Beineinu - Fall 2024

Beineinu The newsletter of Ahavath Achim Synagogue • Fall 2024 • High Holiday Issue •

havath Achim cultivates a Jewish community of A purposeful belonging. We inspire and support spiritual journeys by deepening relationships with one another. We believe it is at the crossroads of our spiritual paths that life’s purpose and G-d might be found.

Ahavath Achim creates a vibrant, inclusive, spiritual community that empowers individuals to connect Jewishly beyond themselves.

Beineinu… between you and me The Newsletter of Ahavath Achim Synagogue Funded by a grant from The Center Family Foundation

f AhavathAchimSynagogue l @aasynagogueatl y Ahavath Achim Synagogue D www.aasynagogue.org V 404.355.5222 ] 600 Peachtree Battle Ave NW, Atlanta, GA 30327 CLERGY Laurence Rosenthal Rabbi Neil Sandler Rabbi Emeritus STAFF Barry Herman Executive Director Miriam Habif Gelfond Director of Outreach and Engagement Annsley Klehr Interim Director of Education Jackie Nix Director of Development, Stewardship, and Leadership Lauren Dube Director of Marketing Chris Carr Director of Facilities Investigator Joe Jones IV Director of Security Bonnie Levine Interim Director of Tefillah and Music Catherine Ficke Executive Assistant to the Executive Director Jill Rosner Executive Assistant to the Rabbis Stan Vogel Finance Manager Fern Schorr Receptionist Wesley Coney Facilities Deionta Huff Facilities Ken Johnson Facilities Keisha Martin Facilities Donald Scott Facilities Tyler Slayton Facilities Beth Arnold Helmey Ahava ELC Director Samantha Deal Pedagogista Heidi Herman Ahava ELC Administrator Susan Goff Ahava ELC Bookkeeper OFFICERS OF THE BOARD Mark Stern President Adam Hirsch Executive Vice President Josh Hanna Financial Vice President Nikki Novotny Vice President Ryan Posner Vice President Taylor Smith Vice President Gary Alembik Immediate Past President Avital Cohen Sisterhood Co-President Sara Papier Sisterhood Co-President James Sitzman Ahava ELC President

AA embraces interfaith families who desire to be part of our Jewish community. Our spiritual community serves all who wish to connect with us.

WEEKLY SERVICE SCHEDULE Morning

Evening

Sunday

9:00 a.m. (H)

6:00 p.m. (V)

Monday

7:15 a.m. (H)

6:00 p.m. (V)

Tuesday

7:15 a.m. (V)

6:00 p.m. (V)

Wednesday

7:15 a.m. (V)

6:00 p.m. (V)

Thursday

7:15 a.m. (H)

6:00 p.m. (H)

Friday

7:15 a.m. (V)

6:00 p.m. (H)

Saturday

9:30 a.m. (H)

1.5 hours before sunset (H)

(V) Virtual

(H) Hybrid

ABOUT THE COVER T he cover is a piece donated to the Synagogue by our congregant, Linda Lippit. It depicts a man in a tallis blowing the shofar, an ancient musical horn typically made of a ram’s horn, used for Jewish religious purposes.

1 • FaLL 2024 • High Holiday Issue • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

A Message from the President

By Mark Stern

E

very Rosh Hashanah, as I enter the sanctuary, I take a moment to look around and am flooded with memories of growing up in our shul. I recall sitting as a child with my mom, trying to stay through the entire service, fasting on Yom Kippur, and eagerly rushing to be first in line for the food after the Shofar is blown. This shul has woven itself into the fabric of my life. Having spent my entire life in Atlanta, every significant milestone has been celebrated here with my wife Tamar, our children Ariel, Julia, and Daniel, and our extended family. For me, sitting in shul feels like comfort food.

As I participate in the services, many things feel familiar, but none more so than the songs and melodies that accompany our prayers. Some of these tunes have been with me since childhood, while others are newer, but all of them nourish my soul. Amidst the constant changes in my life, the enduring presence of our shul, prayers, and music offer a reassuring sense of stability and comfort.

The High Holidays are especially meaningful to me. As I take my seat in shul on Rosh Hashanah morning, I embark on a process of self-reflection that spans both Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. I reflect on my experiences growing up in the shul, consider the past year’s events, and contemplate the year ahead.

our shul. We have grown in many ways over the past few years, and we have ambitious plans to further develop our spiritual community through educational programs, study opportunities, environmental initiatives, and social events.

I am fortunate to work alongside a dedicated board and executive committee, including Gary Alembik, Adam Hirsch, Nikki Novotny, Josh Hanna, Taylor Smith, and Ryan Posner. This year, we will focus on supporting Rabbi Rosenthal in expanding educational and musical opportunities, growing our Endowment, and creating ambassadors from our board and congregants. I am looking forward to a wonderful year of collaboration with our community.

Our shul has so much to offer, and I invite you to be an active part of our vibrant community. Join us for a meal in our Sukkah, dance at Simchat Torah, learn with us when President Herzog speaks for the Eisenstat lecture, fry latkes at Chanukah, attend musical programs supported by the Marilyn Ginsberg Eckstein Cultural Arts Program Fund, dress up at Purim, or enjoy a Scotch at a Brotherhood or Sisterhood event. Some of these experiences will be new for me, and there are plenty of opportunities to find something that speaks to you. Our shul is here for all of us.

Wishing you a Chag Sameach and Shanah Tovah.

I look forward to sharing this special time with you all.

Looking back on this past year, I am mindful of the challenges facing us as a Jewish community.

With rising antisemitism and anti-Zionism, both in Israel and here in the United States, I find solace in prayer and music, which ground me. The enduring presence of institutions like our shul connects me to our past and inspires hope for the future. Our synagogue has been here before us and will remain long after us, representing our people’s physical and spiritual continuity.

As I think about the upcoming year, I am excited about dreaming and planning for the future of • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Fall 2024 • High Holiday Issue • 2

A Message from the Rabbi What is My Song?

By Rabbi Laurence Rosenthal

I

f I could go back in time and do something over again, I think I would pursue a different major in college. I enjoyed studying psychology and then the winding road into neuropsychology, which led to a job with the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) studying the effects of methamphetamine on the human brain. These were experiences that I’m grateful for. However, that wasn’t my original course.

Upon acceptance to the University of Southern California, I immediately applied to the music school with the hope of being a Guitar Performance major, an application which included an audition.

I put a lot of effort into that application and started studying with Riner Scivally, a professor in the USC Masters program for guitar. I also took a few lessons with William Leavitt, literally the person who wrote the book on music sight reading for guitar. His books, Modern Method for Guitar Volume 1–3, are still in circulation today.

After my paperwork was submitted, along with examples of my music writing and performing, I was granted an audition with guitarist Richard Smith, a USC School of Music faculty member.

Mr. Smith was a local performer and guitarist for Richard Elliot, one of my father’s favorite jazz saxophone players. I have seen Richard Smith perform at least a dozen times, and he is a great guitarist. I was very intimidated by this prospect, and my music sight reading was non-existent, to boot.

The audition was going fine for the first half.

They listened to my submitted material and asked questions about my writing style and influences.

Then Mr. Smith picked up his guitar and we played through one or two jazz standards that I selected. And then, finally, the dreaded moment… he took out a page of sheet music for two guitars.

It was Bach’s Inventions, and we were to play it together as a duo. Of all the pieces that Mr. Smith could have chosen, Bach’s Inventions was a kind

choice. However, remember that I lacked skills in my sight reading. So, when Mr. Smith put that paper on the music stand, he might as well have placed a foreign language in front of me.

I just shrugged my shoulders. We didn’t bother working through even the first few bars. Mr. Smith was kind and encouraging, but I left the audition quite defeated.

A few weeks later, I heard back from the Music department that they had accepted me into the program but informed me that I would be placed into the most remedial band ensembles due to my reading deficits, with the understanding that I would move up as my reading improved. I passed on the offer and instead focused my schoolwork on psychology. I never took a single music class at USC. I had many excuses for not pursuing the music degree, but the unspoken reason was how I felt leaving that audition. I don’t think I would call this a regret because I am thrilled with how my life ended. I don’t think that I would have had a similar trajectory in life (i.e., become a rabbi, marry the love of my life, have four wonderful children, and be part of such an amazing spiritual family like Ahavath Achim) had I graduated with a degree from the USC School of Music. Who knows? I can’t go back in time, so I don’t think about it too much, except when I’m asked to write an article for the Beineinu.

This year’s High Holiday theme is “Finding the AA Tunes.” In preparing this edition of the Beineinu, we asked all contributors to ponder the question, “What is my song?” I think my answer is Bach’s Inventions. Of course, I am not talking about the recorded version of Bach’s Inventions, but rather the sheet music to Bach’s Inventions.

That moment with Mr. Smith had a huge effect on me. That sinking feeling of incompetence, that shrug of my shoulders, and how I rationalized not coming back to the music school all impacted my approach to Judaism and my spiritual life. I know the feeling of having a “foreign language” thrust in my face and feeling lost, alone, and not worthy of the moment. I understand how such hurdles can affect the decisions that are to come next. I know what it feels like to be alienated from the path that I really want to pursue. The sheet music for Bach’s Invention has been such a special song for me. Those notes remind me to be careful because the next move might cause somebody to

3 • FaLL 2024 • High Holiday Issue • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

close the door on his/her spiritual life, like how I closed it on my musical life.

If I were to add a coda to this story, it is that one of my pandemic goals was to work on my sight reading. It’s still tough, but I am happy to say I can now pick up a simple piece of music and muddle through it. I am even using William Leavitt’s book, Modern Method for Guitar. I often see the date he scribbled on the corner of the page where he expected me to practice for the coming week. A lot of time has passed since those few lessons. However, our spiritual journeys are long, and I hear there are some good music schools here in Georgia. Maybe I’ll get a second chance at my duet with Mr. Smith… who knows?!

On behalf of my family—Brooke, Avram Eli, Ariela, Ma’ayan, Naftali, JuJuBe (the dog) and Lillith (the kitten), we wish you a meaningful, sweet, and music-filled New Year!

A Message from the Rebbetzin

By Brooke Rosenthal

A

s I think about the month of Elul and the reflective posture it requires to bring in the High Holidays with purpose and intention, how should I prepare myself? Will it be with Torah study?

Or perhaps through my prayer practice? Maybe I’ll find some community classes to take or somehow incorporate these intentions into my daily yoga practice. Alternatively, maybe life with work and family will keep propelling me along, and I’ll crash into Selichot and Rosh Hashanah as I have admittedly done in previous years - but I certainly hope for a better-case scenario than that one.

No—I resolve to study, read, learn, and reflect to gain the most out of my personal High Holiday experience. After all, what is the purpose of all these holidays, anyway?

in throughout the year, I can shape myself to do better, think more generously, and be the best person I can be until I finally close my eyes for the very last time. The cyclical rhythm of our Jewish calendar is a challenging and beautiful opportunity to improve ourselves and strive to bond with the Elusive One. The repeated nusach (melody) that accompanies our prayers is essential to our daily and AA High Holiday experience. Although we all gather in the same sanctuary, rising and sitting in a collective wave, we ultimately pray alone with our individual thoughts, hopes, dreams, and promises. But, when we join our voices in a common musical experience, we create a collective wave of meaningful sounds together. I am excited to share those joyful days of prayer with you!

I believe it is to keep improving one’s relationship with partners, parents, children, friends, citizens of the world, and, ultimately, God. Sometimes, life improves and shapes us simply by the passage of time and the lessons we learn along the way, akin to a rock embedded in a stream that smooths out and changes shape over time with the water rhythmically bubbling over it. We, Jews, are offered a shorter path via the prescribed prayers, teachings, and mitzvot that the rabbanim of old and our modern leaders today employ to shape our High Holiday experiences. By tapping my chest to remind myself of the less-thandesirable behaviors and actions I have engaged • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Fall 2024 • High Holiday Issue • 4

A Message from the Rabbi Emeritus

By Rabbi Neil Sandler

N

othing prepares us better for the High Holidays than a good story. That is why, for many years, I would tell a story on the first night of Rosh Hashana. Susan and I will again be in Fitzgerald, GA, this year for the High Holidays. So here is my opportunity to share a story with you, an “oldie but goody,” you might say. Most importantly, this story speaks to the transformative quality of music and song.

Many years ago, in Berditchev, the High Holidays were coming to an end. The “Gates of Repentance” closed as the sun set on Yom Kippur. Reb Levi, who was leading the service, looked troubled. His expression of concern was clear to everyone, but no one knew why he was troubled, and no one would dare ask him. Separate from Reb Levi on the bimah, another drama was unfolding in the congregation, in a far corner of the sanctuary.

A man had brought his teenage son, but the young man could not read Hebrew and pray.

He sat silently throughout the service. As time passed and the end of Yom Kippur approached, the young man remembered that he could “pray” in a very different manner than the rest of the congregation. He took his flute out of his pocket and played the most beautiful and uplifting melody.

moments of fulfillment could be reached in a variety of ways. More specifically, he knew that music played a potentially unique role in helping people to feel themselves in the presence of God. In the young man’s case, it was the only way he could feel himself to be in God’s presence and part of the sacred community that had gathered on Yom Kippur.

Before you walk in the doors of the synagogue for our High Holiday services, I recommend that you leave your flute at home. However, there is another instrument I hope you will bring… you and your voice. Familiar High Holiday tunes bring us comfort and connections with earlier times. But they can also bind us anew with spiritual awarenesses we may seldom consider.

There are many experiences in life that remind us that we are spiritual beings. Most of them have a significant visual component, often in nature (e.g. mountains). This year, as you sit in our High Holiday services, I hope you won’t “sit.” As you sing or hum High Holiday tunes, may they remind us that we are spiritual beings beginning the year’s journey anew.

Susan, Ariel and Jamie, Aliza and Matt, Josh and Rachel, Remi, Avery, and Bennett join me in wishing you and your loved ones a year of good health and well-being. Shanah Tovah!

His father was mortified. The congregation was silent. Reb Levi turned around to face the young man and his father. Nervous anticipation hovered over the sacred space. Then Reb Levi smiled. He said, “You are probably wondering why I was so troubled. I perceived that God was not accepting our prayers. I feared that we were not worthy of the Holy One’s forgiveness this Yom Kippur. This boy’s heartfelt musical note broke through to God and lifted all our prayers to Heaven.”

Reb Levi of Berditchev displayed wisdom few spiritual leaders display. Surprisingly, he did not respond with anger when the young man did something clearly forbidden on Yom Kippur.

Neither was his response not born of a desire to be inclusive and engage the young man. Rather, Reb Levi knew that spiritual connection and 5 • FaLL 2024 • High Holiday Issue • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

A Message from the Executive Director

By Barry Herman

A

s I sit down to reflect on the past year, it is amazing to me that yet another year has flown by! There is so much that has happened over this past year, and it is tempting to do as I usually do and list all the accomplishments and milestones that have taken place.

However, reflecting on this, it occurred to me that there has been a seismic shift from where the Shul is today than where it was when I began my association with this community some 20 years ago (hard to believe). We are in a much better place today as an institution (bigger is not always better). In particular, the warmth, inclusiveness, and openness of our congregation have made us a leader in the Jewish world, both locally and nationally, and we are held up as an example of how congregations need to embrace both their exalted past and those never-changing values that the previous generations and traditions have given us, as well as building our future by continuing to overlay those values into the needs and circumstances of the present.

After this epiphany, I was trying to pinpoint if any specific factor or related factors have ensured this growth and success. Then, it finally hit me— something so simple yet profound. It is because of YOU—the Ahavath Achim community!

As you all know, my initial involvement in this congregation was through music. I spent many years on the bimah over the High Holy Days, helping to create a spiritual connection together with the rabbis, hazzan, and the AA choir. Music is a great metaphor for congregational life. If you listen to the individual harmonies that make up a piece of music, they would sound completely disjointed and not connected to the whole at all.

However, when you put them all together, you have an ethereal, beautiful sound that touches the heart and helps the soul to feel the intent of the liturgy and prayers. Our tradition is full of references to the importance of music and its connection to the spiritual soul. For example, the Song at the Sea celebrates the Jewish people’s triumph over impossible odds and the music

service that was part of the Temple service led by the Levi’im.

The penultimate Torah portion that preempts the end of the Torah reading cycle, Ha’azinu, is presented as a song. This is alluded to in the final verse of the previous Parsha Vayeilech, which states that “Moses spoke the words of this song into the ears of the entire congregation of Israel...” According to the commentaries, the nature of a song is to express the total harmony of creation as a total reality, where future and past events are not only in harmony but serve to clarify each other. Everything is melded as if it were happening at the same time. It also shows that each part, although unique and different, forms a vital part of the whole. Similarly, the unique contributions and gifts of each member of our community contribute to the beauty and success of the whole in perfect harmony.

While it is important to look at what has transpired in the past, it is even more important to focus on how to secure our future. Besides continuing to ensure that our community is a vibrant and welcoming place for all by tapping into the unique gifts of our congregational family, we need to focus on financial sustainability through planned giving via our legacy program and building our endowment. We need to build on the generosity of those who have helped grow our endowment by nearly $4.5 million over the last five years and those who have come before them. Our endowment is made up not only of some substantial gifts but also of more modest gifts. The same can be said of our legacy and planned giving program commitments. Each person contributes according to his/her means and inclination, like the harmonies that make up a song. Our goal is to reach $10 million in the next five years.

Having a robust endowment means stability and independence, as it reduces reliance on annual donations and membership dues. This steady income stream enables the Synagogue to support its ongoing operations, fund educational programs, maintain its facilities, and expand outreach efforts. It also allows for long-term planning, empowering the Synagogue to initiate and sustain new projects that align with its mission. The legacy, or planned giving, program encourages congregants to include the synagogue in their wills or estate plans, deepening this financial security. These gifts are acts of faith, allowing individuals to leave a lasting impact that

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Fall 2024 • High Holiday Issue • 6

reflects their values and commitment to their community. Legacy or endowment gifts can fund specific needs like scholarships, youth programs, or social services, ensuring the synagogue’s ability to serve future generations. Both endowment and legacy giving also foster a culture of philanthropy within our community. They encourage members to think beyond the present, instilling a sense of responsibility for the future. By investing in endowment and legacy giving, congregants ensure our beloved Shul can secure its role as a spiritual, educational, and cultural center, preserving Jewish heritage and guaranteeing the community thrives for years.

I want to take this opportunity to invite you to join Heidi and me in committing to our Legacy program or making a gift directly to our Endowment fund. Please reach out to me directly (404.603.5746; bherman@aasynagogue.org), our Director of Community Connection, Jackie Nix (404.603.5743; jnix@aasynagogue.org), our President, Mark Stern, or the Chairs of our Legacy program, Gerry Benjamin and Taylor Smith.

7 • FaLL 2024 • High Holiday Issue • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

A Message from the Interim Director of Education

By Annsley Klehr “Up on the watershed Standing at the fork in the road You can stand there and agonize ‘Til your agony’s your heaviest load…”

—Watershed by the Indigo Girls

I

can remember Watershed by the Indigo Girls playing in my car the summer after my junior year of college. There I was, driving an 18-passenger van and a 6-canoe trailer backing up down a one-way dirt road in Bemidji, MN, with nowhere to turn around and cell phones yet to be had. I was trying to locate a bunch of children and canoes off the river, searching for the hidden river entrance with no map. The song brings with it a depth of emotions, but the one I remember most is pride, that I made it through a nerve-wracking adventure!

At The Judith and Aaron z”l Alembik Ahavath Achim Youth Education Program, we build Jewish memories through communal song and individualized instruction, where children come together to create his/her own music and listen to the music of others. Each child beats to his/her drum, carrying his/her own rhythm.

Nesiah, Hebrew for “journey,” is the synagogue’s on-the-move program where our older students begin the year by listening to the music of others as they explore social justice: From the Outside In: Understanding the Origins of Our Prejudices, through race, religion, and culture. This survey class will predominantly be taught through speakers and field trips, after which the Nesiah facilitator will help navigate discussions and reflections around other world religions, such as the Civil Rights Movement and the Holocaust.

Students will have the opportunity to learn how to listen differently and learn how to curiously ask questions, delving into their own stereotypes and prejudices. They are building a soundtrack of enduring lessons.

In our caring community, we are able to join together in harmony as we cherish g’milut chasadim (loving kindness), bitachon (safety/ trust), tikkun (repair), areivu (responsibility), kavannah (intention), ma’aseh (action), Tzedek (Justice), Avodah (Service), Sh’mira (preservation), and kavod (human dignity/respect).

We want to express our deepest gratitude to the Alembik family for their generous contribution, which made the creation of “music” in our Youth and Family Education Program possible.

This year at Kesher (our Pre-K–6th grade Jewish education program) and Nesiah (7th–9th grade program), we are grateful to all the conductors, a.k.a. staff and families, for supporting the music we will make together. Kesher is Hebrew for “connection.” We nurture compassionate and curious Jewish learners as they connect to each other and the community and sing along to the melodies of Jewish values and rituals. We create confident and curious Jewish learners in a safe space where they can take risks, question, play, learn, explore, engage, create, make meaning, and love. We foster the child’s sense of Jewish selfdiscovery by providing a nurturing environment where each person can explore, create their own identity, and make their own music.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Fall 2024 • High Holiday Issue • 8

A Message from the Interim Director of Music and Tefillah

By Bonnie Levine “V’al Kulam”—when AAers hear it, we might immediately think of the high holidays, recalling the Lewandowski choral piece included in this edition of the Beinenu.

We have sung this “V’al Kulam” on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur every year for as long as I’ve been a part of this community, so at least 13 years, probably more like 20!

During Yom Kippur, as we seek forgiveness for our transgressions, we recite “Al Chet Shechatanu Lefanecha”—”For the sin we have committed before You”—repeatedly, listing various sins and missteps. As we go through this litany of confessions, there’s a poignant moment where we say “V’al Kulam Elohai Selichot, Selach Lanu, Mechal Lanu, Kaper Lanu”—”And for all of these, O God of forgiveness, forgive us, pardon us, grant us atonement.”

And for all of them, may Your name, our King, be blessed and exalted always, forever and ever.

This “V’al Kulam” is a plea for forgiveness for all the sins we’ve just enumerated and, symbolically, for those we might have forgotten or overlooked.

It’s a profound moment of vulnerability, acknowledging the completeness of our faults and the depth of our need for divine mercy. Just as in the daily Amidah, where “V’al Kulam” wraps our gratitude in a spiritual embrace, here it encapsulates our contrition, creating a full-circle moment in our relationship with God.

But the piece of liturgy inspiring that piece isn’t a High Holiday prayer. It’s not even a Shabbat prayer. No, the line “v’al kulam” is part of every recitation of the Amidah, on every service, whether weekday, Shabbat, or chag, and whether morning, afternoon, or evening. And to wit, “v’al kulam” means “all the things.” All the things, in all the prayers.

This dual presence of “V’al Kulam” in both gratitude and repentance reflects the complex emotional and spiritual journey we undertake during the High Holidays. We oscillate between acknowledging our blessings and confronting our shortcomings, between joy and solemnity, between the music of celebration and the chants of supplication.

The phrase concludes the paragraph beginning “Modim Anachnu Lach,” in which we express gratitude for all the blessings God has brought to our lives. This section appears in every service, but at certain times of the year, such as Purim and Chanukah, we include special additions. Then, we wrap it all in a bow with “V’al Kulam.” “And for all the things!” There are so many things to be thankful for, we say; all the stuff we mentioned, all the stuff we forget to mention. The essence of “v’al kulam” reminds me a bit of “verklempt” (a Yiddish word meaning something close to “overcome with emotion”), though the phonetic similarity is a coincidence.

Speaking of music, there’s something about the melodies of the High Holidays that resonates deep within our souls. The spiritual music during these times serves as both a reflection of the sanctity of the days and a vehicle to elevate our prayers. Whether it’s the haunting “Kol Nidre,” the majestic “Unetaneh Tokef,” or the uplifting “Avinu Malkeinu,” the music is not just an accompaniment to our liturgy—it’s an essential part of the experience. It carries us through the intense emotional highs and lows, much like the “V’al Kulam” refrains, binding together the spectrum of emotions we bring to these days.

The lyrics are:

ָ ‫ְוְַעַ ל � ֻ​ֻּכ ָ �ָּלם ִי ְְִת ָ �ָּב ַ​ַר ְ​ְך ְ​ְוִי ְְִתרֹוַֹמַ ם � ִ​ִׁש ְ​ְמ‬ ‫ָך ַמַ ְלְ �ֵּכֵנּוּ � ָ​ָּת ִ​ִמיד ְלְ עֹוָֹלָ ם ָוֶָעֶ ד‬

But did you know that there’s another “V’al Kulam” in the Yom Kippur liturgy? This one is not nestled within the comforting words of gratitude in the Amidah but instead finds its place in the introspective and intense “Al Chet” confessionals.

In this way, the music and the liturgy work together, guiding us through the process of teshuvah—repentance and return. As we move from Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur, from gratitude to confession, the tunes linger in our minds and hearts, reminding us of the sacredness of these moments and the continuity of our connection to the divine.

9 • FaLL 2024 • High Holiday Issue • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

As we prepare to sing “V’al Kulam” again this year, we hope you will accept our invitation to stretch your vocal chords, considering this phrase more than just a familiar melody. It’s a call for all of them—V’al Kulam, or really, V’al Kulanu, all of us—to raise our voices together. Whether you’re a seasoned singer or usually shy in the pews, this is your moment to join in and add your voice to these holiest days.

We’ve included a little bit of sheet music as a teaser, but we’re also hoping you’ll go for “v’al kulam”—all of the melodies we plan to sing, which you can look through and listen to by scanning the QR code provided. Let’s make this year’s “V’al Kulam” the most powerful one yet— because it’s not just about the words; it’s about all of us singing and bringing our voices together.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Fall 2024 • High Holiday Issue • 10

A Message from the Director of Ahava ELC The Importance of Music in Early Childhood for Learning and Fun

By Beth Arnold Helmey

M

usic is more than just a source of entertainment; it is a powerful tool that plays a crucial role in early c h i l d h o o d development.

Music profoundly impacts young minds by enhancing language skills and supporting learning and emotional growth. Additionally, the role of liturgical music in early childhood can profoundly shape spiritual and cultural identities. Children attending Ahava Early Learning Center explore music for fun. They explore sounds, rhythms, and echoes. They beat drums, make shakers, and dance with scarves to the music in their classrooms. They gather on Friday mornings and sing and dance to the Shabbat songs they pick each week. They are playing, and without realizing it, they are building language, enhancing vocabulary development, exploring patterns and tones, and creating community with each other.

Music is so important in our lives, connecting us with joy and shared experiences. In early childhood education, the benefits of music can be witnessed in the following ways: Music and Language Development • Phonemic Awareness: Music, especially songs with repetitive and rhyming patterns, helps children recognize and differentiate between different sounds. This skill is essential for phonemic awareness, which is the ability to hear, identify, and manipulate phonemes— the smallest units of sound in language. For example, nursery rhymes like “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” or “Baa Baa Black Sheep” help children pick up on sound patterns, improving their ability to hear and distinguish the different sounds that make up words.

• Vocabulary Building: Songs often introduce children to new words and phrases in a fun and memorable way. The repetitive nature of

music means that children hear these words and phrases multiple times, aiding retention while allowing children to be creative and have fun.

• Sentence Structure and Grammar: Children are exposed to sentence structures and grammatical patterns through singing. Many children’s songs tell stories or describe actions, which help children understand the sequence of words and how they come together to form sentences. This exposure helps them grasp concepts intuitively before starting a formal academic education.

• Listening Skills: Music encourages active listening, a crucial skill for language development. When children listen to music, they learn to pay attention to rhythm, melody, and lyrics, which enhances their ability to focus on spoken language.

Music and Cognitive Learning • Memory and Retention: Music’s rhythmic and repetitive nature is an excellent tool for memory enhancement.

• Spatial-Temporal Skills: Engaging with music, particularly through playing instruments, helps children develop spatial-temporal skills, which are critical for understanding mathematics and science. These skills involve the ability to visualize spatial patterns, which is essential for problem-solving and logical reasoning.

• Emotional and Social Development: Music often involves group activities, such as singing or playing instruments, which helps children develop social skills. These activities teach children about cooperation, collaboration, and listening to others. Music can be a powerful outlet for emotions, helping children express themselves and develop emotional intelligence.

Liturgical Music in Early Childhood Liturgical music, or music used in spiritual communion, holds a special place in early childhood development, particularly in nurturing spiritual and cultural identity. At Ahava ELC, children go home singing Shabbat songs to their families, and these songs are shared throughout

11 • FaLL 2024 • High Holiday Issue • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

the day in all the classrooms, along with other favorites like Baby Shark and Wheels on the Bus! • Cultural Transmission: Liturgical music is a vehicle for passing down a religion’s rituals, values, and traditions. Through sacred music, children learn about their religious heritage and cultural practices. This helps them develop a sense of belonging and continuity with their community.

• Spiritual Development: Participating in liturgical music allows children to engage with faith meaningfully. Singing and chanting can be a form of prayer or meditation, helping young children connect with the divine and develop a spiritual foundation.

• Community Building: Liturgical music often involves communal singing or participation in religious services, fostering a sense of community and collective worship. This experience can be particularly powerful for children, as it reinforces their connection to their faith community and connects them with joy in sharing and being together.

Music is a hugely important component of early childhood development, strongly impacting language acquisition, cognitive learning, and emotional growth. Whether through secular or liturgical forms, music enriches the lives of young children and supports a strong foundation for future learning and development. Liturgical music nurtures children’s spiritual and cultural identities. At Ahava, our teachers incorporate music throughout the day because they understand it is beneficial and essential for children and their development, and even more importantly, they know that children are having fun exploring their creativity through sound and movement in a safe and nurturing environment.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Fall 2024 • High Holiday Issue • 12

A Message from the 5785 High Holiday Hazzan

By Hazzan Helene Kates

A

s I prepare for the High Holidays and think about aspirations for the future, I remember the past.

Many years ago, I stood on the bima at Ahavath Achim for the first time to serve as a Shlichat Tzibur. I was filled with such joy. It was mixed with other emotions of fear, awe, and hope. “Who was I to stand before this congregation?”

Yet, I needed to step up. This was a turning point towards making my childhood dream of being a hazzan a reality. My heart is filled with gratitude for what each one of you did to nurture, support, and provide the opportunity for me to learn, grow, and serve this community while studying to receive ordination through the Cantors Assembly.

As I lead the High Holiday services this year, I will take the baton again. I must admit that, once again, I am filled with a mixture of overflowing joy and trepidation. The same words whispering to me: “Who am I to stand before the congregation and lead prayer?”

Perhaps right there, in the words above, is the key to my journey ahead. I am not standing before the congregation to lead prayer but standing with you. Together, we are part of God’s orchestra, with every instrument adding its unique sound while fitting into a beautiful harmonic whole. Can we create a space of safety, comfort, and support to strengthen our ability to navigate the struggles and see the light within what appears to be heavy and dark?

Perhaps the melody of a dynamic hora, where we dance together in a spiraling circle that reaches ever higher as we move closer and then move out again as the strength of holding hands keeps our feet going even as we run out of breath. What will our melody sound like? Can it guide us all in prayer to stay focused and connected even when tired? Can it give us the strength to keep going and never give up on reaching God, even if we aren’t sure he is listening? Can it unite us to leap over any burdens that are holding us down and joyfully jump high?

Deep in my heart and soul, I believe that we can create this melody together. We can be patient and listen, let the notes rise, and feel the rhythm inside that expresses our needs and tells the story of our dreams.

We will soon reach the Shabbat before the High Holidays when we read in Parsha Nitzavim: “You are all standing this day before the Lord, your God, the leaders of your tribes, your elders and your officers, every man of Israel, your young children, your women, and your convert who is within your camp both your woodcutters and your water drawers…”

Please, God, may we each recognize that we have a unique divine purpose and are called upon as a people to help support and guide one another in fulfilling it.

May we draw strength through deepened connections to each other and ultimately to God as we weave our individual voices into one voice, reaching out to our One God in prayer.

May God hear our prayers and bring peace to the whole world.

Can a certain type of melody help us in this task together? As we search for melodies that speak to us from our past, all the way back, perhaps even to Mount Sinai, while stretching together to sing new songs unto God, is there a melody that can guide us in this overall mission? Is there one particular type of rhythm and shape of notes to unite us as one and crown God as our King?

13 • FaLL 2024 • High Holiday Issue • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

A Message from the Ritual Director

By Jordan Forman

A

s you all know, I am very much involved not only in leading our Shabbat, holiday, and other services and chanting Torah but also in finding others to take on that responsibility.

So, of course, some of my thoughts and hopes for the year ahead, 5785 (where did 5784 go so quickly?), relate to getting more people to relate! By that, I mean to relate to the tefillot, to the Torah, and to all of our sacred teachings.

After all, there is much to learn from them!

In addition, I always find it interesting how I feel, and I suppose how others feel, during the Yamim Noraim. We begin with a very upbeat and triumphant start to the new year (actually, it starts before that with the entire month of Elul), but it ends with a very serious tone on Yom Kippur. Then, when Yom Kippur ends, it feels like we’ve accomplished a great deal. In one sense, we made it to the new year, the gates closed, and we are still here, alive and breathing. But have we really accomplished that much? Are we going to be new people in the year ahead, trying to improve our relationship with Hashem and each other, making the world a better place? I am guilty of this myself. It’s easy to forget the Yamim Noraim and its significance during the course of an entire year, but the goal is to hang on to it, thinking of every day as one in which we can make a difference. My hope is that this feeling carries us all the way through 5785. Shanah Tovah!

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Fall 2024 • High Holiday Issue • 14

5785 High Holidays

T

he High Holidays are a time that calls for renewal and rededication. We engage in chesbon nefesh, an accounting of our souls, to review our year, check in on our emotional selves, and take stock of the connections we’ve made—with ourselves, with others, and with God. We note those places where we have inevitably fallen short and missed the mark, and we rededicate ourselves to those things that truly matter in our lives. This year, as we return to our beautiful Sanctuary, we delve deep into the idea of rededication, exploring how we might live lives truly in line with our values. We hope that you’ll join us, open-hearted and deeply present.

In addition to the main sanctuary service on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, we will offer a shorter service geared towards families in the tent. Children’s programming will run parallel to main sanctuary service.

This year, as in recent years, we offer the option to participate in services virtually and in person.

If you want to join us in person (for services or children’s programming), you do not need a ticket, but registration is required.

For information about the 5785 High Holidays, please use our online Hub (aasyn.org/high-holidays) as a source for everything you’ll need as you navigate your spiritual experience. You will have access to the live-streamed services as they are taking place. We will continue to make updates as new information becomes available.

Thanks to you, our holy community, our congregation is on sound financial footing today. Each year, we rely on you to help us sustain the loving and caring community we are creating. We need your help. Please consider participating in our Yom Kippur Appeal/Chai Campaign if you have not already done so (more information on page 19). Thank you in advance for your generosity and continued support.

Wishing you and your families “shanah tovah u’metukah”—a good and sweet year!

15 • FaLL 2024 • High Holiday Issue • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

5785 High Holiday Schedule Selichot—Saturday, September 28 7:15 p.m.

Mincha/Ma’ariv/Havdallah Service Havdallah: 7:50 p.m.

In-Person: Ellman Chapel Virtual: Zoom

8–9:30 p.m.

Selichot Service

In-Person: Ellman Chapel Virtual: Zoom

Sunday, September 29 10:30 a.m. at Greenwood Cemetery 12:00 p.m. at Arlington Memorial Park

Cemetery Visits

In-Person: Greenwood Cemetery and Arlington Memorial Park

1:45–4:00 p.m.

Reverse Tashlich

In-Person: Peachtree Creek Greenway

Erev Rosh Hashanah—Wednesday, October 2 7:15–8:00 a.m.

Morning Minyan

Virtual: Zoom

6–7:00 p.m.

Mincha/Ma'ariv Service Candle Lighting: 7:01 p.m.

In-Person: Sanctuary Virtual: Zoom and YouTube

1st Day Rosh Hashanah —Thursday, October 3 7:45 a.m.–End of Sanctuary Childcare (6 months–6th grade) Service

Check-In at Ahava

8–9:30 a.m.

Coffee and Breakfast Oneg

In-Person: Breezeway

8:00 a.m.–1:15 p.m.

Sanctuary Service

In-Person: Sanctuary Virtual: Zoom and YouTube

10–11:00 a.m.

Torah Study

In-Person: Ellman Chapel Virtual: Zoom

10:00 a.m.–End of Sanctuary Service

Children's Programming (6 months–12th grade)

Check-In at Ahava Registration from 10–10:15 a.m.

10:15–10:50 a.m.

10:15–10:50 a.m.

10:15–10:50 a.m.

10:55–11:30 a.m.

10:55–11:30 a.m.

10:55–11:30 a.m.

Family Services: Pre-K–2nd Grade: Family Service 3rd–7th Grade: Audience Performance 8th–12th Grade: Speaker and Drum Circle Pre-K–2nd Grade: Audience Performance 3rd–7th Grade: Family Service 8th–12th Grade: Speaker and Drum Circle

1:15–2:15 p.m.

Oneg and Light Kiddush and Committee Fair

In-Person: Srochi Auditorium

6–7:00 p.m.

Mincha/Ma'ariv Service Candle Lighting: 7:43 p.m.

In-Person: Ellman Chapel Virtual: Zoom

In-Person: Tent In-Person: Paradies Hall In-Person: Library In-Person: Paradies Hall In-Person: Tent In-Person: Library

2nd Day Rosh Hashanah—Friday, October 4 7:45 a.m.–End of Sanctuary Childcare (6 months–6th grade) Service

Check-In at Ahava

8–9:30 a.m.

Coffee and Breakfast Oneg

In-Person: Front Garden

8:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

Sanctuary Service

In-Person: Sanctuary Virtual: Zoom and YouTube

9:30 a.m.– End of Sanctuary Service

Children's Programming (6 months–7th grade)

Check-In at Ahava Registration from 10–10:15 a.m.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Fall 2024 • High Holiday Issue • 16

9:30–10:30 a.m.

Torah Study

Following End of Sanctuary Tashlich Service Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat/Ma'ariv Service Havdallah: 8:07 p.m.

6–7:30 p.m.

In-Person: Ellman Chapel In-Person: Meet at the Tent to walk to the corner of Peachtree Battle and Woodward Way Virtual: Zoom

Shabbat Shuvah (Shabbat of Return)—Saturday, October 5 9:30 a.m.–12:15 p.m.

Shabbat Morning Service

In-Person: Sanctuary Virtual: Zoom

10:30–11:30 a.m.

Torah Study

In-Person: Cavalier Room Virtual: Zoom

12:45–2:00 p.m.

Rebbe's Tish—Meshorerim Singing

In-Person: Srochi Auditorium

6:15–7:45 p.m.

Mincha/Seudah Sheleshet/Ma'ariv/Havdallah/ Kaddish D'Lavana Service

In-Person: Ellman Chapel Virtual: Zoom

Kol Nidre—Friday, October 11 5–5:30 p.m.

Family Kol Nidre Service (up to 10 years old)

In-Person: Tent Virtual: Zoom

5:30 p.m.

Vegan Kapparot

In-Person: Garden

6–6:15 p.m.

Mincha

6:15–7:00 p.m.

Kol Nidre Service Candle Lighting: 6:49 p.m.

7–9:00 p.m.

Ma'ariv Service

In-Person: Sanctuary Virtual: Zoom and YouTube

Yom Kippur—Saturday, October 12 7:45 a.m.–End of Sanctuary Childcare (6 months–6th grade) Service

Check-In at Ahava

8:00 a.m.–1:45 p.m.

Sanctuary and Yizkor Services The Yizkor service will begin around 1:00 p.m.

In-Person: Sanctuary Virtual: Zoom and YouTube

10:00 a.m.–End of Sanctuary Service

Children's Programming (6 months–12th grade)

Check-In at Ahava Registration from 10–10:15 a.m.

10:15–10:50 a.m.

10:15–10:50 a.m.

10:15–10:50 a.m.

10:55–11:30 a.m.

10:55–11:30 a.m.

10:55–11:30 a.m.

Family Services: Pre-K–2nd Grade: Family Service 3rd–7th Grade: Audience Performance 8th–12th Grade: Speaker and Drum Circle Pre-K–2nd Grade: Audience Performance 3rd–7th Grade: Family Service 8th–12th Grade: Speaker and Drum Circle

10–11:00 a.m.

Torah Study

In-Person: Ellman Chapel Virtual: Zoom

2–3:00 p.m.

Beit Midrash (Study Hall)

In-Person: Sanctuary Virtual: Zoom

3–5:15 p.m.

Yom Kippur Chanting with Levines and Friends

In-Person: Paradies Hall

In-Person: Tent In-Person: Paradies Hall In-Person: Library In-Person: Paradies Hall In-Person: Tent In-Person: Library

17 • FaLL 2024 • High Holiday Issue • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

5:15 p.m.

Mincha Reading of the Book of Jonah

6:15 p.m.

Neilah Service

7:32 p.m.

Ma'ariv/Havdallah/Final Shofar Blast Service

7:45 p.m.

Break Fast

In-Person: Sanctuary Virtual: Zoom and YouTube Gold Doors and Breezeway

Sukkot—October 16–23 Wed, October 16 (Erev) 6–7:00 p.m.

Erev Sukkot Service Candle Lighting: 6:43 p.m.

In-Person: Sanctuary Virtual: Zoom

Thu, October 17 (Day 1) 9:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m.

Sukkot Morning Service

In-Person: Sanctuary Virtual: Zoom

6–7:00 p.m.

Mincha/Ma'ariv Service

In-Person: Sukkah Virtual: Zoom

Fri, October 18 (Day 2) 9:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m.

Shacharit Service

In-Person: Sanctuary Virtual: Zoom

6–7:00 p.m.

Shabbat Evening Service

Virtual: Zoom

8–9:30 p.m.

AAbsolute Sukkot Shabbat

In-Person: Sanctuary Virtual: Zoom

Sat, October 19 (Day 3) 9:30 a.m.–12:15 p.m.

Chol Hamoed Shabbat Morning Service

In-Person: Ellman Chapel Virtual: Zoom

12:30–2:00 p.m

Rebbe's Tish

In Person: Sukkah

Wed, October 23 (Day 7) 7:15–9:30 a.m.

Hoshanah Rabah Service

In-Person: Ellman Chapel Virtual: Zoom

Shemini Atzeret—October 23–24 Wed, October 23 (Erev) 6–7:00 p.m.

Erev Shemini Atzeret Service

In-Person: Ellman Chapel Virtual: Zoom

Thu, October 24 9:30 a.m.–12:45 p.m.

Shemini Atzeret and Yizkor Services

In-Person: Sanctuary Virtual: Zoom

Simchat Torah—October 24–25 Thu, October 24 (Erev) 6–7:30 p.m.

Erev Simchat Torah Service—Kesher Consecration

In-Person: Sanctuary Virtual: Zoom

Fri, October 25 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

Simchat Torah Service

In-Person: Sanctuary Virtual: Zoom

6–7:00 p.m.

Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat/Ma'ariv Service

In-Person: Sanctuary Virtual: Zoom

Service times and locations are subject to change.

Please visit our 5785 High Holiday Hub (aasyn.org/high-holidays) for the most up-to-date information and details about registration, children’s programming, tunes and meshorerim, Yom Kippur Appeal/Chai Campaign, machzorim, Operation Isaiah, hearing loop and screen-assisted service, lulav and etrog, parking and more!

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Fall 2024 • High Holiday Issue • 18

5785 Yom Kippur Appeal and Chai Campaign

O

ur brand new year, 5785, is just days away. Thanks to the generosity and dedication of the entire Ahavath Achim community, it’s a beginning that’s better than ever before. We’ve completed updates to Cohen-Kogon Pavilion and Srochi Auditorium, made critical repairs to our 65-year-old building’s infrastructure, and our Endowment Fund continues to grow, ensuring our congregation’s future well-being.

We have reached these incredible goals in no small part thanks to your financial support in addition to annual dues. Increased traffic in our building reflects our growing success and increases our utilities and maintenance costs. And, like every other business today, the synagogue’s expenses are pressured by inflation. These are our New Year challenges, and we need your help.

Your contributions to the Yom Kippur Appeal/Chai Campaign go directly to our budget’s bottom line as we strive to offer meaningful worship, keep our house in working order, and be there when you need our shul and each other. There are three ways to participate: (1) Place the completed form below in the basket that will be passed around during the Yom Kippur service; (2) Mail the completed form below to the Synagogue or donate online at aasyn.org/ykcc-5785; (3) Contact the Executive Director, Barry Herman (bherman@aasynagogue.org; 404.603.5746), or the Director of Development, Stewardship, and Leadership, Jackie Nix (jnix@aasynagogue.org; 404.603.5743).

Deepest thanks for your generosity and continued support Wishing you and your family a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year!

-----------------------------------------------------

Name: Email:

Phone:

19 • FaLL 2024 • High Holiday Issue • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Technology in Services

By Ryan Posner

A

s we embrace the High Holiday theme, “The AA Tunes—Reclaiming Our Spiritual Music,” our Technology Integration team has worked diligently to ensure our services are accessible, engaging, and spiritually enriching for all congregants and visitors. The journey to integrate technology into our worship has been challenging and rewarding, revealing the potential for deeper connections within our community.

Enhancements and Integrations: • Screen Assisted Service Presentation: Our pilot project, led by Mark Cohen, Nikki Novotny, Jim Dricker, and Ryan Posner, has received tremendous feedback. Newcomers find it an invaluable guide, while regular worshippers appreciate the orientation it provides within our service. This initiative exemplifies how technology can enhance our spiritual experience, bringing clarity and engagement to our prayers.

• Streaming Quality: We’ve significantly upgraded our streaming capabilities, ensuring higher-quality resolutions on Zoom and YouTube. This allows those who cannot attend in person to still fully participate in our services, bridging the gap between physical and virtual worship.

• High Holiday Preparations: For the upcoming High Holidays, Bonnie Levine, the Interim Director of Music and Tefillah, is instrumental in preparing the visual production presentation. Her efforts provide reference material to the tunes that will be performed during the High Holidays, as well as structuring and content preparation for these presentations. Integrating music and technology helps us reclaim and rediscover the melodies that shape our spiritual journey.

Reflections on Technology and Worship: The pandemic had undoubtedly challenged us in many ways, but it also presented an opportunity to embrace change and innovation within our worship practices. Historically, the use of technology in our sacred spaces was seen as a faux pas, a departure from tradition. Yet, the

necessity of connecting during the pandemic has shown us that technology can serve as a bridge, not a barrier, to our spirituality.

The post-pandemic world has brought a new acceptance and appreciation for the role of technology in worship. It has allowed us to remain connected, to continue our communal prayers, and to include those who might otherwise be isolated. This evolution reminds us that our traditions are living and dynamic, capable of adapting to the needs of our time without losing their essence.

We find numerous instances in the Torah where innovation and adaptation were key to fulfilling God’s commandments and maintaining the community’s connection to their faith. For example, when the Israelites wandered in the desert, they carried the Ark of the Covenant with them, ensuring that God’s presence was with them wherever they went. This adaptability and willingness to embrace new ways of worship are mirrored in our current efforts to integrate technology into our services.

As we move forward, we see technology not as a replacement for the sacred but as a tool that can enhance our spiritual practice, making it more inclusive and accessible. We aim to use these advancements to deepen our connection to our faith, community and shared spiritual journey.

Looking Ahead: Our next steps include collaborating with our audio/video engineer, Damon Fonooni, to integrate the screen-assisted service presentation into our online Zoom and YouTube streaming production. This integration will make our services even more accessible and engaging for virtual attendees.

As we continue to innovate and enhance our services, we invite you to be part of this exciting journey. If you're interested in joining the Technology Innovation Committee or assisting with the Screen Assisted Service presentation during services, please contact Ryan Posner (ryan@posner.org; 404.272.6692) or Mark Cohen (markc@pullapart.com; 678.776.9301).

Let us work together to ensure that our spiritual melodies resonate deeply within our community, both in person and online, reclaiming and enriching our spiritual music for the year ahead.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Fall 2024 • High Holiday Issue • 20

Thank You to Our Generous Donors Donations listed below were given between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024 and include tribute donations, Yom Kippur Appeal/ Chai Champaign donations, and other fund donations. Donations made to the Capital Campaign and Sisterhood are not included. We apologize in advance if anyone was excluded or placed in the wrong donation level.

Chai

($1–$499) Karen Abrams Rhona Albright Adam Alterman Elizabeth Alterman Marty and Richard Alterman Judy and Ronald Altman Jeannine and Aaron Altmann Ellen and Lee Altschuler Judith and Samuel Appel Julie and Mark Arnold Phyllis and Joseph Arnold Amy and Robert Arogeti Frances Astren Michael Attali Rachel and Michael Avchen Helene and Mo Azose Bernice Bach Charlote and Michael Baer Claire Balser Derek Bambach Lauren and Ben Barden Linda Baron Stephen Barre Irene and Bruce Baum Elaine Beeber Judith and Stan Beiner Gloria Benamy Carol and Michael Benator Randy Berger Alfred Bernstein Goldie and Louis Bertone Veronica Beskin Patty Blackmon Brooke and Bob Blasberg Toby Block and Jerrold Greenberg Matha Blondheim Patricia and Jerome Bloom Matt Blum Mona Blumenthal Barbara Bock Rita and Arthur Bodner Sara and Lance Borochoff Leigh Boros and Robert Hilliard Jr. Phyllis and Melvin Boros Meryl Braunstein and Alan Shenberg Marilyn Bravman Susan Bravman Margaret and Joel Breiner Bobbie Bridgers Helen Browdy Susan Buchsbaum Amy and Adam Caplan Charlenne and Richard Carl Elaine Carp Deedee Chereton Linda and Steve Citron Katherine and Kim Coggins Anne Cohen and Craig Silverman Barbara and Alan Cohen Cheryl and Jeffrey Cohen

Jill Cohen Julie and David Cohen Katherine “Kitty” and Ezra Cohen Marcy Cohen Sandra Cohen Terri and Rodney Cohen Susan and Al Cohn Rachael and Jonathan Colton Eileen and Adolphus Coolik Barbara and David Cooper Stanley Cristol Randy Crohn Gray Curlee Brenda and Stanley Daniels Michael Davidson Pamela and Dwight Davis Helen Scherrer-Diamond and David Diamond Linda and Michael Diamond Nancy and Morton Dimenstein Laura and Marshall Dinerman Shelly and Allen Dollar Suzan Dollman-Tibor Harriet Draluck Marci Draluck Laura and Myron Dwoskin Julie Edelson and Howard Kaplan Jane and Mark Eden Karen Lansky-Edlin and Andrew Edlin Judy and David Eichel Laura and Harold Einstein Suzanne and Seth Eisenberg Stuart Eizenstat Debra Elovich Patricia Emmes Marsha Epstein Terry Erbsfield Abram and Linda Estroff Norman Estroff Muriel Feldman Carole “Chu-Chi” and Bobby Fierman Marc Fink Teresa and Foster Finley Doreen and Stuart Fischer Marsha and Mitchell Fishkind Jane and Alan Fishman Marianne and Alan Fixell Terri and Neal Fleisher Donna and Mark Fleishman Betsy and Howard Fleisig Lori Flinkman Carol and Warren Fogel Barbara and Stewart Foreman Lori and Jordan Forman Michele and George Fox Jody and Ramon Franco Genie Freedman Jane Freedman Nancy and Wayne Freedman Edie and Gus Friedman Ilene and Michael Friedman Lynn Friedman Sandi and Gerald Friedman Sylvia Friedman

Gloria Frisch Jane Fryer z”l Elizabeth and Hugh Garrett Caryn and Larry Gartner Barbara Geldbart Mildred Gelfond Linda Gelinas Sally George Suzanne and Ervin Gerson Darriel and Ronald Gerson Melinda Gertz Arlene Rosenthal-Gill and Ed Gill Celia Gilner Liza and Michal Gilzenrat Madeleine and Kenneth Gimbel Laurie and David Ginburg Sara and Sandro Gisler Carol and Robert Glickman Carolyn Gold Hazel Gold Steve Gold Brandon Goldberg Bruce Goldberg Elsa and Jay Goldberg Marni and Daniel Goldman Arlene and Milton Goldstein Beth and Adam Goldstein Debra and Ed Goldstein Gail Goldstein Ellen Goldstein and Steven Gold Eve and Joel Goldstein Madolyn Goldstein Jennifer and Josh Goodhart Felice and Philip Goodman Edward Greenberg Sandra and Mark Greenberg Ruth Greenberg Lynne and Thomas Greenfield Elaine Gruenhut Renee Haas Rosalind and Philip Haber Nancy Habif and Scott Kleber Sherry Habif Valierie Habif and Neil Wasser Charles Hacker Martha Halbreich Julia and James Hall Melissa “Mimi” Hall and Russell Gottschalk Beverly Halpern Beverly and Gilbert Halpern Lynne and Jack Halpern Steven Hamburger Meryl Hammer Delcy Pardo Harber Fran and Edward Harrell Natalie and Marvin Harris Beatrice Hartman Edna Helfer Eternal Life Hemshech Linda and David Hendelberg Gladys and David Herckis Helen Hersch Rebecca and Theodore Hersh

21 • FaLL 2024 • High Holiday Issue • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Sharon Hiken Julia and S Bayne Hill Henry and Etta Raye Hirsch Heritage Foundation Gladys Hirsch z”l Rae and Martin Hirsch Rosalie Hirschberg Jeff Hirschl Katherine Hoerster Gail and Gilbert Holzer Jane Horowitz Bick Pearlann and Gerald Horowitz Barbara and Michael Horowitz Roberta Huebner Herzl Hyton Michael and Martin Itzkowitz Jean and Gary Jackson Marcia Jaffe Randi and Mark Jaffe Lillie Janko Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta Irene Jones Mira Josowicz Susan and Robert Kahn Charlotte and Allen Kaminsky Roben Kantor Frances M. Kaplan Sally and Philip z”l Kaplan Anita Karnibad Estelle Karp z”l Hazel Karp z”l Catherine and David Kasriel Alison and Jeff Kaufman Lisa Kaufman Diann Kayah Jill Kersh Elizabeth Kessler and Dennis Gilbride Lori and Ronald Kirschner Amy and Steven Kirson Annsley and Benjamin Klehr Nancy Klenberg Bill Klineman Bobbie Knopf Irina and Alex Kogon Judy and Martin Kogon Sara and Ross Kogon Sandra and Jay Kohlenberg Ruthy Kolker Elissa and Harris Konter Roslyn and Darryl Konter Kal Koplin Phyllis Kraft Cheryl and Russell Kramer Gayle Kranz Jana and Michael Kreisberg Janet and Hilton Kupshik Diane Kurtz Mildred and Martin Kwatinetz Linda and Kerry Landis Amy and James Landrum Audrey and Michael Landy Elizabeth Langille Joan Lankford Alyson and Brian Lapes Helaine and Andy Lasky Brenda and Paul Lefkoff Harold Lefkoff Helen Lefkoff and Robert Faulk Michelle and Jonathan Lerner Renay and Alan Levenson Liane Levetan Heidi and Michael Levey

Deborah and Jay Levin Bonnie and Michael Levine Nancy and Marshall Levine Rita and Michael LeVine Deborah Levinson Barbara Levitas Harriet Lewis Miriam Lewis Joan Lieberman Linda Nathanson-Lippitt and Alan Lippitt Alice Little Mandy Loriot Benjamin Lowenthal Lisa and Hadley Lowy Mary and Charles Maddrey Maxine Makover Peggy and Llyod Marbarch Charlotte Marcus Mindy and Andrew Margolis Barbara Marks Natalie and Robert Marmer Judy Marx Randi and Marvin Mazer Susan and Todd Maziar Margaret McCormick Marcia McDaid Karen and Jim McDermott Berta and Lev Mebel Robin Medintz Joanne Mendel Lee Mendel Lisa Mendell Cathy and Ronald Miller Eric Miller Harriet Miller Karen Miller Lori and Wayne Miller Meta Miller Glenda and David Minkin Julie and Alan Minsk Robyn and Marshall Mizell Susan Moray Jennie and Macy Moret Vicki and Steven Morris Andrea Morse Sai Mukkamala Brenda Neumann Shari Neumann Sara Fran and Wayne Neuwirth Margaret Nichols Janice B. Nochumson David Norflus Francine Norflus Johanna and Hillel Norry Rochelle Notrica Brenda and Leon Novak Karen Oberman Ann Olim Linda Orenstein Kenny Orkin Darcy and Joseph Oxman Martin Oxman Sharon Oxman Sara and Mark Papier Annice Parker Charles Perkins Marlene Wexler Perlman Sally and Alan Pinsker Robert Pitchersky Barbara and Richard Planer Philip Plotka

Debbie and Joel Pollack Laine and Greg Posel Dara and Arthur Povlot Jana and Harvey Rabinowitz Lynn and Glenn Rainbow Priscilla Reinhardt Regan Reinhold Ralda and Martin Reish Linda and Howard Reisman Lois and Alan Reitzfeld Charlotte and Elliott Rich Kim Rich and Howie Rosenberg Lori Rich Bonnie and Gary Richman Jennifer and Harvey Rickles Linda Rickles Michelle and Larry Rickles Yair Riemer Keith Rinzler Nancy and Andrew Rinzler Edward Rittenbaum Shirley Romm Wender Carol and Marc Rose Harold Rosenbaum Melissa and Jordan Rosenbaum Ann (Bunny) and Charles z”l Rosenberg Rachel Rosenbloom Brenda and Bobby Rosenblum Brooke and Laurence Rosenthal Joanne Rosenthal Rosalie and Carl Rosenthal Linda Rosh Karen Routman Carol and Joseph Rubin Gerald Rubin Nadine and Barry Rubin Suzan and Gary Saidman Beth Salzman and Adam Leaderman Alice Sanders Barbara and Jerry Sandler Susan and Herschel Saparow Cathy and Jeff Schaffer Lynda and Joel Schaffer Sylvia and Edward Schecter Emily and Brant Scheinfeld Stuart Schlansky Lou Schloss z”l Jill and Jay Schlosser Alison and Jason Schneider Robert Schneider Susan and Ray Schoenbaum Temme and Allan Schooler Fern Schorr Gladys and Robert Schussel C.M. Schwartz Jill and Joseph Segal Linda and Stephen Selig Marlene Shain Charles Shainker Cheryl and Stanton Shapiro Roberta Shaw Carr Sherry Shaw z”l Carolyn Shenberg Marsha Sherman Karen and Richard Shmerling Karen and Brian Shonson Claudia Shorr Marilyn Shubin Stuart Shubin Mara Shulman Marilyn and Yale Shure

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Fall 2024 • High Holiday Issue • 22

Betty Ann Shusterman Faye and Irwin Siegel Richard Siegel Barry Silver Carla and Arthur Silver Brenda and Kenneth Silverboard Nancy and Gerald Silverboard Susan Silverboard Martha and Barry Silverman Sherry and Alan Silverman Saba and Victor Silverman Sharon and Howard Silvermintz Suzanne Silvers and Stephen Philips Howard Simmons Sydney Simons Lara Sitton Ava Landrum Smith and Ben Smith Bethany and Taylor Smith Susan and Morris Socoloff Rebecca and Michael Sokol Gail Solomon Harriet Spanier Rosalind Spector Nancy and Theodore Spetnagel Paige Pratt and Bruce Stambler Philip Stark Ellen Stein Judy and Stanley Stein Gayle and Toby Steinberg Marilyn and Stanley Steinberg Meredith and Marshall Sunshine Luci and Stanley Sunshine Steven Tabb Susan and Stanley Tanenbaum Rene Tapia W. Tarr and D. Gornell Susan and Stanley Tenenbaum Louis Teplis Paul Teplis z”l Gail Tescher Karla Tievsky and Seth Kirschenbaum Robin Torch Marilyn and Stuart Troy Renee Unell Marjorie and Irvin Ungar Sondra Visner Joan Vitner z”l Dena and Stanley Vogel Cecile Waronker Sherry and George Warsaw Betsy Wash Elaine Wecksler Lynne Weiner Milton Weinman z”l Lauren and David Weinstein Aurelie and Randy Weinstein Susan Weintrob Amy and Marcus Weiss Aletta and Greg Weitz Nanette Wenger Carla and Howard Wertheimer Alan Wexler Barbara Wexler Andrew Wiesenberg S.M. Wilder Sheila and Larry Wilensky Pamela and Jack WIlliams Adele Wineburgh Susan and Jonathan Winner Roslyn Winston Karen and Eli Wise Ruth and Herschel z”l Wisebram

Judith and Jeffrey Wohlberg Irene and Alex Wolchansky Sandra and Michael Wolensky Ginny and David Wolf Rina Wolfe Pepi and Alan Wolkin Elizabeth and Dennis Wolkin Honey and Howard Workman Lynne Wright Neal and Gabriel Yarm Sheri and Joshua Youdovin Janis Zagoria Ilene and Steven Zier Melaine and Scott Zucker

Virginia and Milton Saul Lisa and Jon Schnaubelt Joan and Alan Schwartz Marcia Spielberger Merna and Allen Stein Miriam Strickman Levitas Lauren and Todd Surden Nica and Lee Tallman Betsy Teplis Monica Teplis Jeannie and Bob Tepper Sharon and Ken Torreyson Jeffrey Wasserman Leona and Donald Zivitz

Patron

Bronze

Ssandy and Davis Abrams Sheila and David Adelman Ann and Herb Alperin Pat and Jack Balser Stanley Baum Betty Behr Karina and Josh Belinfante Shayne and Nathaneil Ben-Haimem Dolores Berlin Karen Berman Julia and Terry Bernath Victor Blake Arthur Blank Amira and Michael Bobrov Nancy Carroll and Steven Goldman Jane and Charles Center Rebecca and Henry Chalmers Diane and Harold Cohen Melissa (Lisa) and Walter Cohen Susan and Isadore Cohen Erica and Andrew Cozewith Margo and Douglas Diamond Sara and Brent Eden Elise and Jay Empel Barry Fields Judith Finkel Beth and Jared Friedman Karen and Bruce Gadlin Frances and Stuart z”l Galishoff Stacy Blumberg Garon and Jon Garon Renie and David Geller Bernard Goldstein Elise and Philip Goldstein Susan and Leon Gross Heleen and Steven Grossman Amanda and Adam Hirsch Rachael and Michael Joseph William Kleiman Esther and Michael Levine Patsy and Bill Little Esther Margol Dorothy and Alfred Meyers Shirley Minsk Herbert Neuwirth z”l William Planer Tally and Stanford Plavin Ann and Morris Podber Ana and Ryan Posner Barbara and Bruce Ribner Shirley Rich Julie and Gary Roberts Jennifer and Joel Rosenfeld Susan and Neil Sandler

Anonymous Judy and Joe Balaban Linda and Bruce Beeber Diane and Marvin Bernstein Elaine and Jerome Blumenthal Carol Dlin Allison and Joel Feldman Stacy and Emanuel Fialkow Richard Franco Marianne and Stephen Garber Margo and Lawrence Gold Karen Goldstein Sheila and David Greenbaum Caryn Hanrahan and Andy Siegel Jill and David Kantor Shelley and Scott Kaplan Miriam Karp Robin and William Kleinberg Marsha and Mark Kozinn Richard and Lana Krebs Sandra and Bob London Kevin Mendelsohn Terry Murru Barbara and George Nathan Donna and Philip Newman Andrea and Matthew Oppenheimer Dorothy Rosenthal and William Nerenberg Janet Schatten and Richard Friedman Debbie Smith and Joel Lobel Roben and Gregory Smolar Judy and Allen Soden Deborah Spector and Jeffrey Victor Nicole and Ben Spitalnick Bert Stein Tamar and Mark Stern Mona and Philip Sunshine Lynn Sussman Mark Weinstein Susan and Larry Wolkin Brenda and Andrew Zangwill Susan Ellman-Zweig and Arnold Zweig

($500–$899)

($900–$1,799)

Silver

($1,800–$2,399) Lorraine (Cookie) and Fred Aftergut Phyllis and Eliot Arnovitz Diane Bessen and Steven Weiner Linda and Richard Bressler Stanley Cohen Jay D’Lugin and Tyler Curtain

23 • FaLL 2024 • High Holiday Issue • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Jennifer Glazer-Malkin Marlene and Mark Haber Barbara and Jay Halpern Sherry Halpern Marsha and Michael Kalson Harriet Landau and Nathan Segall Myrtle Lewin June and Gerald Neumark Lori and Stephen Oppenheimer Gayle and Steven Printz Vickie and Bruce Reisman Judy and Alan Schulman Debra and Philip Siegel Cathy and Richard Swerdlin Sherri and Robert Wildstein

Doris and Martin Goldstein Lyons and Gail Heyman and The Heyman Family Foundation Michal and Jack Hillman Stuart Harvey Hillman Ann Kaplan Nikki Novotny

Gold

Endowment

($2,400–$3,599) Irene Aronin Marlene Gelernter Besser Christ Covenant Buckhead Samantha and Eric Funt Gail and Michael Habif Halpern-Oppenheimer Family Foundation Tanya and Scott Jacobson Barbara and Alan Kaplan Elaine and Alan Kolodkin Sherry and Harry Maziar Julie and William Segal Zoe and David Zelby

Leader

($3,600–$5,399) Linda and Richard Collier Susan and Hadley Engelhard Paul Feldman Filsoof Family Trust Lois and Laurence Frank Beth and Gregg Paradies Jo Pichulik Lynn and Barry Prusin

Benefactor ($5,400–$9,999)

Judith Alembik Dorita and Hal Arnold Barbara and Kenneth Feinberg Diane and Stanley Friedman Sharon Funk and Joshua Hanna Ivan Millender Carolyn Oppneheimer and Rick Lenner Judy and Michael Orkin Betty and Alan Sunshine Jill and Jeffrey Vantosh

President's Circle ($10,000–$19,999)

Gary Alembik and Stephen Graves Ellen Arnovitz and Michael Plasker Tova and Mark Cohen Elisa and Robert Ezor Ruth Gershon and Sanford Cohn

Taylor and Bethany Smith Jack Spielberg z”l Arnold Whiteman z”l Sherri and Robert Wildstein

Rabbi's Circle ($20,000+)

Vicki and Gerry Benjamin Marilyn Ginsberg Eckstein Sanford Orkin

Judith and Aaron z”l Alembik Gary Alexander Vicki and Gerry Benjamin Adolphus and Eileen Coolik in honor of Max and Helen Kuniansky Shelly and Alan Dollar Bob and Pat Fine Marilyn Ginsberg Eckstein Sharon Funk and Josh Hanna Terri and Brent Kaplan Robert Kagan and Paula Sunshine Ann Kaplan Helaine and Andy Lasky Sanford Orkin Beth and Gregg Paradies Mona and Philip Sunshine Ilene Sunshine Ann and Steven Sunshine

Legacy Anonymous Anonymous Anonymous Anonymous Anonymous Anonymous Anonymous Dr. Jessica Arluck and Dr. Douglas Ander Vicki and Gerry Benjamin Tova and Mark Cohen Stanley Cristol Jack Eybuszyc z”l Marilyn Ginsberg Eckstein Margo and Larry Gold Betty and Leon Goldstein z”l Charlotte and Harry Gordon z”l Steven Grossman Heidi and Barry Herman Celia S. and Col. Donald M. z”l Gilner Ann and Theodore z”l Kaplan Endowment Fund Maurice Katz z”l Shirley z”l and Ivan Millender Nikki Novotny Lori and Stephen Oppenheimer Rosalie and Carl Rosenthal Ralph Sacks z”l Barbara Schatten z”l Betty Ann Shusterman Debra and Philip Siegel

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Fall 2024 • High Holiday Issue • 24

Save the Dates The 35th Annual Fran Eizenstat and Eizenstat Family Memorial Lecture Sunday, November 10, 2024 The 35th Annual Fran Eizenstat and Eizenstat Family Memorial Lecture Series presents a discussion led by Ambassador Stuart Eizenstat featuring Isaac Herzog, President of Israel. This event is brought to you by the Marilyn Ginsberg Eckstein Cultural Arts Program Fund.

This event is free and open to the community.

More information to come!

2025 Ahavath Achim Synagogue Fundraiser Thursday, February 13, 2025 7:00 p.m.

Be on the lookout for sponsorship and ticket information!

For questions or to join the planning committee, email Jacke Nix (jnix@aasynagogue.org).

Continue the fun at our Cantor-inResidence Weekend with Cantor David Propis—a weekend full of music! February 14-16.

25 • FaLL 2024 • High Holiday Issue • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Fall 2024 • High Holiday Issue • 26