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September 2013 | Elul 5773 - Tishrei 5774
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Celebrating with Our Community
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ndividual families celebrate s’mahot, such as a Brit Milah, Bar/Bat Mitzvah, or a wedding. And our schools celebrate special milestones, such as the completion of units of study and graduations. The calendars of our affiliate groups are marked with many special occasions. But when do we celebrate our connection to Chizuk Amuno? When do we rejoice as one synagogue family? Last year, the Congregational Life Committee (CLC), with representation from each of Chizuk Amuno’s affiliate groups and the school community, took the first steps in this direction with Laser Lights Hanukkah and Dancing with the Stars Purim. This year, the CLC is planning four major programs: the Sukkot Tailgate Bash on Sunday, September 22, Laser Lights II (brought back by popular demand) for Hanukkah on Tuesday night, December 3,
a major Purim Celebration on Saturday night, March 15, and a Learning Festival on Sunday, May 4.
Mark your calendars now for the Chizuk Amuno Community Sukkot Tailgate Bash, which will, God-willing, take place on Sunday morning, September 22 from 10 a.m. 12:30 p.m. , rain or shine. In addition to a delicious BBQ tailgate lunch and chili cook-off, we will have a concert on the lawn by the Rusty Spurs, sports for all ages, a sing-along in the sukkah, moonbounce, children’s character meet ‘n greet, face painting, art projects, popcorn, snow cones and cotton candy. Volunteers are needed for a special project for the Jared Scott Levy Memorial Garden at 10:30.
Please note that the Derekh Amuno dedication will take place at 10 a.m. in front of the building entrance to the Hoffberger Chapel. The Sisterhood Shredding and eCycling Event, as well as the I.O.U. Clothing Drive, will be from 9 a.m.-Noon. Reservations for the Tailgate Bash can be made online at chizukamuno.org, by check at the synagogue office ($6 per person/$18 per household), or at the door ($7 per person/$21 per household). We look forward to welcoming your entire family to our opening synagogue-wide program on Sunday, September 22. B’Shalom,
Rabbi Paul D. Schneider
Selihot: An Evening of Greeting, Reflection, and Hope
Blessing Our Children
Saturday, August 31 Join with our community to prepare for Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur. 8:30 p.m. Havdalah 8:45 p.m. “The Holiness of Hope: Being Optimistic in a Worried World” A new Jewish year is upon us. The same old world confronts us. Our days fill with worries about world events, about our personal challenges, and how best to live with meaning and contentment. Preparing for the High Holy Days, we’ll reflect. How do we stay realistic and hopeful? What inspiration do we seek? What optimism does Judaism teach? Join with Rabbi Shulman as we explore answers to these questions.
Erev Rosh HaShanah September 4, 6 p.m. t is a meaningful Jewish custom to begin each holiday occasion with blessings and hopes for our children. Receiving their parents’ loving embrace at the start of a new year, children of all ages, children of every generation, feel the joy and promise in holiday celebration. At Chizuk Amuno, we will celebrate this timeless tradition as a community during our first service of the New Year, on Erev Rosh HaShanah. (Please note, the Ma’ariv service lasts one hour. Blessing our children will take place during the first portion of our gathering.) Our family blessings are inclusive, celebrating all ages and each generation. Parents, bring your children. Adult children, bring your parents, your children’s grandparents. Grandparents, bring your children and grandchildren. For more details regarding High Holy Day services, please refer to page 4.
9:15 p.m. Dessert Reception 9:45 p.m. Preparing for the New Year Before our service begins, the Torah Scrolls in the ark are publicly changed into their white High Holy Day covers. 10 p.m. Selihot Service A String Quartet will accompany Hazzan Perlman and the Chizuk Amuno choir during our Selihot Service. Our rabbis will each reflect on this question: “What do you hope for in the New Year?”
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