Hello friends and welcome back to Torah Thoughts from Adas Israel the Jewish Congregation based in Mason City, Iowa. Today, rather than offer up some thoughts about this week's Torah Portion some thoughts about the High Holy Days coming up very soon. To be honest with you, this week has been full of challenges at my "other jobs". Nothing bad...just very full days writing a magazine, keeping up with the daily show (Insight on Business) and hosting yet another podcast for a client. No excuse but know that I did study a bit as well. This week we studied Deut. 29:9 - 31:30.
In just a few days we'll be gathering for Rosh Hashanah (Hebrew for "Head of the Year") the Jewish News Year. Unlike the secular new year we don't have fireworks, a ball dropping from the sky or singing a song that I'm not sure anybody really understands. Nope, Rosh Hashanah is a day of celebration that marks the start of not only a new year (5784) it is also the beginning of the Ten Days of Repentance which ends at Yom Kippur.
Rosh Hashanah marks the beginning of the civil year, according to the teachings of Judaism, and is the traditional anniversary of the creation of Adam and Eve, the first man and woman according to the Torah, as well as the initiation of humanity's role in G-d's world.
Service Schedule
Services at Adas Israel will start on the Eve of Rosh Hashanah which is October 15. We'll be meeting at 7:00PM. That service is rather short. We come back to shul on Shabbat the 16th for morning services starting at 10:00AM. Following services we'll have a light lunch in the Social Hall and a Midrash for those of you who wish to remain with us. Then we will gather again for our afternoon service starting at 6:00PM and a celebration of the day in the Social Hall. Because all of this also happens on Shabbat there is no blowing of the shofar.
Then for Yom Kippur we will begin on Sunday the 24th of October with Kol Nidre starting at 7:00PM. This also is a rather short service. We will gather again on Monday the 25th for services starting at 10AM and our break will come at about 1PM. For those of you interested we will then hold another Midrash in the Social Hall. We return to the shul for the concluding service at 6PM and Break the Fast at roughly 7:30PM.
We look forward to seeing you in Shul.
Thank you for reading and Shabbat Shalom!
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