Shabbat Shalom

Dear WJC Family,

As the High Holidays approach, and along with them the English anniversary of the October 7th atrocities committed against Israel, we have all been thinking of ways to mark the moment. Unfortunately in so many ways, October 7, 2023 does not feel like a moment, but rather the beginning of something that continues until today. It continues in the on-going captivity of ~100 hostages, it continues in the ongoing war in Gaza and now Lebanon and the suffering and loss that inevitably comes with war, and it continues in the spike of Antisemitic incidents and demonstrations here in the US and around the world. This October 7th feels not so much as a remembering as a marking of the continuing. Therefore, we will be marking the occasion in several ways that I want to share with you today so you can mark your calendars and look to these events for memorial, strength, and comfort:

1. Musical Selichot Services with teaching by Rabbi Julia Andelman, this Saturday night starting at 8:15pm (reception) at Temple Israel Center. Learning starts at 8:30pm.
   Selichot is always a powerful service to start the High Holiday prayers in earnest. It is all the more enhanced by our coming together with other Conservative synagogues to be inspired by all of our local cantors and rabbis. This year, the service will be preceded by learning with one of our movement’s great educators, Rabbi Julia Andelman: “Hokeir Kelayot (Knower of Our Inner Depths): Selichot in a Time of Emotional Turmoil.” Rabbi Andelman will help us understand how to best use the High holiday prayers to address how we are feeling this year, which may be different from any High Holiday season we have experienced before.
2. October 6th County-Wide Commemoration
   We have been encouraging people to register for the County-wide commemoration being held at Temple Israel Center on Sunday evening October 6th at 7:30pm. We understand that the event is now at capacity. If you have not registered in advance, you can join virtually by live stream by clicking here.
3. October 7th – Prayers for Grieving, Prayers for Healing, Prayers of Hope – A Year Later
   On the actual anniversary of October 7th, we will hold our evening service in the sanctuary and add special prayers, readings, and an opportunity for sharing thoughts and feelings. We held a similar service on October 9, 2023 and gathering again in this way feels like the appropriate way for us to mark the anniversary of October 7, 2023 and the continuation of the events it set into motion.
4. Afternoon Yizkor Memorial Service on Yom Kippur – Saturday, October 12th, 5:00pm
   Last Yom Kippur we added an afternoon Yizkor Memorial Service for those who may have missed Yizkor during the earlier services. This year, in addition to that purpose, the 5pm Yizkor service will serve as a Memorial service for those lost on October 7th and since. The service will include telling the story of several of those lost that day and since, to symbolize and personalize the tremendous loss on and since that horrible day. Childcare will be starting at 5pm to help make it easier for all anyone to attend.
5. Yom Kippur Study Session – A Personal View from Campus – Saturday, October 12, 2:00pm
   For this year’s afternoon study session we are inviting college students to share their experiences with Antisemitism on their campuses. If you know college students (or recent graduates) who will be home for Yom Kippur and would be willing to participate in the discussion, please let me know as soon as possible.
6. Shemini Atzeret Yizkor Memorial Service, October 24, 10:45am
   This Shemini Atzeret will be the Hebrew anniversary of the attack on Israel and Jews everywhere. The anniversary will be commemorated during the Yizkor Memorial Prayers that day.
7. Laughter is the Best Medicine with Israeli Comedian Joel Chasnoff – Saturday, November 23, 8pm
   I know this may seem like a strange way to recognize October 7th, but just as it is important to note the anniversary with solemnity and sadness, it is also important to remember what about Judaism and Israel makes us feel joy, to remember why this faith and people is worth standing up for. Joel sent us this video message. Check him out at www.JoelChasnoff.com and purchase tickets to join us by clicking here.

Please take note of these events and plan to attend the ones you feel will be meaningful for you. Also, let me or Rabbi Dalton or Cantor Goldberg know if you are struggling. This is, after all, a season for reflection, and we are here to help you process.

Lastly, we hope we’ll see you for a beautiful Shabbat—Friday night we have dinner and Rhythm & Ruach (our new cantorial intern, Marc Szechter will be with us for the first time!) followed by a tour of the exceptional and emotional new gallery display, “Postcards of Hope, by Israeli artist Zev Engelmayer.” Saturday we will celebrate a beautiful simcha, the bat mitzvah of Anais Basloe – mazal tov to her and her parents Tatiana and Frank. Lastly, one of our extraordinary shofar blowers, Stu Seltzer, is giving a “how to” lesson on shofar blowing Sunday morning at 9:15am, no shofar required to participate (we have one for you). For more information or to register for the class click here.

See you in shul,