HIGH HOLY DAY UPDATED INFORMATION - Sept. 23
Rosh Hashanah Services and Programming
Sunday, September 25 - Tuesday, September 27
We are delighted to share with you updated plans for Rosh Hashanah at Beth Israel!
Service Schedule:
All services will take place at the times listed on our At-a-Glance schedule.
Sunday, September 25
5:30 pm, Erev Rosh Hashanah Service
Due to the forecast of rain for Sunday night, we have decided to hold our Erev Rosh Hashanah services in the Sanctuary, rather than outdoors.
Monday, September 26
9:30 am, Morning Services
5:00 pm, Tashlich at Gwynns Falls Stream (Stevenson University)
6:00 pm, Evening Services
Tuesday, September 27
9:30 am, Morning Services
5:40 pm, Evening Services
Tashlich:
The Tashlich service will take place Monday, September 26 at 5:00 at Stevenson University’s Gwynns Falls Stream, in-person only. Please scroll up for details about Tashlich.
Virtual Access to Rosh Hashanah Services:
All services will be broadcast on Zoom from our Sanctuary, with no password required. Please use your full name when logging into Zoom for security reasons.
Please remember to keep your screen on mute to minimize distractions for those at home.
Tickets and Security:
For security reasons, every adult who enters our facility on Rosh Hashanah must present a blue or red High Holy Day 5783 ticket issued by Beth Israel. If you do not have a ticket with you or held for you at our check-in desk, you may also present a photo ID to our security staff. Unfortunately, we are unable to admit people to High Holy Day services if they are not current congregants or guests we anticipate welcoming to our building.
Children’s Programming:
Please look for the signs provided at the front of the building for locations of children’s programming in the school wing. We have Rosh Hashanah programming planned for children in grades K-2, 3-5 and our teens (grades 6 to 12). Our youth programming is overseen by our Learning Lab Director, Rick Rosen, and will run from 10:30 am to 12:15 pm on both days of Rosh Hashanah.
Unfortunately, we are unable to offer babysitting or tot services this year.
Mahzorim (Prayer books):
Please note that in order to avoid shortages in the building, we cannot lend out any more Mahzorim at this time.
If you did not borrow a Mahzor yet but still would like access to the service text, please click here for the Virtual Copy of the Mahzor Lev Shalem.
If you wish to join us in the building for some services and also have Mahzorim at home, please leave them at home until after Yom Kippur. At this point, we want all Mazhorim currently in the building to stay in the building.
Yizkor Books
Yizkor Books will be available on Yom Kippur. Please visit the office to pick one up if you plan to join services from home.
Covid Protocols
Beth Israel requires all visitors to wear masks in common spaces of our facility (lobbies and bathrooms). Those with reserved seating must wear masks, as well as when going up to the bema. We have designated spaces as follows:
The Sanctuary and Grebow Auditorium are mask-required. The Social Hall front section (reserved seating) is mask-required, while the open seating section (back two-thirds) is mask-optional.
We will have signs posted which indicate mask policies for each area of our building to avoid any confusion.
We encourage anyone who wants to take a “mask break,” and is seated in a section where masks are required, to please step outside to do so, either in the Atrium off of the Sanctuary Lobby, or outside the front doors of the building.
Beth Israel no longer requires proof of vaccination.
Please silence cell phones
Please make sure cell phones are silenced or fully off in order to avoid disruption to our services. Those who need to use their phones in case of an emergency are asked to please step outside and away from the front of the building.
Name Tags for congregants and guests
New this year at Beth Israel is our name tags. While we have name tags already made for every adult member of our congregation and for some of our guests, we will have a station at check-in where those visiting us for Rosh Hashanah may also have a name tag made for them.
We encourage all of our guests to take a moment to pick up a name tag and lanyard! Our name tags allow us to greet each other freely and easily, and enrich our feeling of community.
We ask that all name tags and lanyards be left at Beth Israel for future use. Please use the baskets provided to return your name tag to us before leaving the building.
Parking
Please use the three levels of Beth Israel’s parking lot this year, following the guidance of our parking attendants. Most of the top level of our parking lot will be reserved for those who require handicapped spaces to access our facility. We are no longer using the additional parking lot at Stevenson (with busing) as we did in the past.
Our Annual Food Drive
Please pick up a food drive bag on Rosh Hashanah from one of our volunteers, and donate non-perishables to GEDCO CARES by bringing your bag back with requested items by October 7. Donation bins are located in our Coat Room. To learn more about GEDCO CARES, of which Beth Israel is a proud member organization, please click here.
L’Shanah Tovah u'Metukah (a sweet and healthy new year) to you and your loved ones from all of us at Beth Israel.
High Holy Day Information - 5783
Masking for the Holy Days
For the High Holy Days, Beth Israel will provide both "mask required" and "mask optional" seating sections.
All reserved seating will be "mask required" as will the open seating area in the Grebow Auditorium. The open seating area in the Social Hall will be “mask optional.”
Masks will be required in public spaces (such as the lobbies and bathrooms) and when on the bimah for an honor. Masks will be available at the door for those who don’t have them handy.
Beth Israel will try to create the safest environment possible for our congregants and guests, maximizing ventilation and utilizing our space wisely.
At this time, Beth Israel is no longer requiring proof of vaccination for entering the building.
Our Calendar At-a-Glance
Click here for our Calendar At-a-Glance of High Holy Day programming, all of which will be accessible through our website.
Mahzor (Prayer Book) Pick-Up at our Building
Our services will be both in person and on Zoom this year. If you wish to join us from home, please sign out a Mahzor from the Synagogue Office between September 6 and September 23, between 9 am to 4 pm (Monday-Thursday), and 9 am to 3 pm (Friday).
