The Sun Lakes Jewish Congregation (SLJC) is an established reform congregation that meets at the Sun Lakes Chapel on the second Friday of the month from September through June. In July and August, a rabbinic led Twilight Service is held in the Sun Lakes Chapel at 5:30 p.m. Services are 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. Oneg Shabbats are held immediately after our services at Sun Lakes Country Club from September through June. Everyone is invited to attend. The services and Onegs are a great place to meet members, ask questions and learn more about our congregation.

In June SLJC held its annual Healing Service. Rabbi Wiener and Cantor Ronda Polesky led us in prayer and song encouraging us to reflect on what healing is all about and how we can achieve that feeling of understanding of the difficulties we face as time continues. Cantor Ronda led us in singing the song Heal Us Now by Leon Sher. The song has a beautiful melody and powerful lyrics.

At this service we celebrated the 95th birthday of Ella Lerner. Ella Lerner is a long-time member of our congregation and holocaust survivor. Ella survived four concentration camps. She is a native of Prague; she came to the United States via Australia (where she lived for five years), and joined her parents in Forest Hills, New York. She has lived in Arizona for 33 years.

On September 9 the congregation will hold a welcome service as part of our Friday night service. This is a chance for unaffiliated individuals and individuals new to the area to learn more about SLJC and what our congregation offers. For more information on this service please contact Jeff at 480-556-1284 or you can view additional information about us on our website at www.SLJC.org.

SLJC has a busy fall planed. In October we will celebrate the High Holidays, Sukkot and Simchas Torah.

A series of adult education programs will be launched after the High Holidays including a class on Hebrew reading and writing.

August 12 – Twilight Service at 5:30 p.m.

September 9 – Shabbat Service – Welcome to new and prospective members at 7:30 p.m.

October:

High Holiday Services:

Erev Rosh Hashanah – October 2 at 7:30 p.m.

Rosh Hashanah-October 3rd at 10:00 a.m.

Kever Avot – October 9 Memorial Service at 10:00 a.m. Valley of the Sun Mortuary and Cemetery; Dedication of new Jewish Section, Burial of Sacred writings, and private visitations

Kol Nidre – October 11 at 7:30 p.m.

Yom Kippur – October 12 at 10:00 a.m.

Sukkot/Simchas Torah Celebration October 23 in the afternoon (time to be determined)

November 11 – Shabbat Service Honoring Veterans 7:30 p.m.

December 9 – Shabbat Service celebration of Chanukah at 7:30 p.m.

*Services are held in the Sun Lakes Chapel