Since the Shofar can not be blown on Shabbat, this year we are holding a short Shofar Service before the Erev Rosh Hashanah service.
Friday, September 18th
6:45PM: Shofar Service
7PM: Erev Rosh Hashanah Service
Shofar service Friday, September 18th
September 2009 Shmoozeletter
You may read, print, or download the September Shmoozeletter now. Go ahead! Shmooze the news!
High Holy Days
Remember Who You Really Are
High Holy Days with Temple Or Olam
5770/2009
In Africa, a group of people called the Babemba (People of the Lake) have a practice they use whenever someone behaves unjustly or irresponsibly and hurts other members of their community. The community ceases its business. Each woman, man, and child helps make a circle around that person. Then, every individual takes the time to tell that person about his or her good traits — in detail. All that person’s positive attributes, good deeds, strengths and kindness are recited.
The ceremony can take hours – even days. When everyone is finished, the villagers celebrate with great joy. The person is symbolically and literally welcomed back into the tribe.
What’s happening here? In the villagers’ minds, the person in question has forgotten who he or she really is, and must be reminded. Because when you know and appreciate yourself, the Babemba assume, you will have no need to harm anyone.
This year, we’ll experiment with the High Holy Day liturgy to engage in a similar, uplifting practice. Our teshuva (self-exploration, penitence, and return) will be explored through meditating, praying, and writing in teshuva journals, but with this assumption: High Holy Days are a call for us to return to the truth of who we are.
September 18, 7 p.m.: Erev Rosh Hashanah service
September 19, 9:30 a.m.: Rosh Hashanah service, followed by brunch and
Taschlich
September 27, 7 p.m.: Kol Nidre
September 28, 9:30 a.m.: Yom Kippur service
September 28, 6:30 p.m.: Neila, Havdalah, then break fast
All services held at McGill Baptist Church, 5300 Poplar Tent Road, Concord, NC
Babysitting available
Suggested donations for non-members:
Families: $180
Individuals: $90
Students: As you are able
Any High Holy Day donations can be applied to membership dues if you join within three months
Machzorim for High Holy Days
Several years ago, when the congregation bought copies of Machzor Hadash for our High Holy Days services, some families also bought personal copies. The Ritual Committee is trying to ensure that we have enough machzorim this year. If you will be bringing your own machzor(im) to services next month, could you please let us know at gjensen100@hotmail.com? Thanks, everyone.
Reminder: Beatles Service 8/14
This is just a reminder that the Friday service on August 14th will be the Beatles service. This would be a great one to invite a friend to. Also in anticipation of guests, maybe some extra Oneg goodies! thanks!
Got problems? We’ve got solutions.
This year, some of the religious school students will begin to study Jewish ethics.
They will be using Maimonides’ Mishneh Torah and other Jewish sources,
and will learn how Rabbis, through the ages, have made decisions. We’d like
your help. What we need from you are problems. You supply the problems, and
the students, looking to Jewish law, will supply the solutions.
The first area that the students will study is gifts. Do you have a dispute in this
area that you need wise resolution on? Or, perhaps, can you imagine such a
dispute? “Yes, I gave my friend my crockpot but I had such a headache! I just
wanted her to leave me alone. I didn’t know what I was saying.” Or “My uncle
has three children, but just before he died, he said, ‘my son Moishe gets it all!’
Does that count?” The problem doesn’t actually have to be real!
Please email your questions to religious-school@or-olam.org.
The questions will be read out loud in class and discussed. Your identity will not be revealed.
The answer may show up in a future Schmoozeletter.
High Holy Day song-teach & Shalom Lake Norman
September 13th will be a big day for Temple Or Olam.
10:00AM: Religious school families are meeting at Steve and Robbin Smith’s house for their opening day.
10:45AM: The rest of the congregation is joining them at the Smith house, as Reb Barbara teaches us some songs and melodies for the High Holy Day services. Please bring chairs for your family.
11:30AM: We depart for Shalom Lake Norman, which takes place at Ramsey Creek Park from Noon to 4PM. There will be all kinds of Jewish cultural activities, and is a good chance for us to be with the larger Jewish Community.
Reminder: Beatles Service August 14
Reminder: Our service on August 14th will be our Beatles service, in which the sentiments of the evening Shabbat services are expressed through songs by the Fab Four. This would be a great service to invite a friend, or a family of friends, to. Please consider doing that. Also, since we’re expecting a slightly larger turnout than at our typical service, please also consider bringing some food to share at the Oneg. Thanks!
Usual place and time: McGill Baptist Church at 7PM
Reminder: Friday night service 7/17
Reminder: We will be having a Friday night service with a Torah service this Friday, July 17th, at 7PM. Please join us!
