Mr. & Mrs. Gil Jacobson on the Bar Mitzvah of their son, Avraham
Mr. & Mrs. Steven Schwartz on the Bat Mitzvh of their daughter, Julie
Rabbi & Mrs. Micha Berger on the Bat Mitzvah of their daughter, Shifra
Mr. & Mrs. David Lappin on the birth of a great grandson in Israel
FROM THE RABBI . . .
In preparing ourselves for the coming Yomim Nora’im,
we gaze heavenward for a model to emulate in our daily lives. The Torah
in describing G-d’s relationship with Eretz Yisrael notes that
His eyes are upon it “meireishis hashana ad acharis hashana.”
Everything that happens in the Holyland is guided and determined by
the hand of the Almighty. It is with this in mind that we include additional
prayers daily for the welfare and safety of our brethren in Israel.
The Talmud teaches us “Tzion ba’aya drishah”
– that we must be ever concerned for the fate of Jerusalem. May
we merit seeing its restoration in our day.
Focusing closer to home, permit me to call attention to the financial
needs of our beloved Adas Israel. The physical plant, which we occupy
is aging and requires maintenance and renovation. The costs for both
are quite substantial-almost like building an additiona l wing. The
day-to-day cost for running the Shul with the increasing use of the
facilities is itself a formidable task. To continue functioning, Adas
Israel requires the major support of all its members and friends. We
no longer have a cushion of funds to enable us to carry the Shul.
We have become accustomed to relying on the Synagogue to be there when
we call. We are now calling on you to make sure that continues.
I wish you and your families a happy and healthy Shana Tova.
Rabbi Dr. Solomon F. Rybak
SELICHOT
SERVICE
The penitential prayers known by the name of Selichot are essentially
based upon Biblical poetry and are a continuation to the Psalms. In
part, they belong to the age of the Talmud. They are chiefly concerned
with the suffering of Israel in the various lands of dispersion. For
about fifteen centuries, the liturgical poets such as Rabbi Yehuda Halevi,
Ibn Gavirol and Ibn Ezra, continued to enrich the Selicha literature,
the earliest example of which go back to the First Century.
Tormented
by merciless persecution in the course of many centuries, the authors
of these prayer-poems described the misery of their people with the
blood of their hearts.
The
Selichot reveal the saintly character of past generations, who in profound
humility sought the reason of their misfortune in themselves rather
than in a divine injustice. The Selicha ("forgiveness") is
a prayer in the strict sense of the term, for it gives utterance to
the feelings of the worshipper who repents and pleads for mercy.
CHILD
SUPERVISION
FOR THE HIGH HOLIDAYS
The Congregation will provide child supervision during the High Holiday
services. We are offering a supervised room for children primarily between
the ages of two and eight years old, thus allowing parents to join the
davening with decorum and peace of mind. Please be advised that this
is supervision of a playroom and not child care.
Supervision will be provided on both days of Rosh Hashanah from 10:00
AM to 1:00 PM; on Kol Nidre night from 6:00 to 9:00 PM; and on Yom Kippur
day from 11:00 AM to 3:30 PM. At these times, a limited number of toys,
games and snacks will be made available for the children. We suggest
that the parents send along toys and games with which their children
can occupy themselves, as we are providing babysitting service only
and there will be no planned activities for the children. Please mark
your children's toys with their names. Adas Israel takes no responsibility
for these toys.
We are confident that such accommodation will enhance the beauty and
dignity of our High Holiday Services.
THE FAST OF GEDALIAH
Gedaliah, a descendant of the Royal House of David, was appointed Governor
of Eretz Yisrael after the First Temple was destroyed by the Babylonians.
With his appointment, hopes rose high among the Jews remaining in Eretz
Yisrael that the destruction would not be the end of their nation and
independence. Unfortunately, Gedaliah was assassinated and their high
hopes were shattered.
So heartbroken
were the Jews, that they declared a Fast on the day of his death, which
has been observed ever since.
This year, the Fast will be observed on Monday, September 25th.KAPOROT
TZDAKAH
GELT
You will be able to remit your Kaporot Tzdakah Gelt to the various Yeshivot
and institutions. Plates for same will be arranged on the table in our
Chapel, Erev Yom Kippur.
KOL
NIDRE APPEAL
As was stated in our Kol Nidre Appeal letter, we need your help. When
you write your check, we ask you to please increase your contribution
this year substantially over last year to the maximum extent possible.
The Kol Nidre Appeal is our major fund raiser and 100% participation
at meaningful levels is required for it to be a success. When you are
contacted by a member of the Committee (if you haven't responded already),
please be as generous as your means permit and bear in mind the obligations
the Shul must meet on an ongoing basis. Thank you for your support.
BLESS
YOUR CHILD
ON THE EVE OF YOM KIPPUR
There is a beautiful custom for parents to bless their children before
leaving the house for the Synagogue on Kol Nidre Night. They beseech,
in the blessing, that their offspring may be sealed in the Book of Life
for happiness and that their hearts may be steadfast in their love of
G-d. The blessing is as follows:
G-d
make you as Ephraim and Menashe (for sons).
G-d make you as Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah (for daughters).
The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make His countenance toward you and give you peace.
May it be the will of our Father in heaven to set in your heart love
of Him and reverence for Him, so that reverence for the Lord shall be
before you all your days that you sin not.
May your delight be in His Torah and its commandments.
May your eyes ever look steadily forward, your mouth speak wisdom, your
heart mediate in awe, your hands be busy with his commands, and your
feet hastening to do the will of your Father in heaven.
May He give to you virtuous sons and daughters occupied all the days
of their lives with His Torah and its commandments and may your well-spring
be blessed.
With His open hand may He give to you a rewarding livelihood that shall
be beyond reproach, obtained without dependence on gifts from others,
and without burdensome toil, leaving you free for the service of G-d.
May you be inscribed and sealed for a good and long life among all the
good of your people Israel. Amen.
A
LULAV AND ESROG FOR EVERY FAMILY
We
are privileged to live in the 58th year of the restoration of Jewish
sovereignty in our national ancestral homeland - the State of Israel
- and in the 39th year of the liberation and reunification of our Holy
City of Jerusalem. It is only proper that every Jewish family acquire
for Succot a Lulav and an Esrog from Eretz Yisrael.
First, the acquisition of the Lulav and Esrog is a divine command clearly
expressed in our Torah. Secondly, the presence of the Lulav and Esrog
in our home and in our Succah invests our physical surroundings with
a special dimension of spiritual pathos and religious ecstasy. And finally,
by acquiring the Lulav and Esrog, we extend assistance to the economy
of the State of Israel.
Anyone who would like to have assistance in purchasing a Lulav and Esrog,
please call the office or notify Rabbi Rybak at one of the folliwing
numbers, 973-773-7272 or 973-473-3208. All requests must be in by Yom
Kippur. The annual Esrog sale will take place Wednesday evening, October
4th, from 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm.
GARY
KLAUSNER CHESED FUND
The Gary Klausner Chesed Fund, established by the Klausner Family, in
memory of their beloved son and brother, who served our Synagogue Center
as Gabbai, with great distinction, continues to serve our community.
The Fund's purpose is to extend interest-free loans to people in need.
It also provides an opportunity to Gary's friends to contribute to this
Fund and thereby perpetuate his memory. The loans are made in strict
confidence.
To borrow or to contribute to this fund, please contact Rabbi Dr. Solomon
Rybak or the Shul office at 973-773-7272-or 973-473-3208, or Jeffrey
Klausner, at 973-473-4565.
