Sherith Israel

2008

High Holy Days

5769

 

To purchase tickets:

 

 

 

Dear Members and Friends:

 

On behalf of the Board of Trustees, fellow Clergy and Staff, we cordially invite you to join us for High Holy Day services. This year Rosh Hashanah begins at sundown on Monday, September 29, 2008, 1 Tishri 5769.

 

The High Holy Days are a time for reflection, introspection, prayer and reconnection as we renew ourselves, strengthening our personal spiritual foundation.  The year 5769 is also an important one for our congregation as we continue our communal journey to reinforce the physical foundation of our historic sanctuary and ensure that generations to come will be lifted by its beauty. We encourage you to invite your friends and family to experience the joy and energy that fills our sanctuary when we worship together at this special time of year.

 

Please read through this High Holy Day information package carefully and don’t hesitate to call to speak with our clergy or staff if you have questions.

 

We would like to point out a few important items:

There is a clear difference between the Early and Late services and we ask that you carefully choose the service that reflects your individual worship preferences. Please read the descriptions inside.

Because both our Youth Service and Tot Yontif services have grown so large in the past couple of years, both of these services, for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, will be held in Newman Hall. The Youth Service is at 8:30am and Tot Yontif will follow at 10:45am.

On Yom Kippur Morning, both early and late services will be held, once again, at Calvary Presbyterian Church (2515 Fillmore Street at the corner of Jackson) to comply with San Francisco city requirements until our retrofit project is completed. At the conclusion of the late service, Rabbi Raphael will lead a procession with our Torahs from Calvary to Sherith Israel.

The first service of Yom Kippur Afternoon will include members of our congregation sharing some of their own religious experiences related to the themes of the holiday. A Healing Service, conducted by our Clergy, will follow.

Yizkor (Memorial Service) will include a special guided meditation to encourage worshippers to visualize and reflect on those who are no longer with us.

At Neilah, you are invited to come to the bimah with your shofar. Everyone is then invited to a traditional catered community Break-the-Fast, in Newman Hall.

 

Parking information will be sent with your tickets prior to Rosh Hashanah.

 

We look forward to seeing you, your family and friends to usher in the new year together at Sherith Israel.

 

L’shalom

 

 

 

Larry Raphael, Senior Rabbi                                      Nancy Drapin

415.346.1720 Ext 19                                                   415.346.1720 Ext 30

rabbiraphael@sherithisrael.org                                  ndrapin@sherithisrael.org

 

 

 

 

 

All services are held at Congregation Sherith Israel, 2266 California Street, with the exception of:

Tashlich, Palace of Fine Arts Pond

The Community Memorial Service, the Cemetery Properties, 1301 El Camino Real, Colma

Yom Kippur Morning Services, Calvary Presbyterian Church, 2515 Fillmore Street *

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

* The City of San Francisco requires that no more than 299 people may congregate in unreinforced masonry buildings for more than 4 hours each day. During our retrofit project we will continue to hold

Yom Kippur morning services outside our sanctuary.

 

 

 

If you have had the opportunity to join us for our Journey to Shabbat services on the third Friday of each month, you already have begun to experience the environment that we hope to bring to the early High Holy Day services. This service will use a prayer book written by our clergy, and will be a very contemporary, creative and participatory worship experience with music that includes guitar, piano and clarinet.

 

This service will surround you with the comfort of custom and memory as the traditions of centuries are brought to the bimah through time-honored prayers and music.  We will use the Reform movement’s prayer book, Gates of Repentance.  Music will include our majestic organ, the piano and our professional choir.

 

Tot Yontif is a participatory family ceremony, featuring music, stories and a blessing of the children.  Led by Rabbi Julie Saxe-Taller and R.S. Assistant Principal/ECE Meredith Reich, we will bring in the new year with prayers, singing, the sound of the shofar and guest story teller, Bruce Bierman.  Following the Rosh Hashanah Tot Yontif on September 30, families are invited to stay and schmooze at our family kiddush.

 

T’kiah, shevarim, t’ruah!—Wake up and listen to the sound of the shofar! Our youth and their families learn the meaning of the High Holy Days and experience the drama of the shofar blasts with participatory and dynamic worship led by Rabbi Julie Saxe-Taller, older students, teachers and parents.  This age appropriate prayer service guides our children to develop a relationship with God in a supportive and lively environment with Jewish prayer, stories, music and singing. 

 

Everyone is invited to walk from the synagogue to the Palace of Fine Arts pond or to meet us at that location. In the tradition of cleansing ourselves of our sins, we join together for an informal gathering at the Palace of Fine Arts pond. Through stories, songs, prayers and the symbolic act of discarding our sins by throwing bread into the water, we usher in the new year together. 

 

 

Rabbi Julie Saxe-Taller will speak about her recent experience at Auschwitz-Birkenau and facilitate a dialogue about personal and collective relationships to WWII.  All are welcome to attend this study session.

 

For Yom Kippur afternoon we have developed an innovative service to be led by honored members of our congregation.  This will be followed by a Healing Service with prayer and meditation conducted by our clergy.

This moving memorial service uses prayer, guided meditation and the strength of our community worshipping together to provide great comfort to those who have lost loved ones.

 

Our closing service brings together all the themes of the Holy Days as we make the transition to the New Year.  As the gates close on Yom Kippur, we seek one more opportunity for renewal and forgiveness.

 

Everyone is cordially invited to join us in Newman Hall for our joyful, catered Break-the-Fast.  This is an opportunity to wish L’Shanah Tovah (Happy and Healthy New Year) to clergy, friends and community members.

 

 

Selichot—Sat, Sept 20, 8pm

Sweets abound when we begin the Days of Awe with a truly awesome array of desserts to sweeten your thoughts and reflections.  Don’t miss this night of community study, meditation and reflection. 

 

Community Memorial Service—Sun, Oct 5, 2pm, Cemetery Properties, Home of Peace Chapel, Colma

Service led by clergy from Sherith Israel and Congregation Emanu-El.

 

 

 

Young Adults Trivia Game and Potluck—Fri, Sept 19, 7pm

Join couples and singles for eating, schmoozing, and a fun HHD trivia game after Shabbat services.  Tracy Boxer Zill.

 

A Fresh Look at Core Themes of HHD—Tues, Sept 23, 7pm

A fresh perspective on the Days of Awe for interfaith couples, seekers, and those new or returning to High Holy Day

observance.  Rabbi Larry Raphael, Lisa Erdberg.

 

Make HHD Meaningful for Your Family—Sun, Sept 28, 9:45am

Parents will learn how to find holiday meaning for themselves while creating Jewish memories for their children. 

Rabbi Julie Saxe-Taller.

 

 

 

Donations—A mitzvah gift is a thoughtful way to honor or memorialize a friend or loved one.  Your donation enriches the vital and enduring programs of our synagogue.  For more information contact Tamara Bock, 415.346.1720 ext 34 or tbock@sherithisrael.org.

 

Food Drive—Please bring canned or dry food for the San Francisco Food Bank.  Collection barrels are located in the hallway and groceries bags will be outside the sanctuary for you to take home and return filled.

 

Memorial Book—Each year Sherith Israel publishes a book to memorialize our loved ones for distribution on Yom Kippur. Please contact Carrie Rice, 415.346.1720 ext 18 or crice@sherithisrael.org, by August 29 to ensure that your yahrzeits are listed.

 

Mitzvah Tickets—Sherith Israel provides HHD tickets free of charge to college students and those in need.  To purchase mitzvah tickets, please fill out Form A.

 

 

 

Assisted Listening Devices and Large Print Prayer Books will be available outside the sanctuary.

 

Cell Phones, Pagers, Other Electronic Devices must be turned off before entering the synagogue.

 

The Chapel—the sanctuary service is piped into the Chapel for those who prefer that environment and for families with

restless children.  If your child needs a break from the sanctuary, please go to the chapel instead of outside the sanctuary

or main lobby as sound travels easily into the sanctuary.

 

Parking—information on all the parking options will be sent with your tickets.

 

Security will be provided by plainclothes and uniformed guards.  Please refrain from bringing backpacks, briefcases or

large bags as they will be searched. 

 

Tickets are required to attend all services.  Duplicates of lost or forgotten tickets can be obtained at the front office.  Tickets

will be held at will-call if the order form is received after September 19.