Fall is a time of beginnings, both in our secular world as well as in Judaism. College students start or go back to university and younger students begin a new school year. For adults, fall can be a time to return to our work with a fresh start after our summer staycations or vacations, and in Judaism, it’s a time to celebrate and actively engage in a New Year. On Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, Jews engage in a number of activities. We attend synagogue, continue the process of “heshbon nefesh,” an honest personal accounting of our behaviors (which traditionally begins one month prior to Rosh Hashanah), gather with family and friends for holiday meals, and eat apples and honey to symbolically usher in a sweet year.
Ten days later we observe Yom Kippur, a Day of Atonement, in which we fast, pray, and seek atonement for our sins. During the time between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, known as the Ten Days of Repentance, Jews do everything in their power to try to the change ways in which we have fallen short in the past year. We attempt to seek forgiveness from whomever we may have mistreated. If we are honest with ourselves, we know that it is not possible to change every improper thought and action. So on Yom Kippur, after first sincerely doing whatever we can to change our ways, we turn to G-d to ask for help and to give us an opportunity to start again.
Services will be filled with time for reflection and songs of praise. Rabbi Marcy Greene and guest Cantorial Soloist Marcia Sterling and Accompanist Dan Strba will lead the congregation from Rosh Hashanah, Friday, September 15th, 2023 through the Days of Awe to Yom Kippur. Temple Beth Tikvah will go to the water’s edge for a special Tashlich service on Sunday, September 17th, following Rosh Hashanah Day Services on Saturday, September 16th. Kol Nidre with Violist Stuat Eisen on Sunday, September 24th and Yom Kippur on Monday, September 25th will provide time for introspection allowing each to lift up the deeds of the past year for forgiveness. And as the shofars are sounded from the corners of the temple, may your name be written in the Book of Life.
Our Reform temple welcomes all families, Jewish as well as interfaith. See our Calendar for our service schedule.
Requests for Admission, babysitting and Book of Remembrance submissions are due by September 18th.
If more information is needed, please contact VP-Ritual of Temple Beth Tikvah by leaving a message at: riverrein@yahoo.com.
If you wish to attend service and/or need other arrangements past any deadlines, please do not hesitate to contact us.
To welcome new members, ticket fees can be applied toward your membership dues for first-timers joining Temple Beth Tikvah through this program.
Temple Beth Tikvah is located at 12411 Park Shadows Trail in Clear Lake, near the campus of UHCL