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Information About Our Services

For answers to more general questions about the High Holidays: read the FAQ

Slichot means "forgiveness," and takes place on the Saturday evening before Rosh Hashanah. This service is a beautiful introduction to the Holidays and puts us in the mood for the introspection that will follow. We begin to think about what we need to change in ourselves this year. On this night, we will change our Torah covers to Holiday covers.

Rosh Hashanah Evening services: The first of the major High Holiday services. Arrive early as it is always well attended. As is traditional, apples and honey (and light food) will be served following the service.

Rosh Hashanah Morning service: This service includes a Torah service and the blowing of the shofar. After the service, join us for lunch at a local restaurant. Please note that this service is on a Thursday. Even if you do not attend, please do not work or send your children to school on that Thursday.

Tashlich: Means "to cast away". This short and beautiful service takes place at Bozeman Ponds, where we will sing and symbolically cast away our sins, so we may begin anew this coming year. Innovative 2nd Day Rosh Hashanah: This service will deviate some from the traditional and will include creative and innovative prayers and practices. The shofar will be blown.

Shabbat Shuva: This is the shabbat service between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. "Shabbat shuva" means the shabbat of "return", as it is a time of our return to our true selves.

Yom Kippur mikvah: In preparation for Yom Kippur, we will meet at a body of water, where we will sing and study Jewish texts together and then immerse in the water (men and women separately) and we will emerge as the new "us' for the new year.

Kol Nidre (Yom Kippur evening): The first Yom Kippur service, where the amazing melody of Kol Nidre will be played and sung.

Yom Kippur morning: The principal Yom Kippur service.

Yom Kippur Children's service: A special treat for the kids!

Yom Kippur study and stories: Many people choose to stay at shul all day on Yom Kippur, and we encourage you to consider this. In the afternoon, Rabbi Ed will lead a study session on a Yom Kippur theme.

Yizkor (Memorial) and Neilah (concluding) service: These are very powerful services in which we remember those we have lost in our lives and conclude Yom Kippur. You are invited to bring a photo of those you are remembering.

Break the Fast (potluck): After a day of fasting, it is wonderful to share a meal together. Please bring a prepared dish (no meat, please). We suggest lots of fruits and vegetables in soups, salads, main dishes and desserts, including whole grains, beans, cheese and eggs. If you want suggestions on what to bring, Google "Yom Kippur meals."

Picnic and Service in the sukkah (potluck): Our celebration of sukkot with a potluck in our sukkah. After Yom Kippur, where we hope we have achieved forgiveness, we dwell in the sukkah to remember our dependence on G!d.

Simchat Torah (and consecration of kindergarteners): We will unroll and dance with the Torah to klezmer music as we celebrate the beginning of formal education for our kindergarteners.

High Holidays at Beth Shalom

September 2010 | Tishrei 5771

May this High Holiday season be one in which you are enlightened and renewed through your connection to Judaism. Here is all of the information you need about our upcoming services, including the dates and times of all services, a description of all services, and FAQs (frequently asked questions).

Membership is not required to attend. We ask that non-members RSVP, so we can assure adequate space. Contributions are suggested, but not required (see the FAQ to contribute online). We depend on contributions to keep our synagogue running, but we offer a sanctuary for anyone and everyone who wishes to attend a Jewish prayer service.</p>

Should you have any questions, feel free to e-mail the Temple at rabbiassistant@bethshalombozeman.org or call 556-0528; or email Rabbi Ed at bozemanrabbi@gmail.com or call him at (850) 933-2637.

The schedule

See descriptions in the side bar for more about each service.

Elul Workshop: Preparing for the High Holidays Saturday, Aug 21 at 9:30 am
Wine & Cheese Discussion:
Successful Models for the Interfaith Family
& Interfaith Families and High Holidays		 Sunday, Aug 22 at 5:00 pm
Torah StudySaturday, Sept 4 at 9:30 am
Slichot ServiceSaturday, Sept 4 at 8:00 pm
Rosh Hashanah Evening services
followed by apples & honey and light food		Wednesday, Sept 8 at 7:00 pm
Rosh Hashanah Morning serviceThursday, Sept 9 at 10:00 am
Tashlich at Bozeman Ponds Thursday, Sept 9 at 3:30 pm
Innovative 2nd Day Rosh HashanahFriday, Sept 10 at 10:00 am
Shabbat Shuva Friday, Sept 10 at 7:00 pm
Torah StudySaturday, Sept 11 at 9:30 am
Yom Kippur mikvah, location TBASunday, Sept 12 at noon
Kol Nidre (Yom Kippur evening) Friday, Sept 17 at 7:00 pm
Yom Kippur morningSaturday, Sept 18 at 10:00 am
Yom Kippur Children's serviceSaturday, Sept 18 at 1:30 pm
Yom Kippur study and stories Saturday, Sept 18 at 3:00 pm
Yizkor (Memorial) & Neilah (Concluding) Saturday, Sept 18 at 5:00 pm
Break the Fast (potluck)Saturday, Sept 18 at 6:00 pm
Erect sukkah at the Temple Sunday, Sept 19
Picnic and service in the sukkah (potluck)Friday, Sept 24 at 5:30 pm
Torah StudySaturday, Sept 25 at 9:30 am
Sukkot celebration Week of Sept 22-29
at one another's homes
Simchat Torah & Kindergartener ConsecrationFriday, Oct 1 at 6:00 pm

Music

Our High Holiday music this year will be led by Cantorial Student Katyah Gohr from Allentown, PA, and on Rosh Hashanah, we will also have Cantorial Soloist Miriam Blau from Seattle. They will be accompanied by several talented instrumentalists from our community. Katyah and Miriam have warm and inviting presences as well as extensive experience and will deeply enrich our High Holiday experience.

Katyah GohrKatyah Gohr began playing guitar at the age of ten. She is currently a third year cantorial student and has worked as a teacher and cantorial soloist at several congregations in Michigan, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and has provided special programming for holidays and Shabbaton nationwide. Katyah has been a featured performer on the national stage at conventions such as: CAJE, the JRF National Biennial and the Union for Reform Judaism Biennial. Her compositions have been published by URJ Books and Music. Her first CD of original compositions, "Seasons of Our Souls," was released in the Spring of 2006and her second CD, "Sukkat Shalom," is expected to be released this later this year.

Miriam BlauMiriam Blau is a clinical psychologist and mother, who has been singing her whole life. For the last 14 years, she has served as lay cantor at Congregation Eitz Or in Seattle. Miriam says that "leading beloved spiritual community in singing, and inviting them into prayer with her voice, is one of the greatest blessings I have ever known."

Rabbi

Rabbi EdRabbi Ed Stafman is a second-career Rabbi, entering his third year as Rabbi of Congregation Beth Shalom. The overriding goals of his messages this time of year are to use Jewish tradition to inspire us to engage in self-evaluation and to use that process to give our lives more meaning and strengthen our relationships with one another and the Holy One. Read more …