The High Holy Days

Joseph Henson, President

Memories are a very significant part of life. Both our personal memories and our group memories; those we cherish and those we wish were not in our memory bank.

This leads me to my topic: The High Holiday memories built over our lifetime. I suppose I am not alone in saying my earliest High Holiday memories were, “Do we havta go?” “It is so looong and borrring.” Those thoughts quickly passed as I matured and my memories focused on the majesty of the holidays as being truly the High Holy Days, the Days of Awe, hearing inspiring sermons from the rabbi and losing myself in the Cantor’s voice.

During my adult years, I have almost always been involved in my synagogue’s administration. Most often it was with the synagogue’s Brotherhood or Men’s Club. Memories created over these years reflect the experiences of the times in which Jews found themselves. As everyone knows, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are big. Hearing Avinu Malkeinu or Kol Nidre sung and offering communal prayers of repentance brings in a lot of people. So, years back, most of my volunteer time was spent putting up additional seating, setting out the Machzorim, arranging the usher schedule and planning out evacuation routes focused almost exclusively on fire safety. The policeman (or two) that we hired were primarily there to handle increased traffic volume.

This role changed from being a benign administrative function as certain antisemitic, anti-Zionist or anti-Israel segments took on a coarser, more physically aggressive stance. Our security needs have evolved from traffic control to watching for terrorists bent on disruption, destruction or physical harm. Most recently, mobs are massing to restrict movement or entry into public spaces — or far more worrisome — Jewish spaces.

Recognizing this dramatic shift, many Jewish organizational bodies responded by banding together with Secure Community Network (SCN), a major Jewish organization throughout North America that is devoted to strengthening security at Jewish sites. Using its own internal capabilities and liaising with law enforcement, SCN seeks to provide best practice guidance and training. Currently, Jewish Federation of Greater Naples is supporting the SCN’s development of a Regional Security Advisory for three Federation communities on the west coast of Florida. This advisory will provide security direction for Jewish organizations, one of which is Beth Tikvah. Currently, it is anticipated that the SCN oversight will be in place by early fall.

In the meantime, Beth Tikvah has taken prudent steps so that congregants can comfortably participate with their Beth Tikvah family in these meaningful services, from Erev Rosh Hashanah through the final shofar blast as Yom Kippur seals our fate for another year.

May we all have a healthy, prosperous and safe New Year with peace in Eretz Yisrael.

HIGH HOLY DAYS

If you are attending the High Holy Day services at Beth Tikvah, please call the office (239-434-1818) before Sept. 1 to let us know you are coming so we can include you on our attendance list. Also, tell us if you are bringing others and if you will join us for Break–The–Fast.

Virtual tickets for your visiting family members are $118. If you are not yet a Beth Tikvah member, tickets are $185.

Rosh Hashanah

Saturday, Sept. 28, 8 p.m. – Selichot

Thursday, Oct. 3, 6:15 p.m. – Erev Rosh Hashanah

Friday, Oct. 4, Rosh Hashanah Day starting at 9 a.m.

Saturday, Oct. 5, Rosh Hashanah 2nd Day starting at 9 a.m.

Yom Kippur

Friday, Oct. 11, Erev Yom Kippur, 6 p.m. - Kol Nidre

Saturday, Oct. 12, Yom Kippur starting at 9 a.m. and ending with Break–The–Fast, a catered dinner in our social hall.