Rabbi Howard Morrison

Dear Congregational Family,

In less than two weeks, Rosh Hashanah will be upon us. Thanks to many kind volunteers, our shul is gearing up for the High Holy Days. Our building is ready for you in accord with strict compliance of health and safety protocols.

Last Friday evening, close to eighty people listened to our visiting High Holy Day Chazzan, Lipa Glantz, lead portions of Kabbalat Shabbat. We can meet him more formally this Thursday night on line at 8pm.

This coming Saturday night, we will join Adath Israel on line for Selichot. After Havdalah at 9pm, Rabbis Grundland, Cutler, Seed, and I will teach different sides of the prayer, "Shma Kolenu - Hear our voices." At 10:15pm, Cantors Glantz and Stein will lead an inspirational service to inaugurate the High Holy Day season.

As we lead up to Rosh Hashanah services, our shul is open again for Shabbat morning services. Some twenty-five people have attended each of the last three weeks.

On Sunday, we hosted our first in house Bat Mitzvah in a long time. On Monday, we hosted our first in house wedding in a long time.

In preparation for the Yom Tov season, all sanctuary services are already being broadcasted on livestream. We are offering weekday online classes surveying the Machzor. High Holy Day prayer books are free for the taking for members and their immediate families at the shul.

The Torah portion this week, Nitzavim, begins with a grand assembly on the last day of Moses' life: "You, all of you, stand on this day before the Lord, your God." The Torah then details every segment of the Jewish community.

For us, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur signal the days when our entire community gathers in large numbers. With the combination of in house attendance and livestream, I pray this will continue to be the case.

I encourage everyone to make the necessary preparations as we gear up to welcome the new year of 5781.

Rabbi Howard Morrison