High Holidays

Shalom Chaverim (Friends)!

Elul has begun, and with it, the magic of the High Holidays approaches at Congregation Etz Chaim! This is a special time for connection, reflection, and setting intentions for the coming year in a way that feels true to you.

I'm grateful to be part of this warm and welcoming community, and I know you'll find the experience enriching. Our clergy, staff, and volunteers have poured their hearts into creating meaningful High Holiday observances for our congregation. As we enter 5785, we're all dedicated to building a thriving community – a place we're proud to call MY CEC, and that includes YOU!

We warmly invite you, your family, guests, and anyone interested in joining our congregation to celebrate the High Holidays with us. If you know of families who might be interested, please connect them with me – I'd love to welcome them personally.

See below for a detailed schedule of our High Holiday programs and services, starting with our annual free, family-friendly Selichot programs.

Important Note: To register for the High Holidays, you'll need to have submitted your completed 2024-2025 Membership Commitment Form. If you have questions or need help with the form, please don't hesitate to call or visit the office – we're happy to assist you.

On behalf of Rabbi Cosnowsky, Rabbi Wainer, Marla Aviva Bentley, Cameron Trejbal, Barbara Benezra, Javier & Luz Vega, Katia Vega, Elmer Suarez, and myself, I wish you and your loved ones a Shana Tova – a happy, healthy, and safe New Year!

B'Shalom, 

Executive Director, Congregation Etz Chaim 

HIGH HOLIDAY CALENDAR
*Indicates Live Streaming Available     - Indicates Free Babysitting Available Upon Request

HOW TO PREPARE SPIRITUALLY FOR THE HIGH HOLIDAYS

Elul is the month in which we prepare for the High Holidays. This month helps us to turn inward and reflect on the past year, as we prepare to welcome in our new year. The High Holidays have the power to transform our lives. If we see these holidays as only an obligation to be fulfilled, we miss the inherent opportunity. These are the overall themes of services to help you find deeper meaning in the strands of belief that are woven together in the High Holiday liturgy and practice.

The High Holidays are referred to as Yamim Noraim - the Days of Awe. What are we in awe of?  

• The splendor and beauty of the leaves changing? Nora could also be translated as reverence - when Religion is observed more than any other time of year.  

• Starts with Elul/Selichot - goes until the conclusion of the Harvest festival of Sukkot (Simchat Torah)

• Sephardic Communities recite Selichot at the beginning of Elul for 40 days (Think Moses on Mt. Sinai!)

• Ashkenazic Communities do Selichot services the Saturday night prior to Rosh Hashana UNLESS it’s less than 3-4 days before.
 

The themes of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur: 

1. There is an order to the way we are commanded to contemplate and recognize God's sovereignty. 

2.  Life is short and there are no guarantees that we will be here next year.

3. God ‘remembers’ us and metes out our judgment about how the next year will go (Unetaneh Tokef prayer)

4. We examine our lives, make reparations where necessary, repent, atone and forgive others.

Rosh Hashana focuses on judgment - kingship and remembrance. RH focuses on human responsibility and Divine judgment.

Yom Kippur focuses on human failure and Divine forgiveness. We can sin, but atone and attains forgiveness. (Jonah Haftarah)

These commandments to observe this as a time of commemoration is found in Leviticus, a day of observing and 10 days later, of fasting and Atoning. 

Judgment and forgiveness is connected by repentance (Teshuvah), Charity (tzedakah) and Prayer (tefillah) can temper a harsh decree. This is not to be confused with deterministic view of life. We don’t believe in preordination. We have free choice. High Holidays is all about choosing to to teshuvah and return to the right path where we have veered.

Overview of Components of Holiday:

Rosh Hashana Liturgy developed over centuries. No Hallel recited - Hallel is only for pilgrimage holidays which are temple centered. Later sages claim it was to not have too much joy on RH. 

Rosh Hashana is a serious holiday with an Erev service (Arvit), morning (Shacharit), Shofar and Torah service, Afternoon (Minhah) and Tashlich.

Shofar Service - hear the shofar blasts 3 separate times followed by Areshet S’fateinu. 

Malchyot - kingship - We sing Aleinu

Zichronot - remembrance,

Shofarot - Shofar - revelation of Torah at Sinai AND Akedah - rams horn.

(Think coronation ceremony where King is praised with horns and pomp and circumstance.)

Yom Kippur - root word כפר (KPR) - atonement. Lots of different ways we atone. Flogging, swinging a chicken or rooster/hen above your head, scape goat in Torah. Although there was great rabbinic opposition - custom still prevails in some communities.

Meal (festive but subdued) - Shir Ha Maalot (said on shabbat, holidays.) Then e light Yom Tov candles - holiday officially begins, say Shehecheyanu, light memorial candle for loved ones who are no longer with us. 

Customary to give Tzedakah before the evening. 

Have made amends to those we’ve harmed. 

Forgive others, end bitterness and grudges. 

Clean Slate. 

Prepared to enter most sacred and holy day

Kol Nidre - All vows - for some - most important service of All HH services. Israel - Secular Jews will stand outside a synagogue while it’s being chanted, but not go inside!

Prayer itself is controversial. Some groups interpreted it to mean that Jews cannot be trusted because we can annul vows once a year. But it’s not about that. Legal formula, recited 3 times. That nulls vows made under pressure, incentive vows and erroneous vows.

Thirteen Attributes of God - Exodus formula reminding us that God is compassionate and forgiving.

Vidui - Communal Confession - elaborate formula uttered by High Priest and now for everyone to say so no one person is embarrassed.

Ashamnu - lesser confession. 

Sukkot - which comes 5 days after Yom Kippur is a time of celebration - Yom simchateinu - a day of rejoicing.  Once we are done with the affliction, we are commanded to rejoice and be happy.

FEED THE HUNGRY

Please Help Support Congregation Etz Chaim’s Annual
High Holiday Food Drive
 
CEC is asking for your help in collecting food for the People's Resource Center of Westmont! Please take a bag (or two or three!) and fill it with non-perishable food items. Donations should have an expiration date minimum of six months from now; diapers and baby formula are always appreciated! High need items include: cereal, tuna/canned meats, canned pasta, soup, canned fruits & veggies, peanut butter, jelly, laundry detergent, dish soap, and other cleaning supplies.
 
Please return your bag to CEC by Wednesday, October 16. Donations brought prior to Yom Kippur morning should be left is the designated area in coffee bar. On Yom Kippur morning, people will be available in the parking lot to collect the filled bags. You are also welcome to donate online to "High Holiday Food & Sukkot Diaper Drive". If you should have any questions, or would like more information, please call or email Rabbi Wainer. Thank you for supporting this worthwhile cause.
 
“Let your voice resound like a Shofar…share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless into your home.” Isaiah 58