Dear Kol Emet Friends,

L’Shana Tova!

In preparation for the High Holidays, we have been meeting and planning throughout the summer in order to provide you with the meaningful services you’ve come to expect and love. This year, with the pandemic having greatly affected how we gather as a community during the High Holidays and all year round these past 2.5 years, we feel that we should do whatever we can to enable as many of us to gather again in-person.

For this reason, we have determined that this year our main High Holiday services will be held in our sanctuary. We will continue to offer high quality Zoom access as well. Masks will be required for every in-person participant except for those leading on the bimah. You may bring your own face covering, however we will be providing special High Holiday masks that we hope will foster a sense of communal connection.

The full High Holiday schedule is below. Please read this letter through carefully, as it contains new and important information.

We are currently planning to hold in-person services and offerings at various settings: indoors in the Kol Emet sanctuary, outside on our tented patio, and at Pavilion 11 at Core Creek Park on Rosh haShana afternoon. Pavilion 11 is the largest in the park, and it offers the most accessibility to the lake shore. This will enable us to do Tashlich together in an uncrowded way.

In Person Service protocols:

We strongly encourage everyone attending in-person services in the building to be fully vaccinated. All attendees, regardless of age or vaccination status, must wear a mask over their nose and mouth while in the building. We will be providing special High Holiday masks to attendees. Masks are not required outside on our grounds.

Notes about our High Holiday Offerings:

Shana Tova Bags containing goodies (a card, apples and honey, and more) and essentials for services (service supplement, mahzor, yizkor booklets) will be available for pick up on Thursday September 22. You may also retrieve your bag at services if you will be attending in-person.

Erev Rosh HaShana Seder. Seders are not just for Passover! Rabbi Anna will lead us in a modern take on this Sephardi/Mizrachi home-based ritual, a perfect compliment to the holiday meal. There are special foods which can be placed on a separate plate or incorporated into your meal. During the Seder, Rabbi Anna will guide you through all their blessings and special meanings.

Young Children’s Services: We are delighted that Sue Weiner, our new Religious School Director, and our beloved songleader Susan Sacks will be leading Katan services appropriate for children aged 0-7 years in the morning. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Children’s Programming: Concurrent with the Main Service, Sue Weiner will be leading children’s programming consisting of learning activities and services for children ages 2-11.

Abbreviated Family-Friendly Options: This year, following a picnic lunch at Core Creek Park, we are pleased to offer a creative, interactive and family-friendly Rosh haShana “New Beginnings” Tashlich and Shofar service for the whole community in Pavillion 11. On Yom Kippur, the “Jonah Mincha” afternoon sanctuary service (in which the book of Jonah is traditionally read) will be specifically designed to be inclusive of families and those who prefer a shorter, more interactive service.

Tashlich: Tashlich and Shofar blowing will take place on Rosh haShana Day 1 at Core Creek Park. In case of inclement weather, it will move to Rosh haShana Day 2 at the Yardley Boat Launch.

Yizkor: This year, as we recognize our diverse needs around grief, silence, and sharing, we have decided to separate the Yizkor prayers from the space many people wish to create to share memories and reflections. You may choose to attend either the service, the space to share, or both.

Additional Offerings: We are lucky to have Sherry Hanck to lead us in Yoga and Meditation on Rosh haShana morning, and for Susan Safranek to lead us in Meditation and Movement on Yom Kippur afternoon. For both of these sessions you may wear the same clothing as you would wear for services.

Additionally, Rabbi Judy Abrahamson will facilitate a discussion and text study in the morning before the start of Rosh HaShana services on Day 2, entitled “5783: Exploring Our True Selves.”

Registration Procedures for Multi-access Services:

• Registration is required for by September 16, 2022 for ALL individuals attending ANY services.
• Everyone is welcome to register for Zoom and in-person services. Anyone who registers for an in-person service will also be registered for Zoom services. Please register for all the services and activities you wish to attend, and feel free to mix and match virtual and in-person offerings.
• Kol Emet welcomes guests! Guests may attend in-person services with a member.
• Our services on Zoom are open to all, though everyone must register to receive a link.

To register, and for more information and/or conversation about guests and registration, please contact Ellen Malissa at elrob18@gmail.com. For general assistance in registering, please contact Kol Emet’s Executive Director, Alexis Miller at 215-493-8522 x113.

Thank you all for your help and your patience as we work to make these High Holidays safe and sacred for all.

Rabbi Anna Boswell-Levy and the Ritual Committee