The High Holy Days are a special time at Congregation Beth Israel Judea. Preparations begin with the cleaning of the special white Torah covers, rehearsals by the choir and the unpacking of the machzors (High Holiday prayer books) from their shelves. Of course, the spiritual preparations begin as well, with the Selichot night service.
There are many memorable moments in the New Year's and Yom Kippur services, from the beautiful music special to the holidays to the grand hakafah (encirclement), where the Rabbi, president and board members shake hands with the entire congregation; from the sound of shofars blown on the bimah with the young children of the congregation to the reading of the Torah by our teens.
On the High Holidays, the congregation uses a new home-grown machzor for some services as well as the Hear Our Prayer machzor, which was written/edited by Rabbi Herbert Morris ZT"L.
For more information about the holy days, please click here.