Celebrating the Joy of Judaism, Embracing all Jews.
Bulletin THE BETH TFILOH
ELUL 5777-TISHREI 5778 SEPTEMBER 2017
Give Me Just One Hour of Your Life
By Rabbi Mitchell Wohlberg
The coming of a new year presents us with opportunities we’ve never had before. There are 8,760 hours in the coming year; I am asking you to give me one. There are many moments in the High Holy Day services that take on heightened meaning. The blowing of the shofar, the Musaf service, Kol Nidre, Yizkor all have great meaning and importance. But there is one hour that stands out. It is the hour of Neila – the final service of Yom Kippur day — that brings the holiest day of the year to a close. It is then, according to tradition, that the gates of heaven are closing and the final judgment for our destiny is being made.
Unfortunately, the timing of the Neila service is not very convenient. It comes late in the day when our stomachs are empty and our thoughts have turned to family and friends who are coming to break the fast with us. Indeed, when the final judgment is being made, the bagels and lox are already being devoured in many homes. I ask you to do me a favor and this year spend that final hour of Yom Kippur with me in the synagogue. There is no question in my mind that the Neila service at Beth Tfiloh is unsurpassed. The hazzan is surrounded by the rabbis, who in turn are all surrounded by the congregation to create one of the most inspiring, uplifting and, yes, entertaining moments of a lifetime. We join together Continued on p. 6
BT family welcomes Rabbi Eli Yoggev Following a rabbinic search process last winter and spring, with many opportunities for members to meet our candidates, we are most pleased to announce that Rabbi Eli Yoggev will be joining the Beth Tfiloh clergy beginning in September. Rabbi Eli Yoggev received his rabbinic ordination from Yeshivat Chovevei Torah this past spring and has recently submitted his doctoral dissertation to Bar Ilan University on the worldview of Rabbi Mordekhai Leiner of Izbica, the Izbitser Rebbe. He has been involved in Jewish education for over a decade, teaching at institutions such as Yeshivat
SELICHOT at BT Saturday night, September 16 MOVIE & DISCUSSION “The Women’s Balcony” 8:30 pm Mintzes Theatre SELICHOT SERVICE 10:45 pm Auditorium Set the tone for the New Year with an upbeat and uplifting musical Selichot service featuring HAZZAN AVI ALBRECHT, the talented KOL FUSION a cappella group, and AVRAHAM ROSENBLUM on guitar. The service will be preceded by a screening of the hit movie, “The Women’s Balcony,” with a discussion led by RABBANIT BRACHA JAFFE, our BT Community Educator, and refreshments.
Continued on p. 6
FROM
SELICHOT* THROUGH
NEILAH** Join us at Beth Tfiloh to get the New Year off to a great start! SELICHOT Saturday night, September 16 ROSH HASHANAH Thursday/Friday, September 21/22 SHABBAT SHUVAH: The Shabbat of Repentence Saturday, September 23 YOM KIPPUR / NEILAH Saturday, September 30 *SELICHOT is a beautiful and moving late-night service when special prayers of forgiveness are first recited in anticipation of the approaching new year. **NEILAH is the concluding service of Yom Kippur, when final prayers of repentance are recited, with a dramatic shofer blast at its conclusion.
Rabbanit Bracha Jaffe
Hazzan Avi Albrecht