THIS MONT H HaHodesh AT CHIZUK AMUNO CONGREGATION AND SCHOOLS
SEPTEMBER 2016 | Av-Elul 5776 Engaging Jewish Life & Learning
RABBI’S COLUMN Summer is a time of preparation. We’ve had these past months to enjoy being in the moment RABBI DEBI WECHSLER and we’ve also had these past months to get ready for the next year. School supplies have been on the shelves since July 4th. Winter coats recently arrived in the stores. Pesto has been made and frozen into little green gems. And at least one person told me that they are already cooking and freezing for the Holidays. Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik once famously said ein kedushah bli hachanah there is no holiness without preparation. We cannot expect to just arrive at a sacred time and have it feel sacred without having first prepared ourselves. On Pesah that preparation takes the form of cleaning out our homes and going through the hagaddah so that when the First Seder arrives, our kitchens and intellects are ready. For the High Holy Days that preparation takes the form of Elul, the month during which the shofar is blown daily (except Shabbat) a Psalm is added, and we study and read to prepare our minds and hearts. In many years, Elul falls during the summer months when we are otherwise occupied in important endeavors related to sand Continued on Page 2
Dedication ceremony
September 24 We will dedicate our new Siddur and celebrate the opportunity for us to use this new text during our service on Shabbat Morning.
“Creating and Using a New Siddur” With Rabbi Ed Feld Senior Editor, Siddur Lev Shalem Wed., Sept. 14 at 7:30 p.m. We are honored to welcome Rabbi Ed Feld to speak with us about the creation of our Conservative Movement’s new prayer book. Rabbi Feld’s expertise in liturgy and his sensitivity to the issues of prayer in the Jewish community today will offer us insights and understanding about our new Siddur as well as our own prayer experiences.
We invite personal tributes and memorials in individual Siddur Lev Shalem prayer books. Members and friends may dedicate a new Siddur in honor or memory of loved ones by calling 410-486-6400 or emailing the synagogue at donation@chizukamuno.org
Dedications are $36/Siddur and $72 for a large-print Siddur.