L’Shanah Tovah! Happy New Year!
This year, Erev Rosh HaShanah falls on Sunday evening, Sept 25, and Erev Yom Kippur falls on Tuesday evening, Oct 4.
All of our High Holidays services and events are free and open to everyone. [There are a few housekeeping details to mention – click on the button below for complete information.] We hope you’ll join with us as we celebrate this important season of the Jewish year.
High Holiday Food and Clothing Drive
We at Temple Emanu-El take our obligation seriously to help feed the hungry and lift up the poor. In this spirit, we donate food and clothing to local pantries throughout the year. This High Holiday season, we will again be collecting food and clothing for donation to local organizations. Empty bags will be available for the taking during Rosh HaShanah services. Please bring the filled bags back on Yom Kippur, and we will deliver them to to Brighton Food Cupboard, Irondequoit Community Cupboard, Goodwill, and House of Mercy.
Sukkot Celebrations
Sunday Funday at the (P)J: Sukkah Time
Sunday, Oct 9, 1-3pm in the Memorial Courtyard (and spreading out to a number of locations) at the JCC
A hands-on celebration jointly sponsored by Temple Emanu-El, PJ Library, and the JCC. There will be music and a range of “stations” to choose from: children’s’ activities, sukkah decorating, a lulav workshop (in the woods!), text study, and more. Unfortunately, Zoom will not be available for this program. Registration is required.
Breakfast and Learning in the Sukkah
Thursday, Oct 13, 10 – 11am in the Memorial Courtyard at the JCC (inclement weather – the Erdle Lounge)
Join Rabbi Drorah Setel to learn about some of the unique rituals of Sukkot. Sponsored by Temple Emanu-El and Lifespan. Unfortunately, Zoom will not be available for this program. Registration is required.
Open Tent Shabbat Service Followed by Picnic Dinner and Sukkot Program
Friday, Oct 14, 6pm in the Memorial Courtyard (a rain location will be announced) at the JCC
An Open Tent Shabbat Service jointly run by Rabbi Drorah Setel of Temple Emanu-El and Rabbi Michael Silbert of Temple Beth David. For the dinner, participants should bring their own dairy or vegetarian food. Challah, wine, drinks, and desserts will be provided. Dinner will be followed by a program discussing the role(s) of water in the Jewish tradition and also specifically during Sukkot. To join the service and discussion by phone, call 1-929-205-6099 and use meeting ID 859 5479 0326. Zoom will be available for the service and discussion. Registration by Oct 9 is required.
Simchat Torah Celebration
Friday, Oct 21, 7pm in the Erdle Lounge at the JCC
Our Simchat Torah celebration will be led by Rabbi Drorah Setel and cantorial soloist Charlene Sommers and held during our Oct 21 Shabbat service. It will including reading from the Torah – ending Deuteronomy and starting Genesis – and lifting the Torah. The service may be joined via Zoom.
Hebrew for Adults Online
Once a week, 7:30pm via Zoom. New courses will begin after the High Holidays
Beginning Hebrew – At the end of this course, you’ll be able to pronounce (decode, read aloud) any Hebrew word and also know the meaning of a number of Hebrew words that are important in our liturgy.
Prayer Book Hebrew – For adults who can read (decode) Hebrew. We basically stroll through the prayer book, discussing words and meanings, with time for reading practice as well.
The courses are open to everyone. Contact Leslie (schwartzljs@gmail.com) for more information and if you are interested in attending one of the 2022-2023 courses.
קהילת עמנו אל
K’hilat Imanu El – Our Emanu-El Congregation
תורה
Torah
Study
עבודה
Avodah
Celebration
תקון אולם
Tikkun Olam
Mending the World
Shalom and thanks for visiting our Temple Emanu-El website
We are a Reform Jewish Congregation in Rochester, New York. Our members are Jews by birth, Jews by choice, and those drawn to Judaism, including multiracial, LGBTQ+, and interfaith households. We see ourselves as a family, where everyone’s participation is sought and appreciated. We invite you to attend our services and events, and share in our warm, informal approach to Reform Judaism.
This week at Temple Emanu-El
Shabbat Service
Friday, Sept 30, 6pm in the Memorial Courtyard at the JCC
Chevre Torah Study Online
Saturday, Oct 1, 9:30am and 11:35am
Kol Nidre Evening Yom Kippur Service
Tuesday, Oct 4, 8pm at the JCC
Yom Kippur Morning Service
Wednesday, Oct 5, 10am at the JCC
The Jonah Story
Wednesday, Oct 5, 2:45pm at the JCC
Yom Kippur Yizkor Healing Service
Wednesday, Oct 5, 4pm at the JCC
Yom Kippur Closing Service
Wednesday, Oct 5, 5pm at the JCC
Our Covid-19 Policy
We value the health and safety of all who worship, celebrate, and learn with us. We want to take care of each other and are particularly conscious of protecting the most vulnerable among us. For that reason, we ask that attendees at our in-person services, celebrations, and events (whether held indoors or not) wear masks. It is essential that masks be worn properly, as described by the CDC.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
Rabbi Drorah Setel’s Sept 22, 2022 Message
In her poem, “Coming Up On September,” poet Marge Piercy writes:
The New Year is a great door
that stands across the evening and Yom
Kippur is the second door. Between them
are song and silence, stone and clay pot
to be filled from within myself.
As we approach the great door of this holiday season I’d like to offer some guidelines for how we might enter it.
Read Rabbi Setel’s Entire Message
Also from Rabbi Setel
World Union for Progressive Judaism – www.wupj.org. For those wishing to donate specifically to the Ukrainian Jewish community, consider giving to the WUPJ Ukraine Crisis Fund.
