Allan Levy
The Sun Lakes Jewish Congregation (SLJC) is an established reform congregation that will meet at the Sun Lakes Chapel House for a Twilight Service at 5:30 p.m. on the second Fridays of July and August. Services in the Chapel will resume in September on the second Friday of the month at 7:30 pm. Services are a wonderful opportunity to meet Rabbi Weiner, Cantor Ronda Polesky and hear the beautiful voices of our choir and are also a great opportunity to meet new people, connect with Judaism and learn. New attendees are invited to be introduced at the service and members of the congregation connect with these attendees.
As our congregants and friends go on vacation, celebrate graduations of our grandchildren, and many milestones in our lives, we look forward to the High Holidays. SLJC will be celebrating the High Holidays as follows:
Rosh Hashanah Wednesday, September 24 at 7:30 p.m.
Rosh Hashanah Thursday, September 25 at 10:00 a.m.
Kol Nidre Friday, October 3 at 7:30 p.m.
Yom Kippur Saturday, October 4 at 10:00 a.m.
According to Jewish tradition, God inscribes each person’s fate for the coming year into a book, the Book of Life, on Rosh Hashanah, and waits until Yom Kippur to “seal” the verdict. During the Days of Awe, a Jew tries to amend his or her behavior and seek forgiveness for wrongs done against God (bein adam leMakom) and against other human beings (bein adam lechavero). The evening and day of Yom Kippur are set aside for public and private petitions and confessions of guilt. At the end of Yom Kippur, one hopes that they have been forgiven by God.
The evening service that begins Yom Kippur is commonly known as Kol Nidre, named for the prayer that begins the service. “Kol nidre” means “all vows,” and in this prayer, we ask God to annul all personal vows we may make in the next year. It refers only to vows between the person making them and God. This prayer has often been held up by anti-Semites as proof that Jews are untrustworthy (we do not keep our vows). In reality, this prayer gave comfort to those who were converted by torture in various inquisitions, yet felt unable to break their vow.
SLJC dues are $150 person which includes your High Holiday ticket. Additional tickets for guests, family, significant others and friends can be purchased as outlined on the SLJC WEB site at sunlakesjewishcongregation.org. The Book of Remembrance in which we honor and memorialize our departed family members is under construction. Names must be received by September 8 to be included.
Look for exciting events from SLJC Sisterhood, Men’s Club and other committees on the SLJC website calendar. Mark your calendars for our Hanukkah Celebration on Sunday, December 21.