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Looking Ahead to the High Holidays...
Our tradition tells us that we need to start preparing for the High Holy Days, spiritually and emotionally, well before the holidays begin. As we think ahead, perhaps making arrangements to travel to be with family and friends, perhaps arranging for guests to visit us here, we need to be mentally cleaning house. We take stock of the year that is just ending and think about the new year to come. I hope that it will be a good, happy, healthy, and sweet year for you and your families.
I’m looking forward to Jim Levinson’s wonderful, warm, meaningful services to usher in the new year. In thinking ahead to the services, I’d like to remind you of BAJC’s policy: we welcome everyone to join us for the holidays, whether or not they are members. If you have guests visiting, or Jewish friends in the area who are not BAJC members, please invite them to join us. While we greatly appreciate donations to help us defray the considerable cost of holding the services, we do not sell tickets or require reservations. We welcome all comers.
In this month's newsletter mailed to your homes, you’ll find a sign-up sheet for the High Holy Days. Please take a moment to fill out the sheet, and let us know how you’d like to participate in the services. Here’s a brief explanation of some of the opportunities to participate:
- Aliyah: When you have an aliyah, you are an honorary Torah reader for the service. You come up to the bima during the service and recite the Torah blessings; the reader reads the Torah portion on your behalf.
- Torah honors: The hagbah lifts the Torah after it has been read, and holds it while the glilah dresses the Torah in its ceremonial covering.
- Torah procession: Carry the Torah around the synagogue during the procession.
- Reading in English: Read a short portion during the service. Often this involves leading a responsive reading.
- Serving as a Greeter: Greeters need to arrive early at the services (half an hour before the morning services, forty five minutes before the evening services). Greeters welcome members, guests, and visitors.
- Helping with set up: This involves coming to the synagogue for about an hour to set up chairs and arrange the bima.
- Helping with break down: This involves staying after the end of services for about an hour to help put away chairs and disassemble the bima.
If you have any questions about participating in the services, please give me a call or email info@bajcvermont.org.
Hoping that the rest of your summer is beautiful and relaxed,
B’shalom,
- Rachel
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