Borne out of necessity in 2020, Elul in the Shul was a program designed to offer our community an opportunity for true connection in a safe way to the clergy, staff and lay leadership of the HEA. During the first year of this innovative program, hundreds of you came into the synagogue, drove through our parking lot, or came by to experience the connection of community while preparing for the High Holidays.
Those times were tough, but because of those unique moments that we experienced together, I definitely look back with a smile and a light heart. It is those memories that encourage me to continue the work of bringing community together, even when the together was apart.
Luckily now the together is together! In our third year of Elul in the Shul, we have shifted the programming, much like we have done throughout these last three years. This year we are focusing on the meaning of Elul once again, but rather than giving you our theme for the year, it will be up to you to create your own theme for Elul, with our help, of course.
The first year, our theme was Ayeka (Where are you). We were all lost, trying to find ourselves again. Last year we flipped the theme to Hineni (Here I am). Like Abraham answering G-d’s call, we, too, were asked to show up for our community once again. This year, we will be enlisting the expertise of a very special Scholar in Residence to find our theme for our own High Holidays. We all have something that we would like to hold on to for our upcoming year or perhaps let go of. Elul in the Shul this year will help to prepare you for the work of letting go of the things not serving you and holding on to what does.
Our Elul in the Shul experience this year will be set up as an in-town Shabbaton with a special guest, Scholar in Residence Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz. Rabbi Shmuly is the founder of Valley Beit Midrash, which partners with HEA for Educational programming. Rabbi Shmuly was named one of America's most inspiring Rabbis by the Forward. This is your chance to learn with him and your HEA community in a fun, warm and inviting atmosphere. We will be hosting many events throughout the weekend, but we will kick things off on Friday, September 16, with a wonderful musical Azamra Kabbalat Shabbat and congregational dinner. All are encouraged to join us for this meaningful evening catered by Cohens Cuisine.
Saturday morning will bring our Shabbat services, where you have the choice to join us in our traditional Shabbat morning service or at Shir Hadash. After services, we will gather together in the social hall for a lovely oneg, and our first ever joint chevrutah learning in the social hall during kiddush! It will certainly be a lively way to get into the spirit of the holidays.
Our big Shabbaton weekend will come to an end with a very special cosponsored Selichot event with HEA, Rodef Shalom, and Minyan Na’aleh. Starting off with dessert and drinks, we will delight in Havdalah, music, learning and a special Selichot service led by our musical director, Eitan Kantor and Moshe Kornfeld from Rodef Shalom.
This weekend is not to be missed. So call up a friend that you have not seen in a while, and bring them along to what we hope will become an annual event of reconnection and renewal. I wish you all Shabbat Shalom, and I look forward to seeing you at our Elul in the Shul Shabbaton!
