High Holy Days 5781
Please click here for more information and links to these services.
Our inability to gather physically during the High Holy Days is one more reminder of how challenging this year has been, not just for our community but for the world. But with nearly 6,000 years of history behind us, we’ve seen hardships before and we have some experience with “making the best of it.” Though we can’t be together in body, Beth Sholom is providing a variety of ways to bring our community together spiritually to celebrate year 5781. Next year, with God’s help, in the sanctuary!
High Holy Days Service Registration
Virtual services for High Holy Days will work a little differently than Shabbat Services have for the last few months! For our security on Zoom and in order to better serve our members, you will need to be registered to attend.
All Temple Members will be pre-registered by us, using the email provided by you in the Temple Directory. After your pre-registration, you will receive a confirmation email from BST. That email will contain your unique link to join the services. In addition, everyone will receive a reminder email containing their login link one hour prior to each day’s services.
If you do not receive your confirmation email or have any questions, please contact office@bstva.org or leave a message at 540-373-4834.
Nonmembers and any of your loved ones or friends who’d like to pray with us this High Holy Day season will also need to register to attend:
Nonmembers who register through this link will also receive confirmation emails from us.
Schedule of Events
DATE TIME EVENT LINK TO VIEW
| Sept. 12, Shabbat | Noon | Elul Study Session: Koach Hadibbur - L'Shone HaRah & L'Shone HaTov |
Shabbat Elul Study Session |
| 7:00 p.m. | Is This the Fast I Have Chosen?: How Do We Deal with Unconscious Bias? with Rabbi Bruce Aft | Havdalah & S'lichot Program | |
| Sept. 13, Sunday | 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. | Drive-thru prayer book pickup and food drop-off for Food Bank at BST | |
| Sept. 16, Wednesday | 7:30 p.m. | Elul Study Session: Gratitude - Lessons and a Poem | Wednesday Elul Study Session |
| Sept. 18, Friday | 1:00 p.m. | Challah Braiding w/Chef Jody of Little Irv's Bakery | |
| 7:30 p.m. | Erev Rosh Hashanah Service | Check your e-mail for Zoom link | |
| Sept. 19, Shabbat | 10 a.m. | Rosh Hashanah Day 1, Morning Service | Check your e-mail for Zoom link |
| 2:30 p.m. | Children’s Service w/ outdoor component (recommended for 12 and under) | Check your e-mail for Zoom link | |
| Sept. 20, Sunday | 10 a.m. | Rosh Hashanah Day 2 Morning Service | Check your e-mail for Zoom link |
| Sept. 23, Wednesday | 7:30 p.m. | Days of Awe Study Session: Becoming B'Nai Aliyah & Yom Kippur: We can Change! | Wednesday Days of Awe Study Session |
| Sept. 26, Shabbat | Noon | Days of Awe Study Session: Shabbat Shuvah Yom Kippur Crash Course w/ Teshuva teachings from Mishkan Nefesh |
Shabbat Days of Awe Study Session |
| Sept. 27, Sunday | 7:00 p.m. | Kol Nidre | Check your e-mail for Zoom link |
| Sept. 28, Monday | 10 a.m. | Yom Kippur Morning Service | Check your e-mail for Zoom link |
| 12:30 p.m. | Study Session | Study Session Document | |
| 3:30 p.m. | YK Afternoon Service | Check your e-mail for Zoom link | |
| 5:00 p.m. | Yizkor | Check your e-mail for Zoom link | |
| 6:00 p.m. | N'ilah & Havdalah | Check your e-mail for Zoom link | |
| Oct. 2, Friday | TBA | Erev Sukkot |
Elul & Days of Awe Study Sessions
Many have expressed interest in learning more about the holidays or wanting to know how best to prepare mentally for the task of reflection and teshuvah. Others simply find study a better way to connect with the holidays. Whatever your reason, please join us. Throughout Elul and the Days of Awe, Lay Leaders will host hour-long study sessions on Saturdays at noon, in lieu of Torah Study, and Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. via Zoom. See below for a full list of dates, times, and topics as well as the documents for each session that you’re encouraged to review before the session meets.
All sessions will be held on the Shabbat Morning service link.
| Date | Time | Event | Link to View | Supporting Material |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sept. 2, Wednesday | 7:30 p.m. | Elul Study Session: How to Grow During the Month of Elul | Wednesday Elul Study Session | |
| Sept. 5, Shabbat | Noon | Elul Study Session: Shofar -- The Call of Love (Rabbi Heller) & Awaken, Listen and Heed the Call of the Shofar | Shabbat Elul Study Session |
Shofar -- The Call of Love (Rabbi Heller) |
| Sept. 9, Wednesday | 7:30 p.m. | Elul Study Session: Teshuvah | Wednesday Elul Study Session | Teshuvah |
| Sept. 12, Shabbat | Noon | Elul Study Session: Koach Hadibbur - L'Shone HaRah & L'Shone HaTov |
Shabbat Elul Study Session | |
| Sept. 16, Wednesday | 7:30 p.m. | Elul Study Session: Gratitude - Lessons and a Poem | Wednesday Elul Study Session | Gratitude - Lessons and a Poem |
| Sept. 23, Wednesday | 7:30 p.m. | Days of Awe Study Session: Becoming B'Nai Aliyah & Yom Kippur: We can Change! | Wednesday Days of Awe Study Session | Becoming B'Nai Aliyah Yom Kippur: We can Change! |
| Sept. 26, Shabbat | Noon | Days of Awe Study Session: Shabbat Shuvah Yom Kippur Crash Course w/ Teshuva teachings from Mishkan Nefesh |
Shabbat Days of Awe Study Session |
Yom Kippur Crash Course |
Holiday How-Tos
Ever wanted to learn how to braid a round Challah or blow a Shofar? Or are you looking for a holiday-inspired craft to do as a family? Check out these unique programming opportunities. Let us know if you’d like to share your special talents and host a session.
| Date | Time | Event | Link to View | Supporting Material |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sept. 5, Shabbat | 1:00 p.m. | Crash Course: Everything You Need to Know to Blow the Shofar in 10 Minutes or Less | Crash Course: Everything You Need to Know to Blow the Shofar in 10 Minutes or Less | |
| Sept. 6, Sunday | Noon | Good Deeds Pomegranate Paper Crafting | Good Deeds Pomegranate Paper Crafting | Good Deeds Pomegranate paper craft (for kids and families) |
| Sept. 18, Friday | 1:00 p.m. | Challah Braiding w/Chef Jody of Little Irv's Bakery | Challah Braiding w/Chef Jody of Little Irv's Bakery |
High Holy Days Your Way
Out of an abundance of caution, we will not be holding an in-person Children’s Service or conducting Tashlich together at the City Dock this year. However, please join Cantor Shermet for a virtual Children’s Service and scavenger-hunt-type activity. In addition, take some time as a family to have a Tashlich service at a flowing body of water of your choosing. We’ve even got you covered with a digital handout to bring along.
| Date | Time | Event | Link to View | Supporting Material |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sept. 19, Shabbat | 2:30 p.m. | Rosh Hashanah Children’s Service w/ outdoor component (recommended for 12 and under) | Check your e-mail for Zoom link | TBA |
| Sept. 19-28 | Anytime | Tashlich - Back to Basics | Self-Guided | TBA |
Mon, January 25 2021
12 Sh'vat 5781
Upcoming Events
Message from Cantor Shermet
Shalom! I am Cantor Wendy Shermet, and have the privilege of sharing our Yanim Noraim, Days of Awe, with you in Fredericksburg this September. [...] The BST High Holiday committee was diligently preparing even before Covid-19 became the threat we know it to be today. We have had regular online communication to formulate services that will speak to us and be meaningful despite the challenges all are facing. We can and will celebrate the beauty of this season, and share with each other as much as safely possible.
[To read Cantor's full letter, click here.]
For the month of Elul, which precedes Rosh Hashana and begins the evening of Thursday, August 20, I have prepared a list of music which is accessible on YouTube. The music has been chosen from a variety of sources, cantors and composers, to help you aurally prepare for the season.
Prayer Books
High Holy Day Prayer Books – In an effort to better “feel the weight” of the holidays, we’ve chosen not to display prayers on the screen like during Shabbat Services and instead would like to loan out the Temple’s High Holy Day Machsors for those who would like to pray with a physical prayer book. We're planning to distribute holiday prayer books and small gifts for your holiday table on Sunday, Sept 13th from 10 a.m. to noon through a single-day, drive-up event, along with collecting donations for the food bank (as part of our traditional High Holy Days food drive). For those who would prefer, Mishkan Ha’Nefesh is available for purchase at a discount, or as a free flip book online. Click the links below to access the download options for each book!
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