FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 28, 2006
Toni Meltzer, chair of the High Holy Days committee for Bet Havarim, announced High Holy Days services will again be held at St. David's Church, Jamar Drive (off Maple Dr.) in Dewitt. Rabbi Deborah Waxman, who currently serves as Vice President for Governance at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in Wyncote, Pennsylvania, will return to conduct the services for the fourth year. She has served as spiritual leader of Congregation B'nai Vail in Vail, Colorado and is currently completing her doctoral program in American Jewish History at Temple University, specializing in the emergence of the Reconstructionist movement.
Erev Rosh Hashanah services will begin at 7:30 p.m., Friday, September 22nd. An oneg will follow the service. Rosh Hashanah morning services (shacharit) 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 entitled "Religious Liberalism in an Increasingly Fundamentalist World." Tashlikh, the practice of casting ones' sins upon the water, will be held at the Irwin residence immediately following the learning session.
Kol Nidre services will be held at 7:30 p.m., on Sunday, October 1st with Yom Kippur shacharit (morning) services beginning the following morning at 9:30. Yizkor will be at noon. There will be a 5:00 p.m. study session, "Making Memories Concrete: An Interactive Discussion of Yahrzeit Plaques and Other Memorials," led by Rabbi Waxman. The Ne'ilah concluding service and final shofar sounding begins 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 way Rabbi Waxman conducts services allows the congregants to feel involved and spiritually connected. The service includes some new, alternative prayers and meditations while following the traditional order of prayers." She added, "Our services are open to the community and we welcome everyone. There is no charge for attending the High Holy Day Services. However we do welcome and greatly appreciate voluntary contributions to help defray the cost of providing the Holiday services.
For more information, call Toni Meltzer, 682-7541 or Marty Morganstein, 637-5390.
Bet Havarim is organized to promote and cultivate a love and understanding of our Jewish heritage, teachings, and values, and to ensure the continuation of the Jewish people. Our common strength is through communal worship, celebration, study, a commitment to Israel and its people, and the practice of mitzvoth by applying the principles of Judaism to the values and conduct of the individual, family and the society in which we live for the betterment of humanity.
For information about Bet Havarim, service schedules, D'vrei Torah, etc., visit Bet Havarim's web site at http://www.BetHavarimSyr.org, send email to info -at- BetHavarimSyr.org (please make the obvious change in the address), or phone Marty Morganstein at 637-5390 or Mel Shindler at 478-6856.
St. David's Church is located on Jamar Drive. From the intersection off Maple Drive and E. Genesee St. in Dewitt (across from Wegman's) drive south on Maple Drive and take the third right turn on to Jamar Drive. The Church is located at the end of Jamar Drive with off-street parking available. St. David's is handicapped accessible.