Temple to mark New Year, Yom Kippur with days of celebration and reflection

Submitted by Rabbi Joshua Grossman

Temple Beth Sholom

Shanah Tovah oo’mitukah! We at Temple Beth Sholom wish everyone a happy and sweet New Year.

During the past month, we found ourselves deep in preparation for this powerful and meaningful time. Our buildings were prepared beautifully with our special holiday curtains and Torah covers. We use white in place of our standard colorful covers to signify purity and a fresh start that is gifted to everyone this time of year. Throughout the Holy Days, we hear the sound of the shofar, a ram’s horn whose piercing sound reverberates in synagogues across the globe, ushering a New Year, a time of renewal and hope.

Rosh Hashanah begins a period known as the 10 Days of Awe, a time for introspection, a time to face ourselves, a time to make amends with those we may have offended, and acknowledge that we have made mistakes. In the early evening of the first day of Rosh Hashanah, we hold our Tashlich service on the sand of the beach, where we ceremonially cast away past misdeeds, remembering that sins are not character flaws, rather they are mistakes that we regret and resolve to not repeat.

We also look ahead to Yom Kippur, our Day of Atonement Tuesday night through Wednesday, Oct. 4 and 5. We will fast from sunset to sunset, taking in neither food nor water. It is a profoundly moving day of deep self-reflection, when we attempt once more to recognize our failures, correct our wrongs from the past year, and return our faith to God through teshuvah – repentance, tefilah – prayer, and tzedakh – charity.

We will begin our Yom Kippur observance with a kosher dinner at Temple Beth Sholom Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. My father, Rabbi David Grossman, and I will lead services through song, prayer, and discourse beginning with Kol Nidre Tuesday evening at  6 p.m. at the sanctuary at Temple Israel. Services will begin Wednesday morning at 9 a.m. and will continue throughout the day. We will end with a community Break the Fast.

We look forward to seeing you all, and sharing in both the celebratory and reflective services and events in our temple home here in Hull over the next month and all year long.

Shanah tovah!


Temple announces Holy Day services

Temple Beth Sholom has posted its schedule of services for the High Holy Days.

On Saturday, Oct.1 at 9:30 a.m., Shabbat morning services and Kiddush will be held at the Temple Israel Sanctuary.

On Tuesday, Oct, 4, Erev Yom Kippur at 6 p.m. Evening Ma’ariv Service and Kol Nidre at the Temple Israel Sanctuary.

On Wednesday, Oct. 5, Yom Kippur at the Temple Israel Sanctuary

Morning Shacharit Service at 9 a.m.

Yizkor Memorial Service at 11 a.m.

Afternoon Discussion at 4 p.m.

Minchah, Neilah and Ma’ariv at 5 p.m.

Followed by a Community “Break the Fast”

Children’s Services High Holy Days Schedule: Yom Kippur, Wednesday, Oct. 5, Morning Service 11 a.m. to noon.

Call the Temple office at 781-925-0091 to find out about becoming a member, or to order seats for the High Holy Days. The temple’s website is www.tbshull.org.

The Temple Beth Sholom Book Group, TBS Reads will meet Thursday, Oct. 13 to discuss the first two chapters of “Witness: Lesson From Elie Wiesel’s Classroom,” by Ariel Burger. Kosher snacks of crudités with humus and a dessert will be provided. The Hull Public Library has reserved several copies of the book for your convenience. Meet in the Sukkah at Temple Beth Sholom, 600 Nantasket Ave. Open to members and non-members. Please wear a mask if you are not fully vaccinated.