Important High Holy Days Updates: Outdoor Worship, Virtual Events, and More
08/31/2021 11:09:08 AM
Aug31
Author
Date Added
Automatically create summary
Summary
Important Information About Attending
High Holy Days Worship is Changing
Dear Friends,
Each year, as the High Holy Days approach, we look forward to the experience of coming together to welcome the New Year and reflect on how we can better ourselves and our world. Nonetheless, given the dramatic rise in hospitalizations and “breakthrough” cases among those who have been vaccinated and in light of the value of Pikuach Nefesh – the preservation of life, we have made the difficult, but necessary decision to forgo in-person, indoor worship for the High Holy Days. However, we WILL be offering OUTDOOR in-person worship experiences throughout the High Holy Days.
This is not the communication we wanted to send to you. We were looking forward to rededicating our sanctuary and celebrating together in the aftermath of COVID-19. The past year and a half have been extraordinarily difficult. Our lives have been upended as we have tried to come to grips with the impact of a global pandemic. With the advent of COVID-19 vaccines, we had hoped that we could return to some semblance of normalcy as we enter into the new year, 5782. Unfortunately, the Delta variant has forced us to reevaluate our plans.
We are confident, however, that between our limited in-person and our enhanced virtual experiences, we will continue Temple Emanuel’s 147-year tradition of providing meaningful and beautiful worship and learning for the High Holidays. This video from our Reopening Task Force contains more information about our decision.
Even though we have had to make this difficult choice, we still will celebrate the important value of Kehillah (community). In order to provide opportunities for coming together, we have created new opportunities for outdoor worship. Please read on for information about this new approach to the High Holy Days and please remember that no matter how you choose to celebrate, you can always watch live on our website or stream on Facebook.
Changes and Additional Information
Streaming Evening Services
Evening services on September 6th, Erev Rosh Hashanah, and September 15th, Kol Nidrei, will be streamed from our sanctuary, led by our clergy, choir, and musicians with no in-person worshippers. Whether you previously registered to attend, or not, please join us virtually, streaming on our website or on Facebook.
Outdoor, In-Person Morning Services
We will offer more morning service options, held outdoors. We have acquired a second tent in order to expand our capacity. However, despite this increased capacity, space in these services is limited and registration is required:
Priority Registration: Those who previously registered to attend Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur Morning Worship will receive a separate email inviting them to register for these new service options. If you previously registered to attend, please be sure to complete this form, even if you no longer wish to attend.
General Registration: All others who wish to attend may register beginning at 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 2, 2021, depending on remaining availability. Space will be limited.
The new service times are as follows:
Rosh Hashanah, Tent Service 1: 8:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Rosh Hashanah, Tent Service 2: 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Yom Kippur, Tent Service 1: 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Yom Kippur, Tent Service 2: 12:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Streaming Lectures
The lectures by Dr. Elias Sacks and Justice Melissa Hart will no longer be held in person. If you would like to participate in the discussion, please register for the Zoom. You will receive the Zoom link just before the lecture. Otherwise, all are welcome to join us virtually, streaming on our website or on Facebook.
Shwayder Camp
Rosh Hashanah at Shwayder Camp will continue as scheduled. However, unvaccinated children may no longer attend. If you registered to attend Shwayder, please look for a specific communication about that event.
Young Family Events
Young Family services on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur will no longer be held in person. Please join us virtually, streaming on our website or on Facebook.
The Family Festivals scheduled for September 12, 2021 have been canceled.
The Temple Emanuel Re-Opening Task Force has been hard at work advising our Clergy and Professional Leadership as we navigate the murky waters of engagement during this health crisis. We have relied heavily on the latest statistics and experiences of our medical team as well as the Matrix of Jewish Values that we created around reopening.
With prayers that we will all be able to be together soon, and our best wishes for a Shanah Tovah, M’tukah U’vriah – a good, sweet and healthy New Year…
Sincerely,
Rabbi Joseph R. Black – Sr. Rabbi Steve Stark – Executive Director Cantor Elizabeth Sacks – Sr. Cantor Danny Foster – President
Temple Emanuel - Denver 51 Grape Street Denver, CO 80220
