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Time to reflect, but first, prepare

As members of Congregation Beth Sholom enter the High Holy Days that begin Monday with Rosh Hashanah, their hearts seek forgiveness and their gaze turns inward.

By GAIL HOLLENBECK
Published October 1, 2005

BEVERLY HILLS - Congregation Beth Sholom held its midnight Selichos service last Saturday. It was part of the preparation for the High Holy Days that begin Monday with Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, and end with Yom Kippur.

"The Selichos service embodies special prayers for forgiveness," said Rabbi Zvi Ettinger.

The last month of the Jewish year is a time of reflection for congregation members.

"We start our preparations for the Yomim No'raim (Days of Awe) on the first day of the Hebrew month of Elul," Ettinger said. "The rabbis teach that this month of Elul was God's loving gift to us, to enable us to prepare for the Days of Awe, Rosh Hashanah through Yom Kippur, when every living thing is judged for the approaching year."

During the preparation time, Jews judge themselves.

"We believe that it is on Rosh Hashanah that God judges every living thing," Ettinger said. "Though God will serve as the ultimate judge, the last month of the new year we are called upon to judge ourselves. Every weekday morning during this month, the shofar is blown. The sound of the shofar serves as an alarm clock for our souls."

The shofar, or ram's horn, will be blown at each of the Holy Days services at the synagogue by congregation member Frank Forte.

"He will blow a total of 100 notes on each of the days of Rosh Hashanah and just one long note on the conclusion of the day of Yom Kippur," Ettinger said. Ettinger also blows the shofar in his home throughout the holiday period for his wife and himself, he said.

"The shofar jolts us out of our spiritual complacency and prompts us to engage in the process of teshuvah, or repentance. The shofar also demands that we judge ourselves scrupulously."

Ettinger said he plans to include in his Holy Days sermons a message of continued introspection.

"A person should always look at himself as equally balanced between merit and sin, and the world as equally balanced between merit and sin," Ettinger's sermon will proclaim. "If he performs one sin, he tips his balance and that of the entire world to the side of guilt and brings destruction upon himself and the world. On the other hand, if he performs a good deed, he tips his balance and that of the entire world to the side of merit and brings deliverance and salvation to himself and others."

Manny Bloch will conduct the first day's Shaharis services.

"Although the choir and officiants follow a traditional prayer service," Ettinger said, "it is Beth Sholom's Ritual Committee who deserve kudos for their energetic efforts to enable each and every member who so wishes to receive eminent honor throughout the three-day services."

Ettinger said the message of the holiday is an important one for children.

"Not only do they experience the importance, the effect, that they see it has upon their parents, but on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur the sanctity of these days is keenly felt."

In the synagogue's religious school the children will be taught about the laws, customs and ceremonies that pertain to the holidays.

"The children are shown the shofar and each gets an opportunity to try to blow the three different notes that are used in the ceremonies. In all my years, never has a student ever succeeded," Ettinger said. "They are taught the importance of kindness, forgiveness, pride in their heritage and that because of Rosh Hashanah, they have a chance at a new beginning."

While the holiday is a holy and solemn one, there is also time for food and fellowship. There will be a luncheon for worshipers after the first day's service and on Oct. 13 there will be a traditional "break-the-fast" meal following the evening service.

"There are many religious events throughout the year, yet none have the impact, the import, the influence of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur," Ettinger said.

[Last modified October 1, 2005, 01:45:17]