High Holy Days - Temple Adas Shalom, the Harford Jewish Center

HIGH HOLIDAY 2020-5881 STATEMENT

The Temple Adas Shalom Religious Practices Committee and Clergy have issued a statement regarding the status of High Holiday Services for 2020-5881.

CLICK HERE TO READ

High Holy Days are a time for reflection, introspection, prayer, and re-connection. We welcome you to join us in celebrating and observing these special Holy Days. We offer a variety of services to meet the spiritual needs of our diverse community. This year, all of our services will be delivered via Zoom, and will also be streamed via social media.

All members and their guests are welcome to attend our Virtual High Holy Day services. No RSVP is required this year. There is no charge for admission; however, donations are gratefully accepted, especially as the pandemic has been a financial hardship for some of our members. If you would like to make a donation today, you may do so by visiting our Online Store.

If you are not a member of the congregation you are also welcome to join us for the High Holidays. We will ask that you complete a short form when you sign into the Zoom session. This is for our record-keeping, and as a way to contact you if needed in the future. We do not share this information with any person or organization. As with our members and their guests, there is no charge for admission for non-members; however, donations are gratefully accepted.

If you have any questions, please the Office Administrator at (410) 939-3170.

Click HERE to inquire about our programs.

We look forward to sharing a wonderful High Holy Days together!

What will the High Holidays look like this year?

It’s a great question. Some things will be very familiar; some will be brand new. The pandemic has forced us to think (and re-think) just how we offer a High Holiday program that meets our community’s spiritual, religious, and personal needs. With that in mind, here are some of the things you can expect for this year’s High Holiday season:

What will be familiar:

You will be able to see and greet your fellow congregants.
Our High Holiday Machzor (prayerbook) will continue to be Mishkan HaNefesh (albeit online).
You’ll see Mike Mullis, Karen Wood, and the choir singing familiar tunes, including Avinu Malkeinu, L’dor Vador, and others.
You’ll see Sig Gast chanting familiar melodies and reading from the Torah scroll.
Our Selichot program will occur on the Saturday before Rosh Hashanah – this year, learn to blow the shofar!
Paul Ruskin will once again lead a “Fast ‘n Learn” session on Yom Kippur afternoon. The topic this year will be, “Who shall live and who shall die? Coronavirus and Yom Kippur”.
You’ll see Karen Wood and Jacob Mullis sounding the shofar.
We will seek out individuals who would like honors and those who would like to volunteer during the services and assign as many of those in advance. Keep an eye out for that survey.

What will be different:

This year will be Rabbi Franken’s first time leading our congregation throughout the High Holidays.
With the exception of Tashlich, our holidays will be celebrated virtually using Zoom video-conferencing technology. The service will be live and will include some pre-recorded material.
Meeting up with your friends will occur in Zoom breakout rooms and chat functions rather than in Temple hallways and restrooms.
Our congregational Rosh Hashanah seder will be virtual and celebrated on the evening before the first day of Rosh Hashanah rather than the second.
The second day of Rosh Hashanah will feature a casual, interactive experience with a discussion of the binding of Isaac using contemporary literature, and some of our favorite familiar melodies.
We will provide Congregants suggestions on transforming areas of their homes into sacred spaces conducive to prayer and self-reflection.
Congregants will have an opportunity to create and share brief videos. Just use your cell phone, keep it to 25 seconds or less, and then send the file to rpc@templeadasshalom.org. We will be consolidating these greetings/stories to playback to the congregation during the holidays. Please send us a video…
- If you would like to provide a brief holiday greeting to the congregation.
- If you have a Jewish artifact that is special to your family, tell us what makes it special.
- If you have a fun story or anecdote of a Jewish holiday that your family celebrated in the past.
It will be far easier for family members, relatives, and others to participate in High Holiday services via Zoom, even if they are located at great distances. Spread the word!

We will be recording the services, so if you aren’t able to participate live or nodded off during (or really enjoyed!) one of the sermons, or you were interrupted unexpectedly, you will have the opportunity to watch the “replay” at your leisure.

B’Shalom,
Melissa Immel and Mark Wolkow
RPC Co-Chairs

How you can be part of our Temple High Holidays

Learn to Sound the Shofar!

Selichot will be a fun and interactive lesson on the Shofar. Please join Melissa, Linda, Karen, and Rabbi Emeritus Gila as we have fun teaching, learning, and practicing how to ‘Sound the Shofar’! If you would like to purchase a shofar before Selichot, the Sisterhood Gift Shop has several in stock or can order. Contact Denise Gordon. We also have several shofars that can be lent from the Temple.

Create a video of 25 seconds or less:

Of you/your family introducing yourselves to the congregation and wishing everyone a sweet new year, an easy fast, etc.
About Jewish artifacts that you are displaying (or even if they are not displayed), that tell the story of their origin / meaning to your family, etc.
About your family’s traditions around around the High Holidays, or relate a fun or interesting story about a particular event that coincided with the Holidays.

These videos will be shown at various times throughout the holidays as a way to personalize our services as well as get to know people with whom you may not have had interactions. Please forward all videos to rpc@templeadasshalom.org.

Consider the following suggestions to help make our homes feel like a sacred place:

Move your computer from where you usually sit for other Zoom sessions (work; pleasure; Shabbat services) to a new place in your home.
Dress up as you would if you were going to High Holiday services at shul.
Wear a tallit during Services when there will be a Torah reading (RH Day 1; Yom Kippur)
Place flowers on your desk/table and make them visible to the camera?
Make or find something for a backdrop to create a transition similar to how it would feel walking into the sanctuary.
Place Jewish artifacts nearby, or ideally in the field of vision of your camera.

Take part in our services:

Complete the High Holiday survey, which has opportunities to volunteer for aliyot; English readings; assisting with welcoming guests; etc.the Holidays.

Selichot Program

September 12, 2020
7:00 PM
Join us for an engaging evening of prayers in preparation of High Holiday, and a fun 45 minute Shofar lesson with Rabbi Gila, Melissa Immel, Karen Wood, Linda Needel, and Rabbi John Franken
All ages are encouraged. You are encouraged to have a Shofar. You can order a Shofar by emailing the Gift Shop.

To learn more about Selichot, visit the Selichot page on our website.

Join us for High Holidays at Temple Adas Shalom

Rosh Hashanah & Yom Kippur
September 18 – September 20, 2020 and September 27 – September 28, 2020
Check the Online Calendar for more info on times
View a detailed Schedule of Events with times and activities.

https://zoom.us/j/99280291211 * Meeting ID: 992 8029 1211
Passcode: HH2020@TAS
One tap mobile: +13017158592,,99280291211# US (Germantown)
Dial by your location: +1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown)

Tashlich, Shofar Sounding and Social Distanced Schmooze

September 19, 2020
4:00 PM

We will celebrate Tashlich in person, with masks and social distancing…at the Harford Glen Environmental Education Center at 502 West Wheel Road, Bel Air. From Southbound Rt. 24, turn right on Wheel Road. Follow directly to the Glen. Plenty of parking! Bring a shofar if you would like to participate in the sounding.

This is an all community event.