Shabbat: Naturally!

October 22-24, 2010

at Camp Ramah Palmer

Join us for a weekend of ecologically-themed activities for adults, families, and children in a beautiful fall setting.

All ages welcome; scholarships available.

Registration will be open on-line soon!

Please email or call Jenny Wolfson in the KI office (jenny@congki.org / 617.277.9155) with any questions.

With gratitude, humility, and joy we welcome the arrival of the New Year 5771.

In your great mercy help us, Adonai, to embrace Your sacred gift of Rosh Hashana in love and in joy.  May the holiness of this day bring fullness to our faith in You.  Help us to gather all those scattered sparks of faith which are lost within ourselves, as Your people Israel gather in congregations everywhere to praise Your name this day.

~Rabbi Nachman of Bratslav

We highlight here some of what you may expect at KI over Rosh Hashana.

Wednesday morning:   join us at daily minyan for Selichot (6:45am) and the custom of hatarat nedarim, annulling vows, following services.

Wednesday afternoon:  at home,  we prepare an eruv tavshilin, which enables food preparation for Shabbat on Friday, toward the end of Rosh Hashannah.  It is customary to set aside a partially roasted egg and piece of bread to remain uneaten until Shabbat, reciting the blessing “asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu al mitzvat eruv.”

For those with young children, our annual Family Service will begin at 4:30pm Wednesday in our Main Sanctuary.  Shofy and Blowfy look forward to greeting you then.

Wednesday evening: light candles no later than 6:50pm reciting two blessings (l’hadlik ner shel yom tov, and shehechiyanu).  It is customary to light a yahrzeit candle as well (no blessing) so fire will be available for transferring to second day candles on Thursday night (7:48pm), and then Friday night Shabbat candles (no later than 6:46pm).

Kiddush at home for Rosh Hashana is followed by hamotzi, when we customarily dip challah into honey (rather than salt) for a sweet new year.  Apples dipped in honey are eaten following a blessing (borei p’ri ha-etz) and the recitation of a wish “May it be Your will, our God, that the New Year will be renewed for us with goodness and sweetness.”

Wednesday evening services in our Main Sanctuary begin at 6:50pm with the afternoon service, followed by evening services for the New Year. Rabbi Kippley-Ogman will be delivering a sermon during services.

Rosh Hashana Services in our Main Sanctuary and Rabbi Louis Epstein Auditorium will be led this year by Rabbi Hamilton, Rabbi Emma Kippley-Ogman, Rabbi David Starr and Hazzan Saul Wachs with the assistance of Danny Margolis, Marshall Newman, and Joel Smith.

Thursday morning :  services begin in our Main Sanctuary at 8:00am.

• By approximately 9:20am, we will continue with the Torah services in both our Rabbi Louis Epstein Auditorium and our Main Sanctuary.
• The shofar service will begin around 10:25am.
• The sermon will take place at approximately 10:40am, with services concluding prior to 1:00pm.
• Once again this year, we are delighted to be offering electives, designed to enrich your prayerful time with us.  From 11:10am-12:10pm Rabbi Daniel Klein will be teaching Tefilla: Who Am I Now? in KI’s Minnie Epstein Library.
• We look forward to Moral Memory reflections (12:20pm) from Danielle Remis Hackel (Main Sanctuary) and Betty Singer (Rabbi Louis Epstein Auditorium).

Thursday afternoon:  Tashlich will take place at Amory Park at 5:30pm[MSOffice1] .

Thursday afternoon services will take place in our Rabb Chapel at 6:45pm followed by some learning and then evening services for the second day will follow.

Thursday evening: Rosh Hashana is considered by the sages to be a 48 hour single-unit of time, nevertheless it is customary to await the withdrawal of the first day at 7:48pm before lighting candles for the second day of Rosh Hashana, once again with two blessings (l’hadlik ner shel yom tov, and shehechiyanu).

Friday morning: services begin in our Main Sanctuary at 8:00am.

• Once again by approximately 9:20am, we will begin the Torah Service in both our Rabbi Louis Epstein Auditorium and our Main Sanctuary. The time frame will be similar to the prior day.
• From 11:10am-12:10pm an elective Tzedaka: What Will I Be? taught by Rabbi Emma Kippley-Ogman will convene in KI’s Minnie Epstein Library.
• Moral memories will be shared (12:20pm) by Joshua Friedman (Main Sanctuary) and Joshua Margolis (Rabbi Louis Epstein Auditorium).

Friday afternoon: services in our Rabb Chapel will begin at 6:15pm and be followed by KICKS (KI Community Kabbalat Shabbat) services.

Candles are lit no later than 6:46pm with the traditional Shabbat blessing.  Friday night dinner customs for Shabbat Shuva follow the norm for every Shabbat.

Saturday morning: services begin in our Main Sanctuary at 8:45am.  Rabbi Hamilton will be teaching in honor of Shabbat Shuva and Kiddush will be held in Landers Hall.

Talmud learning will take place at 5:00pm.

Saturday afternoon: services in our Rabb Chapel begin at 6:31pm.  Following some learning, Shabbat concludes at 7:45pm.

For additional information, please see our full High Holy Days schedule, available here.

We wish you all a healthy, good, sweet New Year.

Shavua tov,

Rabbi Emma Kippley-Ogman

כִּי פָתֹחַ תִּפְתַּח אֶת יָדְךָ לוֹ וְהַעֲבֵט תַּעֲבִיטֶנּוּ דֵּי מַחְסֹרוֹ אֲשֶׁר יֶחְסַר לו
Open, open your hand; and lend, lend, enough to fill the need.
-Deuteronomy 15:8

Please join Benj and me in responding to Parashat Re’eh’s commandment to lend by making a new micro-loan this week, through an organization below or other means, of $5 or $5000, whatever you are able to give.

Loans in our local Jewish community:
Yad Chessed http://www.yadchessed.org/
Hebrew Free Loan Society (Jewish Family and Children’s Service) www.jfcsboston.org

Loans in the United States:
Accion http://www.accion.org/
Tzedec Community Investing (Jewish Funds for Justice) www.jewishjustice.org

Loans in the Middle East and around the world:
Lend for Peace www.lendforpeace.org
Kiva www.kiva.org

If you make a loan this week, let me know where your loan is headed (rabbiemma@congki.org; 617-277-9155). Next week we’ll see here where the KI community is having an impact on the world.

We invite you to join one or more of these learning opportunities as we prepare for the High Holy Days.
Focusing on the theme of renewal, we ask the questions: How have I been? Who am I now? And what will I be?

During the month of Elul, join us to read and reflect, to learn text and discuss in small groups at KI or in someone’s home, to tour Mayyim Hayyim, have a holiday cooking lesson, or enter the meditative space of selichot prayers. Please be in touch with Rabbi Emma Kippley-Ogman (rabbiemma@congki.org or 617-277-9155) or
Director of Congregational Learning Jennifer Rudin (jrudin@congki.org or 617-277-9155) if you’d like to learn more about any of these opportunities.

Join Rabbi Emma Kippley-Ogman on three Wednesday evenings in the back of the Rabb Chapel for text study and reflection on the questions of our theme. Text will be provided in the original and in English; adults with all levels of experience learning Jewish text will be welcome voices in the conversation.
Wednesday, 8/11, 7:30-8:30pm How have I been?
Wednesday, 8/18, 7:30-8:30pm Who am I now?
Wednesday, 8/25, 7:30-8:30pm What will I be?
House Meetings: Renewal for the High Holy Days
Three KI families will host evening sessions in their homes during Elul. If you would like an opportunity to join a small group for learning and reflection towards renewal this High Holiday season, please contact Maria Benet: mbenet@aol.com; 617-739-5182.

Renewal through Immersion
Mayyim Hayyim, the community mikveh, will host an evening of learning for the KI community. Come learn about the mikveh and about immersing to prepare for the High Holy Days. If you’re inspired, sign up to take the plunge for a sense of renewal this High Holiday season. To reserve your space, contact Shirley Abrams, Hadran Administrative Assistant at hadranassistant@yahoo.com or call 617-566-0079 ext. 214.

Thursday, 8/26, 7:00-8:30PM
at Mayyim Hayyim, 1838 Washington Street in Newton

Role of Prayer in a Child’s Life

Join Director of Congregational Learning Jennifer Rudin in the back of the Rabb Chapel for learning and conversation about the role of prayer at various ages and stages of children’s lives. To reserve your space, contact Shirley Abrams, Hadran Administrative Assistant at hadranassistant@yahoo.com or call 617-566-0079 ext. 214.
Tuesday, 8/31, 7:30-8:30pm

High Holiday Cooking
Looking for inspiration for your holiday meals this year? Join chef Jim Solomon from The Fireplace for an in-kitchen learning session, replete with stories from his holiday table and yours. Come away with new recipes and ideas for your table. To reserve your space, contact Shirley Abrams, Hadran Administrative Assistant at
hadranassistant@yahoo.com or call 617-566-0079 ext. 214.

Monday, 9/13, 7:30pm

Selichot
This year, Selichot will be a rich evening of communal learning, creative work, honoring our outgoing and incoming leadership, and meditative davenning just before midnight. Join us for all or part of the evening:

Saturday night 9/4
• 8:30-9:15pm Text learning and reflection with Rabbi Emma Kippley-Ogman
• 9:15-10:15pm Nosh and creating together a beautiful piece of welcoming artwork for the High Holy Days
• 10:15-11:00pm Honoring the outgoing USY and KI boards; installing the new boards
• 11:00-midnight Selichot service with readings on our theme

After-Kiddush Learning
Join Rabbi Bill Hamilton in the Rabb Chapel after Kiddush on Shabbat mornings 8/28 and 9/4 for learning to prepare for the Yamim Noraim.

Elul Sermons
On Shabbat mornings through the month of Elul in the main sanctuary, a variety of voices will invite the congregation to reflect in preparation for the High Holy Days.

High Holiday In-Shul Electives
On both days of Rosh Hashana and on Yom Kippur, take an hour to learn and reflect. Details about timing and location will be available outside the sanctuary.

• Rosh Hashana Day 1: Who am I now? Reflection and learning on prayer with Rabbi Daniel Klein,
Director of Jewish & Student Life at Gann Academy
• Rosh Hashana Day 2: What will I be? Reflection and learning on tzedaka with Rabbi Emma Kippley- Ogman
• Yom Kippur: How have I been? Reflection on teshuva and conversation about the essays from Who By Fire, Who By Water with Director of Congregational Learning Jennifer Rudin

HIGH HOLIDAY SEATS FOR MEMBERS

Family Membership–2 tickets with your membership……………..INCLUDED
Single Membership—1 ticket with your membership………………INCLUDED
Children’s ticket age 6-13 are $36
age 13-22 tickets are $54
age 22 or older tickets are $180
visiting family members or guests (any age)are $180

HIGH HOLIDAY SEATS FOR NON-MEMBERS
MAIN SANCTUARY tickets are $ 450 (limited space availability)
EPSTEIN AUDITORIUM tickets are $ 450

• Please pay at least 50% of your dues and building fund bill by August 1, 2010 in order to reserve your High Holiday seats.

• Final payment for dues and building fund is due by October 15, 2010–unless arrangements have been made through the KI main office.

• Extra seats must be paid for in full at the time of your reservation request.

• Dues and/or seat purchases can be paid for either by mail, phone, or in person.

• For your convenience we accept Master Card, Visa or Discover.

• It is our policy not to deny membership at KI to anyone due to financial constraints. Please call me, at

617-277-9155 to discuss need based arrangements.

Click here to download a ticket order form.

For High Holiday Childcare information click here.

If you have any additional questions please call the KI Main Office at 617-277-9155, or email me at execdir@congki.org.

Thank you,
Scott Allen
Executive Director

Click here for pictures from the picnic.

Click here for the list of the past year’s volunteers.

Candidates for new 2 year terms

President….Jason Skolnick
Advisory Board…Noah Roffman
VP Adult Education….Charlie Radin
VP Development…Maria Benet
VP Avodah….Lauren Koenig-Plonskier
VP Membership….Geraldine Acuna Sunshine
At Large…Aliza Cooperman

Candidates completing the last year of  a  2 year term ( Note:  Those filling a vacancy who are new to the Board  are indicated by an *; those who are assuming  a new role but who were elected at last year’s annual meeting are not so marked)

VP Finance…Selig Adler  *
VP Youth/Education….Jennie Roffman
VP Leadership….Scott Plotkin
VP Social Action/Chesed…Lauren Michaels Korn
VP Communications….Deb Shapiro  *
VP Facilities   &   Operations….Benyamin Ber
At Large….Jennifer Gallop
Treasurer….Josh Friedman