Dear Friend,
This Shabbat, in Parashat Haazinu, we encounter a unique form of communication – a song. Moses invites the heavens and the earth to bear witness as he imparts wisdom and memories to the Jewish people. This song not only serves as a medium of storytelling but also as a call to action for future generations. At this time of the year, between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, we reflect on our actions of the past year, and on Monday we will take shared responsibility together for our collective wrongdoings as we embark on the year ahead.
This parsha, like the holiday of Yom Kippur, evokes emotions, shares stories, and connects us to our past. As we study this parsha, we can reflect on how our heritage carries our communal legacy forward. Moses refers to God as “The Rock,” a symbol of unwavering faith. Just as a rock remains steadfast, our collective faith can serve as a solid foundation for future generations amidst life’s uncertainties.
For me, faith is not always about religious belief, but ultimately confidence in the strength of our community and in each of us to stand together in times of need. By remembering our past, nurturing our faith, and upholding our responsibilities, we can ensure a brighter future for generations to come.
Before Yom Kippur, I urge you to consider giving what you can toward this year’s Annual Campaign, which addresses needs served by all of our constituent agencies, from hunger to security, from basic hygiene needs to Jewish education, and so much more. You can give today by emailing your pledge amount, making a donation by credit card, or getting involved by joining us for Ride to Provide!
While the Jewish year is ending now, the end of the secular year will be here before you know it. Check out these recommendations on how to make the most out of your donation to our Annual Campaign by doing some year-end tax planning.
Shabbat shalom and g’mar tov, may you be sealed for a good year in the book of life,
Nora Gorenstein, CFRE
Chief Executive Officer
HIGH HOLIDAY EVENTS
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.
Shabbat Shuvah at TBE
Saturday September 23 | 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Virtual & Temple Beth El, Springfield
Benjamin Kamine will be our guest speaker on Shabbat Shuvah, the Shabbat between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. He will discuss “The Ninevites and God’s Surprising Mercy.”
Call (413) 733-4149 for information about virtual option.
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.
Yom Kippur Food Drive
Sunday September 24 @ 6:00 pm – Friday October 6 @ 3 2:00 pm
Beit Ahavah, Florence
Whether you choose to attend services or not, please fill a bag with non-perishable food and leave it at Beit Ahavah on Yom Kippur, Sept 24-25, 2023 (or if you are not able to bring on Yom Kippur then drop off at BA through Sukkot, Oct 8, 2023). On Yom Kippur, our Tzedek Tzedek committee will have a truck in our parking lot, or you can leave it in the lobby. We will deliver all the donated food to the Northampton Survival Center on the afternoon of Yom Kippur and again during Sukkot. Here is our food distribution list with suggested food items that are requested or ideal for including in your bags.
Kol Nidrei Service @Beit Ahavah
Sunday September 24 | 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Beit Ahavah, Florence
Spend the High Holydays with Beit Ahavah! All welcome.
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.
Yom Kippur at LYA
Sunday September 24
6:15 pm – 8:00 pm
LYA, Longmeadow
Join LYA for a meaningful Yom Kippur. No affiliation necessary. Traditional and inspirational services with a warm and friendly atmosphere. No charge.
Kol Nidre at TBE
Sunday September 24 | 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Virtual & Temple Beth El, Springfield
Join Temple Beth El for an inspiring Kol Nidre service. Everyone is required to have a ticket to attend in person – please call the TBE office by Friday, September 22 at 3:00 pm for more details. This is a free event but donations are accepted. The suggested donation for guest tickets is $100.
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 to be admitted. Please call Sinai Temple Office 413-736-3619 for further information.
Inspirational Yom Kippur Davening
Monday September 25 | 9:00 am – 7:30 pm
LYA, Longmeadow
Join LYA for a meaningful Yom Kippur, no affiliation necessary. Traditional and inspirational services. Warm and friendly atmosphere. No Charge. Special children’s program. Break fast.
Yom Kippur Services at TBE
Monday September 25
9:00 am – 7:25 pm | Virtual & Temple Beth El, Springfield
Join TBE for inspiring Yom Kippur services! All are welcome, but everyone must have a ticket to attend the service in person. This is a free event but donations are accepted. The suggested donation is $100 per adult.. Call the TBE office at (413) 733-4149 by Friday, Sept. 22 at 3:00 pm for tickets.
Shacharit – 9:00 am
Torah Service – 10:00 am
Musaf – 11:00 am
Yizkor – 12:30 pm (approx.)
Minha – 5:15 pm
Neila – 6:15 pm
Sounding the Shofar – 7:24 pm
Babysitting (ages 2-4) – 10:00 am – End of services
Family Service (grades 3-6) – Outside Tent – 10:00 – 10: 45 am
Classroom Activities (grades K-2) – 10:00 am – End of services
Game Room Activities (grades 3-6) – 10:45 am – End of services
Tot Family Service (ages 7 & younger) – Outside Tent – 11:00 – 11:30 am
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 have a HH ticket to attend. Guests are invited to attend. Please contact the Sinai Temple Office at 413-736-3619 or visit our website for further information: www.sinai-temple.org
Yom Kippur Family Service – KinderKirtan with Rabbi Andrew Hahn
Monday September 25 | 10:15 am – 11:00 am
Beit Ahavah, Florence
Announcing our Yom Kippur Family Service — led by Rabbi Andrew Hahn! In a musical KinderKirtan style service especially for families with kids 0-13 and friends, at Beit Ahavah! There is also childcare and a kids craft tent for after the service or kids can come into the main services led by Rabbi Riqi Kosovske. Families/parents are invited to come into the main services throughout Yom Kippur.
Click here to register.
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.
Unpacking Sukkot!
Tuesday September 26 | 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm | Virtual
It’s after Labor Day, why are we eating outside? What exactly is there to be happy about?
Call (413) 567-0036 for more information.
Dinner in the Sukkah at TBE
Friday September 29 | 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Temple Beth El, Springfield
Join TBE for a short service and dinner in our beautiful sukkah! The dinner will be a delicious deli dinner, catered by the Crown Market in West Hartford. The menu includes: challah & grape juice, choice of sandwich – lean corned beef, lean pastrami, turkey, or tuna; choice of 1 side – potato salad, coleslaw, or macaroni salad, potato chips; pickle; dessert, beverages; children’s sandwich choices are hot dog, half turkey or half tuna. The cost is: $10 per person (turkey or tuna sandwich); $12 per person (corned beef or pastrami) / Children ages 10 & under: $5 per person.
R.S.V.P. by Tuesday, September 26 by calling (413) 733-4149.
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.
Register here by Sept. 27.
Congregation B’nai Torah’s Sukkot Dinner
Friday September 29 | 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Congregation B’nai Torah, Longmeadow
Come enjoy the holiday of Sukkot in our enlarged sukkah. Learn about the importance of the holiday as well as fulfilling the mitzvah of eating in the sukkah with a delicious meal. Cost:uUp through September 27- Adults (18 and over)-$18, family rate w/children under 18-$45. After September 27- Adults (18 and over)-$22 and amily rate w/children under 18-$50.
Call or email 413-567-0036/office@bnaitorahma.org by Sept. 27 to RSVP.
First Day Sukkot
Saturday September 30 | 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Congregation Sons of Zion, Holyoke
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
Congregation Sons of Zion, Holyoke
This will be the first opportunity for lulav and strong. Holiday Kiddush follows service in the Sukkah.
Unpacking Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah!
Monday October 2 | 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm | Virtual
The Torah is a book. Books are meant to be read. Why are we jumping around with a rolled-up Torah instead of studying it?
Call (413) 567-0036 for more details.
Coffee in the Sukkah with Rabbi Wallk
Tuesday October 3 | 10:30 am – 11:30 am
Temple Beth El, Springfield
Join Rabbi Amy Wallk for conversation and questions while enjoying a cup of coffee or tea in our beautiful sukkah. No question is a bad one! She will be available to chat, listen to your stories, and answer questions. This time you can choose the topic!
Science in the Sukkah
Wednesday October 4 | 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm
LYA, Longmeadow
Join LYA for Mad Science and Spin, Pop and Boom. Participants will see experiments that demonstrate the effect of centripetal force. A pasta and meat sauce dinner will be served in the LYA Sukkah. There will be vegan and gluten free options. The event will be held rain or shine. Cost to attend is $6.00 a child, $10.00 an adult and a family rate of $35.
Click here to register.
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.
Simchat Torah & Consecration at TBE
Saturday October 7 | 9:30 am – 1:00 pm
Temple Beth El, Springfield
Please join us to celebrate Simchat Torah and the consecration of our B’Yachad students. Here’s the schedule:
9:30 – 11:00 am – Shacharit, Hallel & beginning of the Torah service
11:00 – 11:45 am – Consecration, hakafot with the klezmer band Klezamir. The families from our Tot Shabbat program will join us in the sanctuary, as we sing and dance together.
11:45 am – 1:00 pm – Torah service, Yizkor and Musaf
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.
Simchat Torah at the JCA
Saturday October 7 | 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
JCA, Amherst
Community Simchat Torah celebration at the JCA including singing, crafts, dancing with the Torah, and bagels from our outdoor, wood fired oven.