433 to set up a time. The Adas Fund, Inspired By The Adas Hesed Team Adas Israel is a sacred and caring community, where we enrich lives, forge relationships, foster community, care for each other, and teach truly remarkable Torah. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the work of our incredible Hesed Committee. These dedicated community members focus on Acts of Loving Kindness for our members in times of joy and sorrow, loss and renewal alike. We are honored and humbled by their commitment and hope you will join them at any level of giving for the congregation s only annual campaign the engine that drives all this impactful and meaningful work year-round. Learn more and pledge at adasisrael.org/adasfund. Tashlich On the First Day of Rosh Hashanah, there is a special ceremony where we traditionally go to an ocean, stream, or river to pray and throw breadcrumbs into the water. This serves to symbolically release the things we wish to let go of and set our intention for the coming year. 12:15pm: Family Tashlich, 12:30pm: Youth@AI Taschlich, 5:30pm: Community Tashlich High Holy Day Food Drive: Ezra Pantry In the Haftarah portion for Yom Kippur, the prophet Isaiah implores Jews to fast not just by refraining from food but by taking meaningful social action. In Washington, thousands of people go hungry every day. Please bring nonperishable foods and place them in the bins located in the Adas Israel coat room. Congregational Break-the-Fast Members are invited to a light snack following the end of Yom Kippur services in the Wasserman Hall. Underwritten by Elinor Tattar in memory of Dr. Stuart R. Tattar and by the congregation. GENERAL INFORMATION 16 17
HIGH HOLY DAYS GENERAL INFORMATION The Adas Israel Yizkor Memorial Book We invite you to honor the memory of those whose lives you treasure by inscribing their names in our Yizkor Memorial Book published annually for use during the Yizkor Service on Yom Kippur. Families who have inscribed the names of loved ones on Sanctuary memorial plaques or have listed names on a perpetual basis are automatically included in the Yizkor Memorial Book each year. Perpetual listings can be included for $360. Annual listings can be included for $36. Please return the accompanying card by Friday, July 20 to add the names of your loved ones to the Yizkor Memorial Book. Parking Information The synagogue lot is reserved for handicapped-accessible parking only. To add your name to the reserved parking list, please call the Synagogue Office at 202.362.4433. If you are driving someone who has difficulty walking, we ask that you drop that person off at the front of the synagogue and then find a parking space. Please observe neighborhood parking restrictions, particularly on Connecticut Avenue. There will be no parking available in the synagogue lot (even for those on the parking list) on Kol Nidre. If you would like us to help you make alternative parking or transportation arrangements for that evening, please call the synagogue office. Volunteer to Usher & Greet Add another dimension to your High Holy Day experience this year. Aside from prayer and reflection, ushering and greeting is a wonderful way of connecting with your community and welcoming the thousands of guests in our building. Every year, during each of the High Holy Day services, a dedicated group of members volunteer as ushers and greeters. And in so doing, we fulfill the mitzvah of hachnasat orchim (welcoming guests). No experience is necessary. We ll provide instructions and mentors. If you can help, please return the enclosed form by Friday, July 20. Accessibility & Inclusion Adas Israel is committed to being a fully inclusive community. These are among the accommodations we are able to provide upon request during the High Holy Days and all year round. Please email your requests to inclusion@adasisrael.org or call the synagogue office in advance to make arrangements. Sign Language Interpretation Gender-neutral restroom Large-print siddurim and machzorim Accessible bimahs and adjustable reading tables Wheelchair and partner seating Hearing loops and Bluetooth-enabled hearing devices Live-streaming of Charles E. Smith Sanctuary & Kay Hall services Dial-in to select services for homebound members at 202-686-8405 Quiet room with minimal sensory stimulation Noise-cancelling headphone lending library Wheelchair-accessible Mikvah Safety & Security We use one standard ticket to enter the building for services. For safety and security reasons, tickets are required to enter the building and parking lot. Tallit bags, purses, and other bags will be checked by security personnel. No large bags, backpacks, or briefcases will be allowed into services. In case of emergency evacuation, please follow the instructions from synagogue or security personnel. Visitors, Students & Military Visiting out-of-town relatives may purchase a ticket. Visiting college students and active duty military personnel are admitted with a valid student or military I.D. Reciprocal tickets, to and from other congregations, are available. Please contact the synagogue office for more information. GENERAL INFORMATION 18 19
לב תקוה חיזוק ADAS ISRAEL Congregation 2850 Quebec. St NW, Washington DC 202.362.4433 adasisrael.org Due to the sacred text that appears in this booklet, and in service of our commitment to environmental justice, it is preferable that you recycle these pages.