2024 | 5785 High Holy Day Appeal
Dear Ohav Friends:
As we approach the sacred and transformative period of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, it is an honor to welcome you to the 5785 High Holy Day season. These days are a time for reflection, introspection, and renewal—a moment when we come together as a community to seek spiritual growth, connection, and meaning. This year, as we gather to celebrate Rosh Hashanah, (Thurs. Oct. 3 and Fri. Oct. 4) and Yom Kippur, (Sat. Oct. 12), we are deeply moved by our congregation’s unwavering support, adaptability, and dedication to upholding the traditions that bind us together.
This year, 5785, Ohav Shalom continues it’s engaging theme, Hope * Connect * Act. Judaism is a way of life that emphasizes hope, connection and action. Our Ohav Shalom kehillah kedoshah (sacred synagogue community) embraces and embodies these three values in everything we do, and through our relationships with each other and our community.
The many current challenges we face locally, nationally and globally make it easy for us to despair and sink into apathy. In his book, Choosing Hope, David Arnow teaches us that hope is a critical perspective to cultivate, without which we can’t move forward on improving the world. However, according to Jewish teachings, hope is just the beginning of a life well lived. We are created B’tzelem Eloham, in God’s image. This means that we are endowed with the unlimited capacity as individuals and as a community to make our hopes real through our actions. This year, join us in embracing this commitment.
We are busily preparing for the High Holy Days so that your experience will have that familiarity and comfort we all enjoy. As in the past many years, we are eagerly anticipating gathering together onsite, in our sanctuary and outside in our Ohav Ohel (tent) for High Holy Day worship throughout the Days of Awe. We are delighted to welcome back Cantor Shlomo Goldberg. We are planning a diverse array of services and activities both throughout the building as well as outside in our Ohav Ohel (tent) to support everyone in having meaningful Holy Days. We look forward to coming together at the end of Yom Kippur for our 11th annual community Break Fast.
As a congregation, our paramount focus is on the physical safety, health and well being of our congregants. We will be continuing with our tradition of requiring tickets for in person services. That said, tickets will NOT be mailed unless specifically requested affording us the opportunity to keep a log of all who expect to attend. Tickets can be requested using the enclosed forms or online at www.ohavshalom.org. In place of a set fee, we are encouraging our High Holy Days guests to make a voluntary contribution to help support Ohav Shalom. The High Holy Day services will be livestreamed so please pay special attention to the schedule.
We ask your cooperation in meeting the deadlines indicated on the enclosed forms. Your attention to these deadlines helps us meet printing schedules and function more efficiently. Forms may be mailed to the office or completed online.
We anticipate a great year ahead at Ohav Shalom, filled with warm community and meaningful experiences as our HOPE inspires us to CONNECT with each other and to ACT in ways that will lead us to a better world. We look forward to sharing with all of you! If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact any of us. Wishing you a Shanah Tovah, a year filled with sweetness, good health, joy and peace!
Click here for a complete list of High Holy Day services, programs and events.
The High Holy Days in 2024, including Rosh HaShanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah, will occur as follows: