High Holy Days

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	The Month of Elul
	Rosh Ha-Shanah
	Annual CST Directory
	CST Family Break Fast
	Out-Of-Town For High Holy Days?
	Book of Remembrance
	Babysitting During High Holiday Services
	High Holy Day Services
	Tashlich
	Pets at Tashlich Services

Elul: A Month of Introspection

Adapted from http://www.ou.org/chagim/elul/introelul.htm

What is Elul?

The Jewish month of Elul begins on September 1, 2008. Counting from Nisan, which the Torah calls the first month of the year (Spring), "Elul" is the Sixth Month of the year. Counting from "Tishrei", the month of Rosh HaShanah, however, "Elul" is the twelfth, and last month in the year. Like the names of the other months of the Hebrew Calendar, "Elul came up", or "returned with," those Jews who returned to Israel from the 70-year Exile in Babylonia. The expression "returned with" is particularly significant in this case in that this is the month of "Return" or "Repentance." Elul is the name of the month which we are given each year to prepare spiritually and emotionally for the Days of Awe: the ten days from Rosh HaShanah through Yom Kippur, in which we ask those whom we have wronged (including God, family, and friends) for forgiveness.

What does the name Elul mean?

"Elul" has been interpreted as an acronym, with its Hebrew letters "Aleph," "Lamed," "Vav," "Lamed" representing the words "Ani L’Dodi V’Dodi Li " (Song of Songs: 6,3). The words mean "I am my Beloved’s and my Beloved is mine," where my "Beloved" is God, and "I" am the Jewish People.

Historical Background of "Elul"

	According to Jewish tradition, the World was created by God on the twenty-fifth of Elul, according to the opinion in the Talmud of Rabbi Eliezer, whose opinion is followed generally in connection with questions of astronomical and cosmological (having to do with the "cosmos," or the entire universe) matters. And, according to the Biblical narrative in the beginning of the Bible (Genesis 1:1-31), Original Man and Original Woman were created six Days after the Creation of the Universe. The "Day of Creation" of the first human beings is called "Rosh HaShanah." Hence, it follows that the "Day of Creation" of the Universe was the twenty-fifth of Elul.
	According to Jewish tradition, it was on the 17th of Elul, that the spies who gave the tragic and catastrophic report about Eretz Yisrael (the Land of Israel), died, as the Bible says in BaMidbar (Numbers 14:37), "The Men who gave a bad report concerning "The Land" died in a plague before God." Rabbi Elazar, son of Parta, said, "Come and see how great is the negative power of evil speech and consequently the greatness of the punishment that it brings! We learn this lesson from the spies. For they slandered only trees and stones (the Land of Israel) - how much worse is the punishment if someone slanders a human being!"
	In the Book of Nechemiah (6:15), we find, "And the wall was finished on the 25th of Elul, after fifty two days." When Nechemiah came up from the Diaspora of Babylon to Yerushalayim, and saw the city in its ruined state, its walls filled with gaps and its gates burnt with fire, he urged the Jewish People to rebuild the walls, in order that they no longer be a shame among the nations. Thus the Second Temple came to be built.

Rosh Ha-Shanah

Rosh Ha-Shanah has three Hebrew names: Yom ha-Din (Day of Judgement), Yom ha-Zikkaron (Day of Remembrance), and Yom Teruah (Day of Shofar-sounding).

There is some ambiguity to the mood of Rosh Ha-Shanah. It is the Day of Judgement – a solemn time of reconciliation and confronting the past year. On the other hand, it is New Year’s Day and, although not as frivolous as January 1, it is still Yom Harat Olam—the Birthday of the World—a joyous remembrance of the creation.

How do we know on what day of the year the world was created? Because the first word of the Torah is ברשית (Bereshit-in the beginning) — which changed around reads בתשרי the First of Tishrei —God began to create the heaven and earth.

On the first night of Rosh Ha-Shanah after Kiddush and ha-Motzi, it is customary to dip an apple in honey and say the following blessings:

Baruch atah adonai elohanhu melech ha-olam borei prei ha-etz. Blessed are you, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who creates the fruit of the trees.

After eating the apple and honey, the following is then said: May it be your will, God and God of our fathers, to renew on us a good and sweet year.

Annual CST Directory

We are always looking for sponsors for the Directory and if you’d like to be one of them, please contact JoAnne Levy in the shul office, Joanne@shirtikvah.org.

It’s that time of year to take a look in your current membership directory and see if your information needs updating. If you have a new address, new child, new job, etc., let me know by the end of Yom Kippur. (mjaniak@hotmail.com).

The directory is basically for locating members and young family that may be involved in school, youth or young adult activities, or would like to be.

Please remember that the age of membership is 25, so children 25 and over are no longer listed with their parents, however, they are encouraged to continue their CST affiliation as young adults.

Marilynn Janiak

CST Family Break Fast

Please join us on Thursday, October 9^th immediately following closing services and havdallah to Break the Fast. Break the Fast is a coordinated dairy potluck meal for the entire family. If you would like to attend, please complete the attached form and return it to the temple office not later than Friday, October 3^rd. We must have an accurate number to plan for bagels and seating.

It is easiest when dishes come in disposable dish/pans and ready to go. If, however, you do need to have something heated, the ovens will be on for you. Please do not bring your item in with instructions as there won’t be anyone in the kitchen to prepare it.

Bagels and cream cheese are provided. Should you have any questions, please contact Joyce Bayer at joycebayer@sbcglobal.net.

Out-Of-Town For High Holy Days?

If you are going to be out of town for the High Holy Days please contact the office and arrangements can be made for you to attend services while out of town. The URJ and its member congregations offer a plan for those synagogue members in good standing who are traveling to worship in other affiliated congregations.

Book of Remembrance

Each Yom Kippur, a Book of Remembrance is compiled listing loved ones you wish to have remembered at the Yizkor service during Yom Kippur. If you have any additions or corrections, it is important that they be received by Monday September 18 so that the book can be put together and printed in time.

Due to the congregation’s growth, we will only read the names of our loved ones who have passed away since last Rosh Hashanah. These names will be listed in the front of the booklet.

Please send this information to the following email: joanne@shirtikvah.org or mail to: JoAnne Levy, Congregation Shir Tikvah, 3900 Northfield Parkway, Ttroy, MI 48084 The information will not be accepted over the phone.

Babysitting During High Holiday Services

Babysitting will again be provided during all services for the High Holidays except during mediation and children’s services. Children eight and under are welcome. Once again this year we are requesting that you RSVP if you will be having a child(ren) attend babysitting. This will allow us to determine how many sitters are required; snacks needed, and craft supplies. You may e-mail your response to patty@rehfwitz.com. Please use the subject line high holiday babysitting. If you e-mail your response, make sure to include all the information on this form.

If you are bringing children that require diaper changes and/or bottles, make sure to include all necessary supplies labeled with their name and instructions. Bottles must be filled and ready to use.

Snacks will be available, but it is also recommended that you send a bag lunch for morning services since many children are hungry before the services are over.

Parents will be required to sign their children in and out and must complete a seating chart indicating where in the sanctuary they will be sitting.

If you have any questions, please phone Patty Rehfus. Reservations will only be taken in writing or by e-mail. Please do not leave RSVP in phone messages.

High Holy Day Services

For information on attending services during the High Holy Days, please contact the Administrator, JoAnne Levy, at Joanne@shirtikvah.org or call 248.649.4418 and press 44 when prompted.

Tashlich

Once again, we will have a potluck lunch following Tashlich services at Jaycee Park, off of Long Lake between Rochester Road and John R. As we have done for the past few years, we will be grilling hot dogs. Everyone else is responsible for side dishes and desserts.

Different this year is our hosting of the other Reform congregations in our community at this service. Also different this year is the request that you let us know if you will be staying for lunch after services. We’d like to know how many hot dogs to purchase. We won’t tell you what to bring, but we are asking that you let us know how many hot dogs you think your family will need.

Pets at Tashlich Services

The CST Board of Trustees passed a motion that no pets should be brought to our Tashlich service at Jaycee Park because this is a religious service—a time of solemnity—and the pets have been a distraction to many people. Please keep in mind, as well, that pets are not allowed at any of our religious services at the shul, unless specifically approved by the Board of Trustees.