Toni Meltzer, chair of the High Holy Days committee for Bet Havarim, announced that Rabbi Deborah Waxman will be returning to lead the Bet Havarim High Holiday services. All services will be held at St. David’s Church, Jamar Drive (off Maple Dr.), Dewitt.
Rabbi Waxman, who conducted Bet Havarim’s services last year, currently serves as Vice President for Governance at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in Wyncote, Pennsylvania. She has served as spiritual leader of Congregation B'nai Vail in Vail, Colorado and is currently enrolled as a doctoral student in American Jewish History at Temple University, specializing in the emergence of the Reconstructionist movement. Rabbi Waxman returned to Syracuse last April to lead the Frances S. Mylon Scholar in Residence Weekend also sponsored by Bet Havarim.
Erev Rosh Hashanah services will begin at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, September 15th. The Rosh Hashanah service will start the following morning at 9:30. After a midday break, a discussion and learning group will meet at 3:00 p.m. at the home of Dr. Martin Irwin, 7805 Clearwater Circle, Manlius. Rabbi Waxman will lead a discussion about our hopes for the future of Israel, our relationship to the country, both the government and the concept, and ways to hold constructive conversations about a potentially divisive issue. "Tachlikh," the practice of casting ones sins into the water, will be held at the Irwin residence immediately following the learning session.
Kol Nidre service will be held at 7:30 p.m., on Friday, September 24th with Yom Kippur services continuing the following morning at 9:30 a.m. Yizkor will be at noon. There will be a 5:30 p.m. study session, led by Rabbi Waxman, that will spring from readings from the new collection I Am Jewish: Personal Reflections Inspired by the Last Words of Daniel Pearl. We will read excerpts from a few contributions from this anthology and will share our own reflections as Jews and "fellow travelers." The concluding Shofar service will start at 6:30 p.m. followed by a Break-the-Fast provided by a committee of Bet Havarim members in the church social hall.
Meltzer commented, "The services will follow the prayer book created last year by the High Holy Day committee with the assistance of Rabbi Waxman. The services include some new, alternative prayers and meditations while following the traditional order of prayers." She added, "We welcome everyone to pray and learn with us. We believe Bet Havarim offers a warm, comfortable and welcoming atmosphere that will appeal to many in the community."
Meltzer stated, "There is no charge for attending the High Holy Day Services and the services are open to the community." She added that voluntary contributions to help defray the cost of providing the Holiday services would be greatly appreciated.
Serving on the High Holiday committee with Meltzer are: Harriet Tetley, Mel Shindler, Marty Morganstein, Frann Albert, Roz Bilford, Delia Temes, Jeff Meltzer, Marcia Schotz, Marlene Holstein, Ilse Salomon and Zarita Hack.
For more information, call Marty Morganstein, 637-5390 or Mel Shindler, 478-6856.