530 Washington Crossing Road • Newtown, PA 18940 • (215) 579-2200
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High Holy Day Services
At High Holy Day services with Congregation Brothers of Israel we welcome our new year with hope and expectation. It is a time of spititual renewal, prayer, introspection and celebration. OUTLINE AND EXPLANATION OF THEHIGH HOLY DAY SERVICES
SELICHOT, Saturday, September 20th at 9:00 pm at the Synagogue in Newtown Selichot is the Hebrew word for forgiveness. These special services are observed on the Saturday evening prior to Rosh Hashanah. Prayers of repentance and forgiveness are recited prior to the new year. Selichot Services will take place in Newton at the synagogue. It will also be an evening of learning with different workshops offered for attendees to participate in.
EREV ROSH HASHANAH, Monday, September 29th, 6:30 pm, Maple Point Middle School The Mincha Service (afternoon offering) is the last service of the “old year.” This traditional brief service will be conducted by a member of the congregation. It consists of Psalm 145, the silent devotion, Alenu and the Mourners' Kaddish. Following Mincha, Rabbi and Cantor will officiate at Rosh Hashanah evening services. The evening service for Rosh Hashanah follows the basic structure of all evening services with the addition of several prayers for the New Year. In this regard, it is similar to our late Friday evening service. It is conducted both in Hebrew and English. This service is enhanced by a special High Holy Day musical motif, hallowed by Jewish tradition that runs as a golden thread throughout the service. The joyful melody contains within it all our aspirations for the New Year. Children are urged to attend this service with their families. Babysitting will be available. Rabbi Hersch will share a Rosh Hashanah story. The service is approximately one hour in length. 1st DAY ROSH HASHANAH, Tuesday, September 30th,8:00 am, Maple Point Middle School Please note: The times indicated after the start of services are all approximations. There are several distinct parts in the Rosh Hashanah service.
8:00 am – P'sukei D'zimra (preliminary hymns and blessings) will be conducted by a member of the congregation. These prayers are part of the daily service throughout the year. They start off our worship with readings of traditional sections from scripture and rabbinic literature. This sets a mood for prayer. This service is conducted entirely in Hebrew. 8:30 am – Shacharit Service (morning service) will be conducted by a member of the congregation. The Shacharit consists of the Borichu (the call to worship) and its blessings, Shema Yisrael and the silent devotion. On the High Holy Days, additional hymns and prayers are recited. These are known as Piyutim. Many are very old. They take the form of Hebrew poetry dealing with the Days of Judgment. It is a traditional service. 9:00 am – The Torah Service follows Shacharit. The Rabbi and Cantor will officiate. It consists of the taking of the Torah from the Ark, the formal processions with the Torah and the actual Torah reading. The Torah portion for the first day is Genesis 21:1-34. The Torah reading tells the story of the birth of a son to Abraham and Sarah in their old age. Its message of faith and the birth of the Jewish people is central to the Holy Days. Following the Torah reading, the haftorah (reading from the prophets) will take place. The haftorah is from I Samuel 1:2-20. It recounts the birth of the great prophet Samuel. The message of continuity and new beginnings is one of Judaism’s eternal teachings. 9:45 am – At the Shofar Service, the sounding of the ram's horn is a reminder of the Akedah and a call to repentance. This is a significant part of the Rosh Hashanah service which is omitted when the holiday falls on the Sabbath, since the shofar is not permitted to be blown then. After the Shofar Service, the scrolls are returned to the Ark in formal procession. 10:00 am – A Musaf Service is added to each Sabbath and holiday service. Musaf (which means additional) will begin with the Cantor's rendition of “Hineni” and the Rabbi’s sermon. This is followed by the silent devotion and the Cantor's recitation of the Amidah. Following the Amidah, our children will join their families in the sanctuary for the closing hymns at approximately 12:30 pm. The Musaf Service is planned as a family worship experience. There are many English readings and prayers. We urge you to remain until the final benediction. We will conclude about 1:00 pm.
CHILDREN'S SERVICES FOR THE HIGH HOLY DAYS Children are invited to attend all High Holy Day services with their families. Proper decorum is expected of everyone in the sanctuary. Unruly children or crying infants should be taken outside so as not to disturb the worship and the spirit of holiness. Special services are held for children on Rosh Hashanah from 10:30 am until 12:30 pm and Yom Kippur from 11:00 am until 1:00 pm under the direction of our Religious School. These include Primary School Services for nursery/kindergarten, first and second grades. The Junior Congregation is for Hebrew School age children. We provide a free babysitting service for children. We request that you call the synagogue office in advance so that we can provide enough babysitters and properly plan ahead. All children will join their families in the main sanctuary for the closing hymns and benediction with the congregation. Babysitting will be provided from 10:00 am to the close of services.
TASHLICH SERVICE, Tuesday, September 30th at 5:30 pm Tashlich is held prior to the afternoon service on the first day of Rosh Hashanah, unless it is Shabbat. Tashlich literally means to “cast away.” It is an ancient tradition on Rosh Hashanah to go to a place of flowing water and while reciting a traditional psalm, to throw bread into the water, symbolic of throwing away our sins. Many may remember this service from their youth. This year we will hold Taschlich at Core Creek Park, at the lake facing the parking lot across from the Woodbourne Road entrance of the the Maple Point Middle School in Langhorne, Pennsylvania. Children are especially invited to attend with their families for this special service. Mincha Services will follow Tashlich at Maple Point Middle School at 6:30 pm. 2nd DAY ROSH HASHANAH, Wednesday, September 14th , 8:00 am, Maple Point Middle School Rosh Hashanah, from time immemorial, has always been two days. Although there may be reason for liberal Judaism to omit the second day of the three pilgrimage festivals (Sukkot, Pesach and Shavuot), Rosh Hashanah is observed as two days in Israel and in the Diaspora. For this reason, the two days of Rosh Hashanah have been known as “Yoma Arichta – one long day.” The schedule for the second day of Rosh Hashanah varies only slightly from the first day. Changes occur in the Piyutim – the special prayers for Rosh Hashanah and the Torah reading. In addition, there is a different Torah reading on the second day of Rosh Hashanah. This reading is Genesis 22:1-24. It is known as the Akedah – the binding of Isaac. It recalls the faith of Abraham, the first Jew, and his willingness to sacrifice his only son to prove his devotion to God. It reminds us that God does not require human sacrifice, and that as Jews we should choose life. The haftorah reading is from the prophet Jeremiah 31:2-20. MINCHA & SHABBAT Evening Services, Friday, October 3rd at pm, Maple Point Middle School SHABBAT SHUVAH, Saturday, October 4th at 9:30 am at the Synagogue in Newtown The days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are known as the Ten Days of Repentance. The Sabbath in that period is known as the Sabbath of Repentance (Shabbat Shuvah). YOM KIPPUR - DAY OF ATONEMENT Yom Kippur is one religious occasion which is observed entirely in the Synagogue. The meal on Yom Kippur eve, which precedes the fast, is intended to be a spiritual experience for the entire family. This meal is eaten early so that the family, without the need to rush, may be in the synagogue before sundown. It is customary, also, to light a memorial lamp for any departed member of the family. These memorial yahrzeit lamps are lit before the blessing of the holiday candles. The Day of Atonement is the climax of the ten day period of repentance that begins with Rosh Hashanah and ends with the Day of Judgment. These ten days of reflection and inspiration bring us the eternal message that it is possible for human beings to improve their characters. They speak to us about our ethical conscience and moral responsibility, about self-examination and spiritual regeneration. We are repeatedly reminded that Yom Kippur brings pardon for sins between man and God, and it cannot bring forgiveness as long as no attempt has been made to repair the injury inflicted upon another person. The first century Jewish philosopher, Philo, who wrote extensively on Judaism as a philosophical system of religion, speaks of Yom Kippur as an occasion for self-restraint at a season when the fruits of the earth have just been gathered in and the temptation to indulge is stronger than usual. Abstinence at such a time is likely to raise men's thoughts from the gifts to the Giver who sustains all life. KOL NIDRE SERVICE, Wednesday, October 8th at 6:15 pm, Maple Point Middle School Kol Nidre (all vows), the Aramaic formula for the dispensation of vows recited on the eve of Yom Kippur, is more than a thousand years old. Kol Nidre refers to vows assumed by an individual for himself alone, where no other persons or their interests are involved. The law regarding vows is plainly stated in the Torah. “When you make any vow to the Lord our God, you must pay it without delay. If you refrain from making a vow, you will not be held guilty, but you must be careful to keep any promise you have made with your lips.” (Deuteronomy 23:22-24) The afternoon service prior to Kol Nidre will be conducted by a member of the congregation. This is immediately followed by Kol Nidre. Rabbi and Cantor will officiate at this most hallowed service, commencing the holiest day of the year, the Day of Atonement. This is the only evening service in the Jewish calendar at which we wear the tallit. At all other times, the tallit is worn only during daytime hours by the congregation. All the memorial lights in the synagogue are lit. Memorial lights are lit at home as well, prior to coming to the synagogue. Services are conducted in Hebrew and in English, including contemporary readings. Babysitting will be provided. There is no Junior Congregation and youngsters are invited to attend with their families. YOM KIPPUR, Thursday, October 9th at 9:00 am, Maple Point Middle School Many congregations spend the entire day of Yom Kippur at the synagogue. It is our custom to allow a brief recess during the day. 9:00 am – P'sukei d'zimra services will be conducted by a member of the congregation. 9:30 am – The shacharit (morning) services will be conducted by a member of the congregation. See Rosh Hashanah for description. 10:00 am – The Torah service will be conducted by Rabbi and Cantor. Following the reading of the Torah, Yizkor memorial services for all our departed loved ones will be recited. This will be at approximately 11:00 am. Following Yizkor, Musaf Services will be held. In addition to the Musaf, another service is held known as the Avodah Service. This service recalls the high priest of Israel's entrance into the Holy of Holies on Yom Kippur when the Temple stood in Jerusalem. It was only on this day that the high priest entered this special room in the Temple to make atonement for the people. This is followed by recess. 5:00 p.m. - Mincha service, conducted by a member of the congregation follows recess. The Ne'ilah is the concluding service for Yom Kippur. The shofar is sounded announcing the end of the Day of Atonement after nightfall. It is followed by a break fast sponsored by the congregation. CHILDREN'S SERVICES FOR YOM KIPPUR As on Rosh Hashanah, special children's services will be held for Yom Kippur, commencing at 11:00 am. Babysitting services will again be available from 10:00 am. The children's services will parallel those offered on Rosh Hashanah. May the Almighty inscribe you and your loved ones in the Book of Life for a year of health, prosperity and peace. Rabbi Howard Hersch
Sukkot
Feast of Tabernacles ... And you shall take for yourself ... the fruit of goodly trees and boughs of leafy trees, and willows of the brook; and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God.... Leviticus 23:40Sukkot begins on the evening of Monday October 13th. Services will be held Tuesday morning October 14 at 9:30 am, Wednesday morning October 15 at 9:30 am. There will be a Sukkot Surprise for children and their families on Tuesday evening at 6:30 PM, October 14th. Sukkot recalls the journey to the Promised Land, the harvest in ancient Palestine, the sacred Temple in Jerusalem and the role which the Torah has played in the history of the Jewish people. After the Days of Awe, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, at the moment that Jews are most somber and solemn, they are commanded to rejoice, reminded that Judaism is a religion of joy as well as of solemnity. Judaism is quite specific about the kind of happiness fitting for a man of faith: it commands not only that "you shall rejoice" but it emphasizes "before the Lord your God." It is, perhaps, that no commandment is richer in meanings than the simple act of taking up and blessing the etrog (citron) and the lulav (palm branch) on the festival of Sukkot. As in ancient times, the kind of rejoicing that Judaism demands is the rejoicing over natural gifts. The etrog and the lulav, simple fruits of nature, are taken up and blessed to remind ourselves that man rejoices not before man but before God and that man's joy is the simple gift of nature. Hoshana Rabbah On the Seventh Day of Tabernacles seven processions are made around the synagogue with the lulav and etrog, accompanied by the recital of many hoshana ("O, save now") hymns and prayers. A symbolical beating of a bundle of willow branches closes the Hoshana Rabbah service. This custom is thought to symbolize the renewal of life; the leaves of the willow will fall off but the new ones will sprout next year.
Shemini Atzeret Shemini Atzeret begins Monday evening October 20th . Services for Shemini Atzeret will be held on Tuesday, October 21st at 9:30 am, Yizkor will be at 10:30 am.
The eighth day of Sukkot is in the nature of a separate festival. A more serious mood prevails in the house of worship, partly due to the memorial service called Yizkor which is part of the Shemini Atzeret service. A colorful feature of the morning service is the prayer for rain, called simply Geshem or Rain. Though away from Israel, Jews in every part of the world have remembered to pray for rain in the ancient homeland at this season. Now that Israel is being rebuilt, the prayer has immediate practical reasons. No work can be done on Shemini Atzeret, or Eighth Day of Solemn Assembly. The meal at home is festive. The afternoon is spent visiting and receiving friends.
Simchat Torah begins on Tuesday evening, October 21st. Services are at 7:00 pm followed by a family ice cream social. Services also take place Wednesday morning at 9:30 am. The last day of Sukkot is the most joyous. Originally, it was the second day of Shemini Atzeret, but in time it became a new festival, a Torah festival which is what Simchat Torah means. It is one of the two Torah feasts, the other being Shavuot. On Shavuot, Jews commemorate the great event on Mount Sinai when the ancient Hebrews received the Ten Commandments. Simchat Torah is the day when the reading of the Torah in the synagogue is annually concluded and immediately begins with the new readings. Reading from the Torah has been part of the synagogue worship on the Sabbath, on the holidays and on Mondays and Thursdays since ancient times. Every Sabbath, a sidrah or portion of the Torah is covered. In this way, all of the Chumash or Five Books of Moses is read completely every year. On Simchat Torah, the last chapter is completed and the first chapter of Genesis begun. Jews have been so happy in the Torah that Simchat Torah has remained the jolliest festival of the year, other than Purim. On Tuesday evening, October 21st, we will enjoy our family celebration of Simchat Torah with Hakafot and a service, followed by our annual ice cream party. The services begin at 7:00 pm.
The Ark is opened and all the scrolls of the Torah are taken out. Various individuals are called to the pulpit to carry the scrolls and then a procession is formed, which winds its way all around the synagogue. It is led by the cantor singing special hymns. Old and young mix freely in the synagogue on this evening and each puts forth his hand to touch the scrolls and then kiss it, while wishing the bearer every good thing in the year that has begun. Seven times the procession marches around the synagogue. Each time other people are honored with the privilege of carrying the scrolls. After each such procession, there are songs and even dances. This circling of the synagogue is called Hakafot.
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