| September 2025
RELIGIOUS PRACTICES COMMITTEE HAPPENINGS We hope you have enjoyed a pleasant summer. This past Shabbat, August 16, we held the annual Bagels and Brachas, with lox, bagels, sweets, coffee and water provided to all. This was followed by a short, creative service lead by Rabbis Marc and Polly, and a hike. During the hike, at the bluff, another short service was held. Thank you to the Religious Practices committee members for planning and setting up the day. Do you enjoy having an Oneg following Shabbat Services? How many of you look forward to the chance to mingle with the community while having a friendly way to start Shabbat? If this is important to you, have a please consider donating to the Oneg restricted fund. This is also a good way to recognize an important life cycle event and share it with our community. As we approach the Fall holiday season, please be reminded that our High Holiday observances will begin with Selichot on Saturday, September 13, commencing with a short social gathering at 6:30 p.m., followed by a meaningful program and service at 7:00 p.m. Information regarding the schedules for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur has been provided on a separate flyer. Our break-the-fast meal is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on October 2, 2025. We are looking for volunteers for Hebrew or English readers for various honors during the High Holiday Services. Please see High Holiday Volunteer Notice below. Following Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, we will celebrate Sukkot with two congregational events: the Sukkot Service will take place on Monday, October 6, 2025, at 6:30 p.m., featuring a fall harvest-themed Oneg. Additionally, on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, at 5:30 p.m., in partnership with the Temple Emanu-El Religious School (TERS), all are invited to participate in the mitzvah of sitting and dining in the Sukkah, as well as shaking the lulav and etrog; this event will conclude with a brief creative service. As Sukkot ends, we have with Simchat Torah evening service on Monday October 13 at 6:30 p.m., during which we will hold a consecration ceremony for our newest TERS students. We encourage the entire Jewish Community to join us as we welcome these learners into our community of lifelong learning. Rounding out the October holidays, we will have Shemini Atzeret services, with Yizkor, on Tuesday October 14 at 10:00 a.m. On October 19 and 26, from 12:30 to 2:00 p.m., we will present a two-part discussion series on Death and Dying. This may be a challenging topic for some, yet it remains an important aspect to address. Additional details will follow. In November, we will commemorate Veterans’ Day with a special Shabbat service on Friday, November 7, 2025, at 6:30 p.m., honoring those who have served. To conclude the month, a Musical Shabbaton is planned for the weekend of November 14, highlighting the talents of Sue Horowitz and Julie Silver. A dedicated flyer with further information will be distributed soon. B’Shalom, Sam Winograd Religious Practices High Holiday Volunteer Notice If you are interested in volunteering for a reading part for the High Holiday Services, please send an email to SWinograd@comcast.net, with the subject “High Holiday Reading”. Indicate your preference for which services and English or Hebrew. |
August 2025
High Holiday Policy
High Holiday Policy
· Our services are open to all. If you are not a member of our congregation, we encourage you to consider joining. Just contact the Temple office. If you are not ready to join us yet, please consider making a suggested donation of $150 on our website. Your support is a mitzvah. We exist only with your support.
· Families with younger children are encouraged to attend Family Programs on Rosh Hashanah, and Yom Kippur. Our family program and closing service (Ne’ilah) will be followed by a Break-the-Fast.
· Families with students in the religious school 6th grade and older are especially encouraged to attend all services and family programs. Younger students are welcome at all services considering their ability to respect the worship of the community.
Selichot
Saturday, September 13 Refreshments – 6:30 PM, Tikkun Leil Selichot Service, Program – 7:00 PM – Join us at Temple Emanu-El for this moving service during which we will change our regular, colorful Torah mantles to white, High Holiday mantles.
Cemetery Visit
Rabbi Marc Ekstrand and Hazzan Sherry Barnes will be at the Hebrew Benevolent Society Cemetery #3 & #4 on Middle Rd. in Preston on Sunday, September 14, from 1:00 P.M to 1:30 P.M.
Feeding the Hungry During Tishri
On Yom Kippur we read prophetic words of Isaiah that remind us of the Divine imperative that food and water be available for all in our community. The harvest festival of Sukkot reminds us that many of us have abundant resources to share. Let us thank God for our abundance by sharing with those in need. The Gemma E. Moran United Way Food Center is in need of our help. Upon arriving at all services, please place your food donations in the bins in the foyer. The mitzvah will leave you with a good taste.
High Holiday Honors
Volunteers needed, if you would like to have a High Holiday Honor (reading) in either one of the Rosh Hashanah Services or Yom Kippur Services, please R.S.V.P. to Religious Practices Chair, Sam Winograd at swinograd@comcast.net by Friday, September 5.
Monday, September 22 Erev Rosh Hashanah Service, 8:00 PM
Tuesday, September 23 Rosh Hashanah Morning Service, 10:00 AM
Family Rosh Hashanah and Tashlich where we symbolically cast our sins upon the water – 4:30 P.M.
In previous years we created a more environmentally sound Tashlich practice. You are still welcome to bring breadcrumbs. However, we will provide small stones polished by the sea. We will gather in spiritual using the stones and the sea to orient us toward hope and action in the coming year. Our time will conclude with a community Shofar call – you are encouraged to bring your Shofar. Meet at Hole in the Wall, 4 Baptist Lane in Niantic.
Friday, September 26 Shabbat Shuvah, 6:30 PM
Wednesday, October 1 Erev Yom Kippur/Kol Nidre Service, 8:00 PM
Thursday, October 2 Yom Kippur Morning Service, 10:00 AM
Yom Kippur Afternoon and Yizkor, 12:30 PM
Yom Kippur Afternoon, 5:00 PM, Nielah, Family Service, Havdalah
Break-the-fast beginning about 6:15 P.M.
Sukkah Building Party
For Sukkot the Board of Trustees and Brotherhood will need volunteers to put up and take down the Sukkah. Help build the Sukkah on Sunday, October 5, at 9:00 A.M. Our Sukkah is very large, so we need a lot of material for the roof (Schach, in Hebrew). Please bring materials for the Sukkah any time after Yom Kippur. Materials can be piled next to the permanent Sukkah framing that is on the east side of our parking lot. Things like ornamental grasses or cornstalks are ideal for the roof (schach).
Sukkot Service
Monday, October 6 – 6:30 PM – Erev Sukkot service, shake the Lulav and Etrog, followed by a festive oneg.
Wednesday, October 8 – 5:30 PM – short service, dine in the Sukkah, shake the Lulav and Etrog,
Erev Sh’mini Atzeret/Simchat Torah & Consecration
Come sing and dance in this joyous celebration of Torah, the beating heart of the Jewish people, Monday, October 13 at 6:30 PM; we will have Consecration for the newest students in our Religious School and dance with our Torahs.
Festival Morning Service -Shmini Atzeret/Yizkor, Tuesday, October 14 at 10:00 A.M.
Social Action Committee Message – Mitzvah Day
Looking forward to Mitzvah Day and Open House on September 7
Stop at our table to learn more about what we do and sign up to help.
We will be collecting canned food and other items needed by the Gemma Moran food distribution center.
Questions-Karen Bloustine
Religious Practices VP Message
RELIGIOUS PRACTICES COMMITTEE HAPPENINGS
We hope you have enjoyed a pleasant summer. This past Shabbat, August 16, we held the annual Bagels and Brachas, with lox, bagels, sweets, coffee and water provided to all. This was followed by a short, creative service lead by Rabbis Marc and Polly, and a hike. During the hike, at the bluff, another short service was held. Thank you to the Religious Practices committee members for planning and setting up the day.
Do you enjoy having an Oneg following Shabbat Services? How many of you look forward to the chance to mingle with the community while having a friendly way to start Shabbat? If this is important to you, have a please consider donating to the Oneg restricted fund. This is also a good way to recognize an important life cycle event and share it with our community.
As we approach the Fall holiday season, please be reminded that our High Holiday observances will begin with Selichot on Saturday, September 13, commencing with a short social gathering at 6:30 p.m., followed by a meaningful program and service at 7:00 p.m. Information regarding the schedules for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur has been provided on a separate flyer. Our break-the-fast meal is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on October 2, 2025. We are looking for volunteers for Hebrew or English readers for various honors during the High Holiday Services. Please see High Holiday Volunteer Notice below.
Following Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, we will celebrate Sukkot with two congregational events: the Sukkot Service will take place on Monday, October 6, 2025, at 6:30 p.m., featuring a fall harvest-themed Oneg. Additionally, on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, at 5:30 p.m., in partnership with the Temple Emanu-El Religious School (TERS), all are invited to participate in the mitzvah of sitting and dining in the Sukkah, as well as shaking the lulav and etrog; this event will conclude with a brief creative service. As Sukkot ends, we have with Simchat Torah evening service on Monday October 13 at 6:30 p.m., during which we will hold a consecration ceremony for our newest TERS students. We encourage the entire Jewish Community to join us as we welcome these learners into our community of lifelong learning. Rounding out the October holidays, we will have Shemini Atzeret services, with Yizkor, on Tuesday October 14 at 10:00 a.m.
On October 19 and 26, from 12:30 to 2:00 p.m., we will present a two-part discussion series on Death and Dying. This may be a challenging topic for some, yet it remains an important aspect to address. Additional details will follow.
In November, we will commemorate Veterans’ Day with a special Shabbat service on Friday, November 7, 2025, at 6:30 p.m., honoring those who have served. To conclude the month, a Musical Shabbaton is planned for the weekend of November 14, highlighting the talents of Sue Horowitz and Julie Silver. A dedicated flyer with further information will be distributed soon.
B’Shalom,
Sam Winograd
Religious Practices High Holiday Volunteer Notice
If you are interested in volunteering for a reading part for the High Holiday Services, please send an email to SWinograd@comcast.net, with the subject “High Holiday Reading”. Indicate your preference for which services and English or Hebrew.