Dear {{first_name}},
At BDJ, we are hard at work putting together a Yamim Noraim plan that will make our chagim as spiritually uplifting and meaningful as possible! If you haven’t yet taken our High Holiday Survey, please do so by this Wednesday. For those who have responded thus far, we thank you for helping us in our planning!
As we also mentioned in our last email, we will hold a community-wide virtual meeting to review our plans for the holidays on August 20th. Members may register for the meeting here. In the meantime, we wanted to start sharing some of the things we have been working on so that we can continue to keep you as informed as possible as to our plans.
Tefilla - We are currently organizing 5 outdoor locations and lining up baalei tefilla, baalei kria, and shofar-blowers for them. If you have connections to an outdoor location bigger than a regular backyard, please let us know so that we can accommodate as many people as possible. If in September we are allowed to be back inside the shul, one of our outdoor minyanim will shift to the Sanctuary. For those who will be davening at home, we will be sending an at-home tefilla guide similar to the ones we prepared for Pesach and Shavuot.
Youth – We are putting together an engaging youth packet that will have both a tefilla guide and holiday related activities for each age group to help kids get into the Yom Tov spirit and to keep them connected to our BDJ family. Right now the Department of Health would not allow for in-person Rechov Yeladim but we will be closely monitoring the guidelines as it gets closer.
Elul Programming – We plan to offer a variety of Elul-related programs through our new Chevra Project! These will include a Rosh Hashanah dessert/challah-baking class, Elul-focused Book Club discussion, shiurim with Rav Yosef and Rabbanit Alissa, and more. Selichot, like our daily Tefilot, will also be accessible via zoom.
Rosh Hashanah – The OU will be coordinating multiple public (outdoor) shofar blowings for those who need. We will share that information with you. If you still need a private shofar blowing, please be in touch as the time gets closer.
Yom Kippur – As on Rosh HaShana, we will be holding multiple outdoor minyanim. In addition we are exploring the idea of experiencing the “edges” of the day together virtually. This would involve having Kol Nidrei together via Zoom, prior to candle lighting, and also sharing - just after Yom Kippur technically ends - the last few moments of Neila and shofar blowing. Creativity is essential this year! Our Yom Kippur Memorial Book will also be sent to everyone, and virtual Yizkor will be offered before the holiday (as we did with Pesach and Shavuot).
Sukkot – To stay in alignment with the latest guidance from the Department of Health, we also need to be creative about our Sukkot experience this year. Based on your survey responses, we will have pop-up sukkahs available for people to say kiddush and hamotzi, so that everyone can have access to a sukkah!
Simchat Torah – Since the guidelines continue to change, sometimes from week to week, we look forward to planning for this chag as the time gets closer.
We hope to give you further information when we join together on August 20th and will invite you to share questions either at the meeting or before. As a reminder, if you haven't yet signed up for your 5781 membership, we encourage you to do so as soon as possible, but no later than August 15th, through our online Membership Form.
This chagim season will certainly be one to remember! Please know that we are committed to supporting everyone in our BDJ family— from families with young kids to singles to those who are homebound, and beyond— in building memories of 5781 that God willing will be inspiring, joyful, and spiritually fulfilling.
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