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General Information
Rosh Hashanah begins this evening, September 8, and continues through Friday evening, September 10. Be sure to bring your tickets to all High Holiday services, as the ushers and/or security personnel may request to see them. All synagogue offices will close at 1:00 pm today, and reopen at 9 am on Monday, September 13.
High Holiday Prayerbooks
Beth El is inaugurating the new Machzor Lev Shalem on Rosh Hashanah. This prayerbook includes terrific commentaries, transliterations of all congregational responses, and many thought-provoking comments. While Beth El provides machzorim for people to use at services, several congregants have inquired about purchasing their own copies. After the holidays, Beth El will purchase some in bulk and publicize information re cost, etc. Also, we have had requests for copies of the old machzor. These will be available, free of charge, on the High Holidays in the lobby of both Beth El and Whitman.
Parking at Beth El
If you are attending High Holiday services at Beth El, please note that parking is available at Bethesda United Methodist Church, diagonally across Old Georgetown Road from Beth El, on both days of Rosh Hashanah as well as for Kol Nidre and Yom Kippur. If you park on any of the streets in the neighborhood of Beth El, please be considerate (and avoid tickets and/or towing) by not blocking or parking too close (within five feet) to driveways, fire hydrants and intersections, and on residents’ lawns. Posted parking restrictions are not in effect on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
High Holiday Teen Discussion
Back for 5771! It has been the tradition at Beth El that once our students become b’nai mitzvah and graduate out of our High Holiday Youth Services, they are welcome to celebrate Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur at the main services at Beth El and Whitman. This year will be the same, including the return of last year’s incredibly popular and successful Teen Discussion. All teens in 8th – 12th grades are welcome to join some of our illustrious Upper School faculty for a stimulating and reflective discussion at 11:00 am on both days of Rosh Hashanah and on Yom Kippur, in the Tel Aviv Room at Beth El and in Room A209 at Whitman. Since there is no second day service at Whitman, everyone is welcome at Beth El. If you are the parent of a Beth El teen or just happen to know one, be sure to let them know about this exciting High Holiday experience!
Have Children 6-12 Years of Age and Attending Services at Beth El?
On Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, from 12:15 pm to the end of the morning service in the Sanctuary and Chapel, and during Kol Nidre, we will have the Family/Bride’s Room reserved at Beth El where children 6 – 12 years of age can read, play board games, do puzzles, etc. The goal is to keep kids occupied when youth services are not in session, enabling parents to remain in the Sanctuary and Chapel services. The room will be supervised by high school students. Send books, board games, cards, etc. with your child if he/she plans to attend. Please, in keeping with the sprit of the High Holidays, no electronic games, anything that requires writing, coloring, etc.
High Holiday Food Drive
Help make a difference in our community by being part of Beth El’s annual effort to feed Montgomery County’s neediest residents. When you come for the Kol Nidre service, bring a bag filled with non-perishable food items. Trucks from Manna Food Center, Montgomery County’s non-profit food bank, will be at both Beth El and Whitman from 5:45 to 6:45 pm on Friday, September 17, to collect the bags. Please do not bring the bags inside either Beth El or Whitman.
Immediately Prior to the Kol Nidre Service
Once again, we will feature Max Bruch’s instrumental rendition of the Kol Nidre prayer to set the mood for the service that follows. Cellist Andrea Casarubbios will be in the Main Sanctuary Service, violist Daniel Getz will be in Kol Haneshama, and cellist David Cho will be at Whitman. Please plan to be in your seats by 6:40 pm on Friday, September 17.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8 – EREV ROSH HASHANAH: OFFICES CLOSE AT 1:00 PM.
ROSH HASHANAH 5771
Rosh Hashanah 1st Day – Beth El
Wednesday, September 8:
- Rosh Hashanah Evening Service: 6:30 pm – Bender Sanctuary. Everyone is invited to attend this service regardless of which tickets they have for the High Holidays.
Thursday, September 9:
- Rosh Hashanah Main Service: 9:00 am – Bender Sanctuary/Social Hall
- Kol Haneshama Service: 10:00 am – Swoff Chapel/Zahler Social Hall
- Nitzanim, our service for families with children 6 years of age and under: 9:45 am or 11:00 am – Multi-Purpose Rooms
- Youth Service (K – 2nd grade): 10:30 am – Room B205 (upstairs in Preschool Wing)
- Youth Service (3rd and 4th grades): 10:30 am – Family Room
- Youth Service (5th – 7th grades): 10:30 am – Library
- Teen Discussion: 11:00 am – Tel Aviv Classroom
- Babysitting: Room B102 – by pre-registration only
- Beth El Family Service: 3:00 pm – Swoff Chapel/Zahler Social Hall
Tashlich: 4:00 pm - at the stream in Rock Creek Park. Meet at the south-west corner of the parking lot at Cedar Lane and Beach Drive.
Rosh Hashanah 1st Day – Whitman High School
Thursday, September 9:
- Rosh Hashanah Main Service: 9:00 am – School Auditorium
- Nitzanim, our service for families with children 6 years of age and under: 10:30 am – Cafeteria
- Youth Service (K – 2nd grade): 10:30 am – Room A223-225
- Youth Service (3rd and 4th grades): 10:30 am – Room A207
- Youth Service (5th – 7th grades): 10:30 am – Room A214-216
- Teen Discussion: 11:00 am – Room A218
- No Babysitting available at Whitman High School
Rosh Hashanah 2nd Day
All services are at Beth El on the second day of Rosh Hashanah, regardless of which tickets you have.
Thursday, September 9:
- Rosh Hashanah Evening Service: 6:30 pm – Swoff Chapel
Friday, September 10:
- Rosh Hashanah Main Service: 9:00 am – Bender Sanctuary/Social Hall
- Worship of the Heart Service: 10:00 am – Swoff Chapel/Zahler Social Hall
- Nitzanim, our service for families with children 6 years of age and under: 10:30 am – Multi-Purpose Rooms
- Youth Service (K – 2nd grade): 10:30 am – Room B205 (upstairs in Preschool Wing)
- Youth Service (3rd and 4th grades): 10:30 am – Family Room
- Youth Service (5th – 7th grades): 10:30 am – Library
- Babysitting: Room B102 – by pre-registration only
Friday Evening Service: 6:30 pm – Swoff Chapel.
SHANAH TOVAH –
- A HAPPY, HEALTHY, AND PEACEFUL NEW YEAR!
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