August is here and although it's the heart of the summer, we Alabamians know what is just around the corner. August leads to September which leads to the beginning of the college football season. We count the days until the important season arrives.
Jewishly, we just began a countdown also. Seven weeks from today is Rosh Hashanah, the first day of 5776. While most of us are still enjoying the summer's heat, our Ritual Committee and I have already begun planning for the High Holidays and our services. In order to involve as many Shul members as possible in the services we are requesting that members who wish to be considered for an honor contact the office. In this way we hope to avoid unintentionally "missing" someone. In the past we have seen Shul members not attend services leaving their pre-arranged honors unfulfilled. Also, please tell us when you will not be available- we would not like to give you an honor only to find out that you cannot be in attendance at that time. Please contact the office by August 7! Our Ritual committee is meeting next week and it will require time to organize the many details concerning the ritual honors.
These honors include carrying Torah scrolls, receiving an aliyah to the Torah, lifting & dressing the Torah and opening the Aron HaKodesh (Holy Ark). Opening the Ark dates back centuries and is viewed as carrying G-d's words for G-d, G-dself. This is very significant. We can imagine carrying the stone tablets for God just as Moses did. What a way to begin our year!
A full schedule of High Holiday services will be included in the September bulletin. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me or any members of the Ritual committee. Their names appear below.
May the upcoming seasons be meaningful for all of us.
Geaux Tigers! War Eagle! Roll Tide! Let’s hear it for the Demon Deacons, the Mountaineers and the Longhorns!
Rabbi Steve Silberman
We are saddened to announce the death of a long-time member of our Shul; Mr. Kenneth Lubel. The funeral will be at the shul cemetery on Tuesday, August 4th at 2:00p.m. Please do your best to offer comfort to the family by attending. May his memory be for a blessing.
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