Dear Friends,
We have a busy weekend ahead of us! I hope that you will be taking part in one or more of the local events this Shabbat and Sunday. One highlight for me on Sunday is the first day of B’Yachad religious school, which both of my children will be attending for their second year of learning! Also on Sunday, I hope you’ll join me and Rabbi Yafa Chase of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation for an informational session on this year’s Momentum cohort! You can register for the session by clicking here. This highly subsidized experience includes a trip to Israel from Nov. 27-Dec. 4!
To read about the latest updates from our national network, please click here!
Shabbat shalom,
Nora Gorenstein, CFRE
Chief Executive Officer
HIGH HOLIDAY EVENTS
Getting Ready for Rosh Hashanah Family Celebration
Sunday September 10
@ 10:00 am
Park Hill Orchard, Easthampton
Blow a shofar! Taste apples and honey! Follow the storybook walk! Join us and other families for a morning of free holiday related activities for the Jewish new year.
Family and Friends Friday Night and Challah Bake – For All Ages
Family and Friends Friday Night and Challah Bake – For All Ages
Friday September 8 | 4:30 pm – 8:00 pm | JCA, Amherst
Join baker Sam Coates-Finke, Kesher teachers, and Rabbi Weiner for a joyful welcome back from the summer. Beginning at 4:30 we will offer round challah braiding for Rosh Hashanah, bounce house, children/family high holiday poetry workshop, and more. Followed by a short Kabbalat Shabbat Service at 6pm and then a community dinner. We invite people of all ages, from tots to adults, to join us.
S’lichot Program and Service
Saturday September 9 | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm | Sinai Temple, Springfield
Opening of the High Holidays at Sinai Temple begins with S’lichot Program and Service. All are invited. Movie followed by service, dessert and coffee.
Call 413-736-3619 to RSVP.
S’lichot
Saturday September 9 | 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm | David Scher’s home
Enjoy celebratory refreshments. Enjoy seeing old and new friends. Begin the High Holidays in-person. Celebrate Havdalah in appreciation of the separation of Shabbat and the ordinary days.
Email Congregation Sons of Zion to register and receive address.
Upper Valley Selichot
Saturday September 9 | 8:30 pm – 10:00 pm | Jewish Community of Amherst (JCA), Amherst
JCA is hosting the annual joint Selichot service for our Upper Valley communities including Beit Ahavah, Congregation B’nai Israel and Temple Israel of Greenfield. There will be an emphasis on music and beautiful liturgy. Zoom access will also be available.
Reverse Tashlich ~ Repair the Sea
Sunday September 10 | 11:00 am – 12:30 pm | Meet across and slightly south of Dave’s Auto Repair, 120 River Road, Leeds, MA.
GPS Coordinates: 42°21’33.0”N 72°42’03.2”W
All ages can participate to repair the river and join Jewish communities throughout the world for this 6th annual Rosh Hashanah event! We will blow shofar and clean up the Mill River and path from litter and trash.
Register here and email Michele your cell phone number after you register online, so that we can be in touch with any updates.
TBE Erev Rosh Hashanah Tot Shabbat Program
Friday September 15 | 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm | Temple Beth El, Springfield
Welcome the new year with friends and families at TBE! Marlene Rachelle will lead this service with prayer, music, and storytelling. This program is for families with children ages 7 & under.
Erev Rosh Hashanah Service
Friday September 15 | 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm | Sinai Temple, Springfield
Erev Rosh Hashanah Service and Oneg to follow.
All attending must have a High Holiday ticket. Please contact (413-736-3619) the Sinai Temple office if you wish to attend as our guest.
Rosh Hashana Services at LYA
Saturday September 16 | 9:00 am – 1:00 pm | LYA, Longmeadow
LYA will hold Rosh Hashana services and include a special Children’s Program at 10:00 a.m. each day. The Children’s Program will include games, activities and snack.
Rosh Hashanah Day Service
Saturday September 16 | 10:00 am – 12:30 pm | Sinai Temple, Springfield
All attending must have a High Holiday ticket. Please contact (413-736-3619) the Sinai Temple office if you wish to attend as our guest.
First Day Rosh Hashana
Saturday September 16 | 10:00 am – 1:00 pm | Sons of Zion, Holyoke
Shabbat/First Day Rosh Hashana Service, followed by light Kiddush.
Rosh Hashana Services and Shofar
Sunday September 17 | 9:00 am – 1:00 pm | LYA, Longmeadow
LYA will hold Rosh Hashana services and a special Children’s Program at 10:00 a.m. The Children’s Program will include games, activities and snack. Shofar blowing will take place at 11:00 a.m.
Rosh Hashanah Mountain Service
Sunday September 17 | 9:30 am – 11:30 am | Mount Sugarloaf, Deerfield
We are delighted to welcome Cara Michelle Silverberg back to the JCA to lead this service. We will meet at the Mount Sugarloaf Parking Lot in Deerfield. Hikers can park in either free lot down below. There is an accessible option to drive to the top rather than hike. The upper parking lot has a fee of $5. We will begin with group introductions in the parking lot, then make our own way to the top. All meet at the observation tower for singing and sounding the shofar at the summit. Dress comfortably, wear good hiking shoes, and bring water and whatever sun protection you prefer. Rain or shine, except in severe weather. Youth must be accompanied by an adult. Please bring snacks, challah, apples and honey, honey cake, etc to share.
Second Day Rosh Hashana
Sunday September 17 | 10:00 am – 1:00 pm | Heritage Park, Holyoke
We will start with a service and study, followed by a light Kiddush, and Tashlich.
Tashlich and Family Program
Sunday September 17 | 5:00 pm – 5:45 pm | Turner Pond at Turner Park, Longmeadow
Families are invited to join LYA for a special Tashlich service and Shofar blowing. There will be a Rosh Hashana family program there.
Tashlich
Wednesday September 20 | 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm | Amethyst Brook Conservation Area, 132 Pelham Road, Amherst
This simple ceremony is performed at the water’s edge, when we throw bits of bread or lint from our pockets into the stream as a symbolic casting away of our sins. We will meet at the entrance to Amethyst Brook and walk together to the stream.
Shabbat Shuvah
Saturday September 23 | 10:00 am – 1:00 pm | Virtual
Shabbat service between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur – this event will be held via Zoom. If you would like to attend, please contact the SOZ office at office@sonsofzionholyoke.org by 5 pm the day before.
Memorial Service
Sunday September 24 | 11:00 am – 12:00 pm | SOZ Cemetery, 72 Ludlow Road, Chicopee
Join us for a Memorial Service at the SOZ Cemetery.
Erev Yom Kippur/Kol Nidre
Sunday September 24 | 6:15 pm – 7:30 pm | Congregation Sons of Zion, Holyoke
Join us at Congregation Sons of Zion for Kol Nidre.
Kol Nidre Service
Sunday September 24 | 8:00 pm – 9:00 pm | Sinai Temple, Springfield
Guests are invited to attend. All attendees must have a High Holiday ticket in order to be admitted. Please call Sinai Temple Office 413-736-3619 for further information.
Yom Kippur
Monday September 25 | 9:30 am – 8:00 pm | Congregation Sons of Zion, Holyoke
Join us for Yom Kippur. 9:30 am: Services begin; 4 pm: Book of Jonah study with Rabbi Perlmutter; 5:30 pm: Mincha/Neilah; 7:30 pm: Break-the-Fast. All are welcome.
Yom Kippur High Holy Day Morning Service
Monday September 25 | 10:00 am – 11:00 am | Sinai Temple, Springfield
All attendees must present a High Holy Day ticket. Guests are welcome. Please contact the Sinai Temple Office to obtain a ticket, and for further information: 413-736-3619.
Yom Kippur High Holy Day Family Service
Monday September 25 | 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm | Sinai Temple, Springfield
All attendees must present a High Holy Day ticket. Guests are welcome. Please contact the Sinai Temple Office to obtain a ticket, and for further information: 413-736-3619.
Yom Kippur High Holiday Afternoon Service
Monday September 25 | 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm | Sinai Temple, Springfield
All attendees must present a HH ticket at the door. Guest are welcome to attend this service. For further information and to obtain a ticket contact the Sinai Temple Office: 413-736-3619.
Erev Sukkot
Friday September 29 | 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm | Congregation Sons of Zion, Holyoke
Short service in the Sukkah at 6:30 pm, followed by a potluck in the Sukkah.
First Day Sukkot
Saturday September 30 | 10:00 am – 1:00 pm | Virtual
First Day Sukkot service begins at 10 am via Zoom. Please contact the office at office@sonsofzionholyoke.org if you would like to attend.
Second Day Sukkot
Sunday October 1 | 10:00 am – 1:00 pm | Virtual
Service begins at 10 am. This will be the first opportunity for lulav and strong. Holiday Kiddush follows service in the Sukkah.
Charcuterie in the Sukkah with NextGen
Thursday October 5 | 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm | Temple Beth El’s Outdoor Sukkah (in the back), Springfield
Join us for a festive Sukkot experience like no other at “Charcuterie in the Sukkah,” an exciting event brought to you by NextGen, the vibrant Jewish Young Adult Program of the Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts. Whether you’re looking to reunite with familiar faces or make new friends, “Charcuterie in the Sukkah” promises an unforgettable evening of community, joy, and delectable treats. Cost: subsidized ticket – $18, event ticket – $36, sponsor ticket – $50.
Register here.
Shemini Atzeret (last day Sukkot) Yizkor
Saturday October 7 | 10:00 am – 12:00 pm | Virtual
This service (including Yizkor) will be held via Zoom. If you would like to attend, please contact the SOZ office at office@sonsofzionholyoke.org by 5 pm the day before.