Rosh Hashanah 5784

B’nai Sholom Reform Congregation

Rosh Hashanah 5784

L’shanah Tovah! – Happy New Year! –לשנה טובה!

OFFICIANTS:  Rabbi Danielle Weisbrot; Rebecca Cotler, soloist; Elizabeth Huntley, harpist

CHOIR: Rabbi Danielle Weisbrot, Deb Adler, Susan Aron, Liz Davis, Sarah Davis, Joe DeFronzo, Jesse Dinkin, Judy Fruiterman, Roy Fruiterman, Lois Gordon, David Ray, Doug Smith, Valerie Tabak, Martie Teumim

SPECIAL NOTE: Our Office Manager, Christine Blackman, is retiring! If you would like to wish her well, please stop by Tammuz (room by the prayer books) to write in a message book that will be available through Sept. 26 (including during High Holy Day services).

      EREV ROSH HASHANAH: 

PARTICIPANTS  Steve Redler, Ben Marvin, Joe DeFronzo, Joel Bloom, Zachary Bloom, Sharon Sklar, Joan Savitt

ONEG YOM TOV Immediately following the service, all are welcome to enjoy an Oneg Yom Tov provided by the B’nai Sholom Board of Trustees.

      ROSH HASHANAH MORNING:

PARTICIPANTS  Bettina Stoller, Laura Kaplan, Lois Gordon, Joe DeFronzo, Ben Marvin, Joel Bloom, Zachary Bloom, Rema Goldstein, Alex Wiegand, Facilities Management Committee, Worship and Related Services Committee, Finance and Administration Committee, Community Engagement Committee, Lifelong Learning Committee, Hayden Schwartz, Social Action/Social Justice Committee, Special Events Committee, Ethan Goldberg, Daniel King, Cheryl Reeder, Mark Reeder, Deb Adler, Howard Stoller, Steve Gottlieb, Lew Sperber, Barry Pendergrass, Ann Lowenfels

ROSH HASHANAH LUNCHEONS Thanks to the Special Events Committee for organizing this most enjoyable tradition and to all hosts and guests for participating.

      ALBANY COMMUNAL TASHLICH With Rosh Hashanah occurring over Shabbat, the Albany Communal Tashlich will be Sunday, Sept. 17, at 4:30 PM (in-person only) at Buckingham Pond at the foot of Colonial Ave., near the playground.  Please bring duck-friendly items like grape halves, bird seed, frozen peas or chopped lettuce instead of bread.

PJ Library Tashlich for kids and families at 3:30 PM Sunday.

      YOM KIPPUR:

FASTING  Prepare this week by increasing water and decreasing caffeine. If you are pregnant/nursing or if it is not medically advisable for you to fast, you are completely exempt; life and health come first! Rabbi Weisbrot says: If you are in doubt, you may eat or drink what you need. Children can be fed simply.

TALLIT AND KOL NIDRE  The tallit (prayer shawl) is traditionally worn only during morning prayer, but Kol Nidrei is an exception. Feel free to bring or wear one that night if you choose!

YOM KIPPUR STUDY SESSION  1:30-3 PM (between morning and afternoon services) – IN-PERSON ONLY

Discussion led by David Liebschutz

TOPIC: The Book of Jonah — Why is one of the shortest books of the Tanakh (the Hebrew Bible), about a reluctant prophet, a large fish and the sinners of Nineveh, part of our Yom Kippur afternoon liturgy? Come prepared to learn and share your insights. No prior knowledge is necessary.

BREAK-FAST IS BACK! At the conclusion of Yom Kippur, following the Ne’ilah service, a light break-fast will be provided in the Social Hall. All are welcome to enjoy. Many thanks to B’nai Sholom’s past presidents for sponsoring this event!

     SUKKOT:

IT’S SUKKAH-RAISING TIME.  Our sukkah structural supervisor, Bob Negris, seeks volunteers this Sunday, Sept. 17, at 11 AM. Time can be flexible depending on volunteer schedules.  We’ll also have a decoration-making session for all ages in the Social Hall. Please contact Melissa Putterman Hoffmann at mputtermanhoffmann@gmail.com if you can lend a hand with building or decorating.

OUR SUKKAH  will be open to all from the start of Sukkot (Friday, Sept. 29) until Simchat Torah. We encourage picnicking and, weather permitting, we’ll make sure you have a table and chairs if you let us know you’re coming.

      SIMCHAT TORAH:

EREV SIMCHAT TORAH SERVICE  The holiday season comes to a close with Simchat Torah Friday, Oct. 6, with Yizkor at 7 PM and Shabbat and Simchat Torah services at 7:30 PM. Join us as we unroll the Torah around the room, reading the last words of Deuteronomy and starting over with Genesis. Lots of hands are needed to help hold up the Torah!

 PLEASE:                                • silence/turn off your phone or place it in “Airplane” mode

• place your prayer book on the hallway tables when you leave
• take all papers with you; do not leave them in your prayer book

B’NAI SHOLOM CONTINUES WITH MULTI-ACCESS SERVICES:  For those joining in person, copies of Mishkan HaNefesh are available for use; for those participating remotely, the prayers will be shared on the Zoom screen.

PRAYERS FOR THE SICK/MI SHEBEIRACH LIST  To have a name recited, please write the name on one of the forms on top of the bookcase and give to an usher, or you may share the name aloud from your seat or in the Zoom chat when offered by Rabbi Weisbrot. Please, also let us know when we can remove a name from the list.

 GUIDE TO B’NAI SHOLOM 5784/2023-24  The Annual Guide is now available! Be sure to pick up your copy from the tables in the hallway outside the Sanctuary.

 SPECIAL THANKS TO… Howie Stoller for coordinating the ushers this year; Jim Savitt for coordinating the parking lot crew; Elizabeth Alowitz, Will Vail and Joel Bloom for keeping our youngest congregants engaged with activities during our morning services; the Landscape Team for weeding, mulching and sprucing up our grounds and to Maxine and Eric Goldberg for their donation of the chrysanthemums beautifying our entrance for the High Holy Days; Mitch Levinn for compiling and producing the Annual Guide; Julie Novkov and Julie Friedman for coordinating the Yom Tov oneg; Susan Radosh for coordinating the Yom Kippur break-fast; Christine Blackman, who has kept the temple office humming for 8+ years; and especially to the Worship and Related Services Committee and all volunteers who have made these services possible.

WELCOME VISITORS AND GUESTS!  If you would like to receive our weekly email or monthly Bulletin, please fill out a green form near the Sanctuary door.

UP AHEAD:

• CLOTHING COLLECTION We will collect CLEAN, GENTLY USED SEASONAL clothes and shoes. Please be sure to SORT BY GENDER (male/female/unisex) AND ALSO BY AGE (infant/child/teen/adult) and label the bags. Drop off your donations at the synagogue during the week of OCT. 24-29 when the building is open** or in person on

SUNDAY, OCT. 29, 11 AM to 1 PM.

**Please place them neatly in the marked classroom; do not leave bags outside the building.

• NEW MEMBER SHABBAT Please join us FRIDAY, NOV. 3, when we’ll celebrate and welcome our newest members with dinner at 6 PM and at our erev Shabbat service at 7:30 PM. Details and RSVP information coming soon.
• LIFELONG LEARNING Rabbi Weisbrot will be leading a discussion of Pirkei Avot, or Ethics of our Fathers, one of the best known and most cited of Jewish texts. The sessions will be Thursday nights with the format and dates to be determined. Watch for further details.
• TOT SHABBAT 2^nd Friday of every month 5:30-6 PM.
• TORAH STUDY Shabbat mornings 10-11:30 and extended sacred text study first Saturdays until noon, all by Zoom only.
• SHABBAT TORAH SERVICES Check the temple calendar or the Weekly E-announcements for dates each month.
• TECH VOLUNTEERS KEEP OUR SERVICES MULTI-ACCESS We have several openings for tech support volunteers on Friday nights – no experience needed! If you (or someone you know) is interested in learning how to operate our new sound and video equipment, contact Ann Lowenfels at AnnLowenfels@gmail.com.

 OPPORTUNITIES FOR SOCIAL ACTION AND SOCIAL JUSTICE:

• Please bring items for the FOOD AND PERSONAL CARE COLLECTION BOXES. Make sure that items are not past or close to expiration dates.
• Please CONSIDER WHAT YOU WILL SAVE BY FASTING on Yom Kippur and contribute that amount, if you are able, either to the Regional Food Bank (965 Albany-Shaker Rd., Latham, NY 12110), to MAZON-A Jewish Response to Hunger (10850 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 400, Los Angeles, CA 90024) or to B’nai Sholom for the Free Food Fridge program.

ONGOING WAYS TO HELP SUPPORT B’NAI SHOLOM:

• LEGACY SOCIETY We have 57 members in the Legacy Society, and we would be honored to add you, if you are not there already. By committing a substantial contribution now or in your will to our Endowment Fund, you secure the future of our B’nai Sholom community. Contact Mimi Bruce at mbrucemd53@gmail.com.
• KIBBUTZNIK Donate in memory of, or to honor, someone special. Contact Lois Gordon at rgordon1@nycap.rr.com.
• GROCERY STORE GIFT CARDS Purchase gift cards to Hannaford and ShopRite to do your grocery shopping and the temple earns 5% on each dollar spent. Contact Ellie Davis at davisj0726@gmail.com.
• FRIENDS HELPING FRIENDS DAY AT BOSCOV’S Receive 25% off everything you buy in-store on October 18. Shopping passes are available at the temple office for $5.
• FALL FLOWER FUNDRAISER It’s not too late to order bulbs from Flower Power. See the flyer in the Bulletin or contact Amy Sternstein at amysternstein@aol.com.
• CLYNK The green way to raise funds by collecting your bottles and cans. Pick up your recycling bag at the temple office. Contact Maxine Goldberg at maxm0304@yahoo.com.
• GOT SNEAKERS Place sneakers that you no longer wear into the box in the temple entryway for reuse or recycling. Help raise money and reduce our carbon footprint! Contact Amy Sternstein for information.