Please Note:

Please Note: The "Letter to the Congregants", and the "Member Ticket Request Form" have CORRECTED DATES listed for the Children's Service and Tashlich Service on Rosh Hashanah, Tuesday, September 30.

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Letter to the Congregants:

Dear Bet Shalom Congregant,

High Holy Day planning is already underway for beautiful, inspiring services conducted by Rabbi Norman Cohen, Rabbi David Locketz, Cantor Sarah Lipsett-Allison, our choir, and accompanist, Rita Lusky, and other talented congregant musicians and our Ruach Ensemble.

This year we will be holding both Traditional Style services and Ruach Style services in our sanctuary/social hall by scheduling them consecutively. (Note: Evening services will be Traditional Style only).

Our Ruach Style services are designed for members of our congregation who prefer a family-oriented service. The Ruach style service will be open to all congregants. Please note that this service is not our Children’s Service. Tots and toddlers are encouraged to come to our Children’s Service in the afternoon.

Our traditional service, led by our Rabbis and Cantor will be just as it has been in the past. Our Ruach Style service, led by our Rabbis and Cantor will differ from the traditional service in the following ways:

•  It will be briefer than the traditional service and include the liturgy of Gates of Repentance
•  It will be very friendly to young participants
•  It will include lots of singing and music provided by Cantor Sarah Lipsett-Allison,
   Rabbi David Locketz, and members of our Shabbat Ruach ensemble.

When you have decided which service block you prefer, complete the enclosed request form and return it to our office no later than September 8, 2008. Tickets for either service block will be issued on a first request basis.

We ask you to arrive on time or a bit early for each service. Bet Shalom is fully accessible to those with physical challenges. Also, please be considerate of others and refrain from wearing perfume or cologne; the person next to you could be allergic. Thank you for this thoughtfulness.

This year, our services will be scheduled as shown in the charts below. You may choose to attend either block of services. (Note: There is only one Erev Rosh Hashanah service on Monday, September 29 at 8:00 pm)

Ruach Style Service (Block 1) – Ticket needed

Traditional Style Erev Rosh Hashanah Service Monday, September 29 8:00 pm
Ruach Style Rosh Hashanah Morning Service Tuesday, September 30 8:30 am
Traditional Style Kol Nidre Service Wednesday, October 8 6:30 pm
Ruach Style Yom Kippur Morning Service Thursday, October 9 8:30 am

Traditional Style Service (Block 2) – Ticket needed

Traditional Style Erev Rosh Hashanah Service Monday, September 29 8:00 pm
Traditional Style Rosh Hashanah Morning Service Tuesday, September 30 11:00 am
Traditional Style Kol Nidre Service Wednesday, October 8 8:45 pm
Traditional Style Yom Kippur Morning Service Thursday, October 9 11:00 am

For the Entire Congregation:

Community-Wide S’lichot Saturday, September 20 Bet Shalom Congregation at 8:30 pm
Rosh Hashanah Children’s Service Tuesday, September 30 (CORRECTED DATE) 2:00 pm
Tashlich Tuesday, September 30 (CORRECTED DATE) 3:00 pm
Food for Thought Thursday, October 9 1:45 – 3:00 pm
Yom Kippur Children’s Service Thursday, October 9 2:00 pm
Yom Kippur Afternoon Service Thursday, October 9 3:00 pm
Yizkor & Neilah Thursday, October 9 5:00 pm
Break-the-Fast Thursday, October 9 7:00 pm

S’lichot: This year we will celebrate the community S’lichot Service on Saturday, September 20. This service will involve participation with B’nai Emet, Beth El, Adath Jeshurun, Temple Israel, and Mayim Rabim. The service will be held at Bet Shalom Congregation.

Tickets for Family and Friends Affiliated with a URJ Congregation: Relatives and friends of Bet Shalom members who are affiliated at a URJ congregation out of town will be issued tickets without charge.

Tickets for Family, without Membership in a URJ Congregation: There will be a charge of $72 for member relatives (parents, grand-parents, adult children (over 25), and siblings only). Requests will be filled on a first request basis after September 8.

Tickets for non-members: There will be a charge of $118 for guest ticket requests/non-member requests. Requests will be filled after September 8.

Second Day Rosh Hashanah: Bet Shalom members interested in worshipping on the second day of Rosh Hashanah should contact Rabbi Cohen or Rabbi Locketz. They have made arrangements for Bet Shalom members to be welcomed at second day worship services at one of the conservative synagogues in town.

Will you be out of town for Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, or both? If you plan to be in another community for the Days of Awe, let us know so that we can make arrangements for you to attend services at a Reform congregation in that particular location.

Ushering: It has also become a custom at Bet Shalom for various members of our congregation to serve as ushers. Paula and Mark Fields and Jay Silver are co-chairs of this important committee and we ask that all of our congregants cooperate with the ushers. They have instructions and plans to make the seating and services go as smoothly as possible. Please be sure to show them your tickets, so that we can ensure seats for all of our members.

Yizkor: Your cooperation is especially necessary during our Yizkor Memorial Service. We ask your promptness at all services, but especially then, as the doors will be closed once the service begins. If you arrive late for this service, at an appropriate moment the ushers will attempt to seat you discreetly at the back of the sanctuary.

As you know, it is possible for you to purchase a memorial plaque on our beautiful Yahrzeit memorial board in the sanctuary. Please call our office if you wish to make those arrangements. We remind you that, even if you do not arrange for a memorial plaque on the board, we still read the names of all our loved ones at the appropriate services during the year. The names of those who have died since last Yom Kippur will be read at this year’s memorial service. If you have additional names you would like to have read, please call Claire Whelan at 952-426-6643 prior to Yom Kippur.

Break-the-Fast: We look forward to greeting all of you at our Break-the-Fast at the conclusion of our Yom Kippur afternoon services. As you know, this gathering has become a meaningful Bet Shalom tradition and is a beautiful time for us to feel the community spirit during the Days of Awe. All donations to help defray the cost will be greatly appreciated.

Special Gift: Enclosed with the mailing of your High Holy Day packet was a special gift for each Bet Shalom family from Sharon Palay and our Inclusion Committee: a beautiful magnetic bookmark to use as a reminder of the kind of congregation Bet Shalom seeks to be: an inclusive accessible community both physically and spiritually. The poem was written by Sharon when she was 15 years old. The poem reminds us of one of the most significant teachings of our Jewish tradition: "Every human being is created in the image of God and contains the spark of the Divine within our soul." Part of the mission of our Inclusion Committee is to keep all of us at Bet Shalom aware of our commitment to maintain our community as an open and welcoming tent like the one to which Abraham and Sarah welcomed those who were on their life journeys." The bookmarks were produced by a friend of our congregation and given anonymously.

Prospective Members/New Membership: The weeks preceding the Days of Awe are the traditional time of growth in every congregation. There are many people who want to be a part of our community but do not know how to proceed. Adding a personal touch may make all the difference for these and many others who are considering joining Bet Shalom.

Please extend a warm welcome to your friends who are unaffiliated. Let them know that they can worship with us, participate in our Religious School, and become a member and builder of Bet Shalom. Pass their names along to Andrea Blumberg, 952-933-8525, and take a personal interest in being part of the welcoming nature of our congregation.

Every Friday is a “prospective member” Shabbat. Our services, our Onegs, and the warm and welcoming atmosphere of the congregation help to establish the opportunity for prospective members to get to know us. This would be an especially good time to invite people to come to services with you. We look forward to seeing them, and you, at our Shabbat worship.

Many new individuals and families joining our congregation are also looking for other families with whom to share Shabbat and other significant times. If you would like to be a host family, let our office know. That will help Bet Shalom reinforce the Jewish value of   (hachnasat orchim), welcoming the stranger into our congregation as Abraham and Sarah did so long ago, and reinforcing the “open tent” entrance to our building.

We hope that you are as enthusiastic as we are, looking forward to sharing the Days of Awe in our congregational home.

Shalom,


Rabbi Norman M. Cohen, Rabbi David L. Locketz, Cantor Sarah Lipsett-Allison, Jodi Upin - President, Andrea Blumberg - Executive Director