5779 High Holy Day Booklet

5779/2018 High Holy Days at Temple Beth Avodah

Erev Rosh Hashanah is September 9

Kol Nidre is September 18

5779, the Year of Shalom Bayit Like many Hebrew words and phrases, Shalom Bayit has many meanings. The term means “peaceful home.” In traditional Jewish family life, Shalom Bayit refers to a loving, harmonious marriage. It also can describe the ambiance of peace and understanding one strives to achieve.

This year at Beth Avodah, we plan to use this phrase in a similar, though nuanced, way. For us, Shalom Bayit refers to a dynamic, engaged sense of home, of being in a safe, warm, peaceful space. Through a variety of programs and activities, we will open up opportunities for our temple family to find meaning and connection in the richness of Jewish communal, spiritual, and intellectual life.

TBA’s Shalom Bayit project will bring our temple family closer to each other. It will also engage us as a family by doing good works in the larger community in which we live. We can experience the satisfaction of Shalom Bayit when we are far from our temple home, performing good deeds together, from the greater Boston area to the ends of the earth.

Through our focus on this year-long theme, our fervent prayer is that each of us will achieve a greater sense of Shalom Bayit in our own homes and families as well as here in our shared home, Temple Beth Avodah.

Messages of Welcome On behalf of the Board of Directors and the entire TBA staff, I want to wish each of you a very happy and healthy 5779. As I embark on this new presidency, I am excited and honored to lead Temple Beth Avodah into a brand new year. There is so much that we will accomplish together both as a synagogue and as a community.

We pride ourselves in being an inclusive, innovative and thoughtful congregation. My hope for you is that you leave your comfort zone and check out something new, whether it is an exciting program, a Jazz Shabbat Service or an inspiring speaker.

My goal is to engage, encourage and get to know as many of you as possible. I feel so blessed and fortunate to be a part of such a wonderful synagogue. I hope that as the year progresses, I will have the opportunity to connect with each of you.

Shana Tova, may you all have a sweet and happy new year and I look forward to seeing you at the High Holidays.

Fondly, - Stacy Schwartz, Temple President

Messages of Welcome As a child, I was comforted by the belief that, when I grew up, everything would be clear. All the unanswered questions would be answered. All the mysteries of life would be resolved. Existence would have a clear, unambiguous purpose.

My childhood has come and gone, fading fast in the rearview mirror. The childhood years of my children are over. My kids are adults, actively creating their own families, shaping their own lives, their own destinies. And I have more questions than ever.

My grandchildren are – well, they’re actively children. I watch them with awe and wonderment as they figure things out: who their cousins are and how they’re related, to tying shoes to walking down the stairs without falling. Their world is only just starting to come into focus.

As we enter this new year, it makes sense to embrace some of that child-like awe about the world. It would be so beautiful to shake off the cynicism, the anger, and the profound disappointment, so many of us feel when surveying this world into which we’ve been thrown. Doing so would provide a chance to acquire that certain sweetness that can come with the dawn of every new day. How wonderful it would be to achieve even a small amount of child-like appreciation for all the good in store for us.

I know: we are mortal. Life is a one-way ticket. It can be harrowing. Getting old isn’t for the weak. There’s no denying that. And there’s no denying the gift of another day. We’ll be celebrating that gift of life and community and song and prayer and love right here at your temple, where the lights are always on, and the doors are always open. Come home; we’re waiting for you.

- Rabbi Keith Stern

S’lichot Saturday, September 1 Forgiveness Flows... 8:00 p.m.

Erev Rosh Hashanah Sunday, September 9 7:30 p.m. Service followed by Oneg Rosh Hashanah Monday, September 10 Family Service 8:30 a.m.

Early Service 9:30 a.m.

K - Gr. 5 Early Program 9:30 a.m. (STEAM) Late Service 12:45 p.m.

K- Gr. 5 Late Program, 12:45 p.m. (Farm Trip) Taschlich* 4:00 p.m. (*on the grounds of Newton City Hall)

2nd Day Rosh Hashanah Tuesday, September 11 Service 10:00 a.m. followed by Kiddush Taschlich* 4:00 p.m. (*on the banks of the Charles River Dedham Recreation Center, 269 Common St., Dedham)

Service Schedule Kol Nidre Tuesday, September 18 Kol Nidre Service 7:30 p.m.

Yom Kippur Wedneday, September 19 Family Service 8:30 a.m.

Early Service 9:30 a.m.

K - Gr. 5 Early Program 9:30 a.m. (STEAM) Late Service 12:45 p.m.

K- Gr. 5 Late Program, 12:45 p.m. (Farm Trip) Mincha, Yizkor(Memorial)& Neilah 4:00 p.m.

(Concluding Service) with Congregational Break Fast at the conclusion of the Service

Erev Sukkot Sunday, September 23 Sukkah Building 9:00 a.m.

TBA Shake Shack* 5:00 p.m. (*Sukkah Decorating, Lulav Shaking & Pizza on us!)

Sukkot Service, 6:15 p.m.

Sukkot Monday, September 24 Temple Office Closed ELC & Midrasha Open Erev Simchat Torah Sunday, September 30 Shalom Bayit* Housewarming & Block Party - Open to All!, 2:30 p.m.

Simchat Torah Celebration, 4:00 p.m.

Simchat Torah Monday, October 1 Yizkor (Memorial) Service 8:45 a.m.

Donation Opportunities

Annual Sustaining TBA Campaign. On the heels of our successful 20th Anniversary Campaign, we come to you once again for our Annual Sustaining Campaign. This Campaign is crucial to maintaining our Temple because dues alone do not cover our abatements and robust level of programming and service. Our expenses for operating the Temple, including the Early Learning Center, religious school, programming and payroll is $2,309,454. Our income without sustaining donations is $2,221,241. Last year together, we contributed over $130,000. Please help us reach our goal of $130,000 once again. A card is enclosed for your convenience, or sign up online on our home page.

Book of Memory. Due to the early holidays we have a hard submission deadline of Wednesday, September 5. The Book of Memory expresses our love for those who have died, but are never forgotten.

The book is used during the High Holy Days and Yizkor services throughout the year. Refer to your email to view your current list of yahrzeits. Please consider an $18 donation per name when you submit your form. A Book of Memory card is enclosed for your convenience, or sign up online on our home page.

Prayerbook Bookplates. We look forward to continued use of our new prayerbooks. Take this opportunity to purchase a customized bookplate that will include your tribute that will be cherished for a long time to come. A card is enclosed for your convenience, or sign up online on our home page.

Kick off the Holidays at Our S’lichot Service

Forgiveness Flows... S’lichot Service. Cherry Kim ( Cello) and Chris Baum (violin) join Rabbi Keith Stern and Cantorial Soloist Susan Glickman for an evening of contemplative stories and emotionally sweeping music to help us usher in the Days of Awe.

Ticket Information Member & Guest Ticket Information. One “High Holy Day Family Ticket” is complimentary for all member families (this includes members, their children 25 and under, college students, and military personnel). Information about nonmember guest tickets can be found on our website. Tickets will be mailed to current members in good standing. To be a member in good standing and receive a High Holy Day ticket: (1) all previous years’ financial obligations must be met; (2) at least one-third of the current year’s membership dues and one-third of the building fund assessments must be paid (or a payment plan must be in place); (3) the current year’s religious school tuition fees must be paid in full (or a payment plan must be in place). If you want to discuss your situation, please contact the Temple business office at 617.527.0045. Information may be found online at www.bethavodah.org.

Programming and Services for Children

Family Service - (birth - early elementary age, parental attendance required). This 8:30 a.m. program features music and prayer with Rabbi Keith Stern and Songleader Ian Simpson, playtime and a snack. RH and YK programs last about an hour and take place at TBA. All are welcome. Free of charge, advanced online registration is requested but not required. Sign up is available on our home page.

Kindergarten - Grade 5 Programs.

During the Early Service: STEAM Experience Come join us a for a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) experience for grades K-5. On Rosh Hashanah, students will focus on the themes in the creation story and think about the birth of the world. On Yom Kippur, students will focus on the shofar, how it’s made and how it works, along with its significance in Judaism. Students will participate in interactive projects along with a story and music experience. This program takes place at TBA and is free of charge. RSVP is required and is available on our home page.

During the Late Service: Farm Experience Students in K-5 have the opportunity to visit the Newton Community Farm and participate in an interactive program that connects the concepts of farming to the cycle of the year, renewal and forgiveness, and repairing the world. Students will take a bus to and from TBA and be accompanied by TBA staff. There is no cost, but there is a limit of 20 students, RSVP is required and is available on our home page.

Programming and Services for Children

Grade 5 - 12 Learning Lounge. For students in grades 5-12 who wish to attend the regular service, but may want to take a break during the service, we will be offering a learning lounge. There will be art activities, games, and casual discussion led by TBA staff. RSVP is NOT required.

Babysitting (Ages 2-5). Babysitting is offered during the 9:30 a.m. early services on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Cost is $20/child. Required payment and advance sign up is available on our home page. If attendee minimum is not met, a refund will be issued.

Tashlich. We have two this year! The first (9/10) of these brief 4:00 p.m. ceremonies takes place on the grounds of Newton City Hall and the second (9/11) takes place on the banks of the Charles River in Dedham at the Recreation Center at 269 Common Street. We read poems, say some prayers and share thoughts focusing on rededicating ourselves to making better choices in the new year. At the end of the service, we take crumbs from our pockets (or plastic bags), and cast them into the water, symbolizing the purging of our sinful habits and our striving to be the best people possible. It is a family time, and children have fun feeding the ducks, having shed “temple clothes� for more comfortable and casual attire.