SEPTEMBER SCHEDULE

Elul-Tishrei 5771

Elul 5771

In anticipation of the High Holidays (Yamim Noraim) the congregation emphasizes the theme of repentance (teshuvah) during the month of Elul. The word teshuvah literally means “return” and we have scheduled lectures, classes, and other activities to help us understand the true meaning of teshuvah.

6:30 am Daily Minyan. Followed by Talmud Study with Rabbi Herzfeld.

8:30 am Sundays & Legal Holidays

Daily Minchah and Maariv: 15 minutes before sunset.

Following Minchah and Maariv, during the month of Elul, Rabbi Herzfeld will discuss the laws of Repentance according to Maimonides.

Kiddush Lunch every Shabbat. The Shabbat lunch is FREE and OPEN to the entire community. But we do seek sponsors….

Elul Beit Midrash

Prepare for the High Holidays by studying with a chevruta in a Beit Midrash setting. We will study the laws of the High Holidays and spiritual insights from great rabbis in order to help us prepare better for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Pizza will be served followed by Minchah/Maariv and the study session.

The Liturgy of the High Holidays, Classes by Rabbi Ben Mintz

9:30 Sunday Morning, September 12 (Bagels will be served).

Developmentally Different Adults - Pre-Rosh Hashanah Program

7:00 pm Tuesday, August 31

The Torah frequently admonishes us: “Remember that you were once strangers in the land of Egypt.” The test of a community is the way it treats its most vulnerable members. In this spirit, our congregation is proud to connect with Developmentally Different adults in the D.C. area and especially those from the Jewish Foundation for Group Homes. Residents of local group homes join with our congregation for arts & crafts, pre-Rosh Hashanah music, guitar playing, and drumming. Dinner is served. Bring your children and help them learn about this mitzvah. If you know of someone who is developmentally different, encourage them to attend.

Wednesday, September 1

12:30 pm Rabbi Herzfeld teaches at Hudson Institute

7:20 pm Mincha and Maariv followed by Elul Beit Midrash

Thursday, September 2

7:20 pm Mincha and Maariv followed by a Siyyum of The Psalms Project to mark the shloshim of Joshua Brodsky, z”l. A class will be taught by Dr. Hal Brodsky, followed by a siyyum.

Friday, September 3

7:19 pm Candles

6:45 pm Mincha and Kabbalat Shabbat

Shabbat, September 4 - Nitzavim-Vayelekh

8:45 am Communal Torah Study

9:15 am Shacharit with a Dvar Torah by Josh Milner: Explaining a Prayer of Rosh Hashanah

6:30 pm Warm up for the High Holidays in the main sanctuary with Josh Milner by practicing the tunes we will sing on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

7:00 pm Mincha followed by Seudat Shelishit and a Dvar Torah by Rabbi Herzfeld: The Customs of Rosh Hashanah.

8:20 pm Shabbat ends

Mincha and Maariv for the week of September 5th will be at 7:15 pm

10:00 pm - 1:00 am Pre-Selichot Concert and Selichot Prayers

It is customary to recite penitential prayers (Selichot) in the days leading up to Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Traditionally, Selichot prayers for the first night take place in the middle of the night. We follow that custom. (In the days following, we will recite Selichot just prior to our morning prayers.) There is a special energy and excitement to these prayers as we begin the liturgy of the High Holidays with this service. It is a time for soulful reflection.

10:00 pm Concert

Prior to the recitation of Selichot, we prepare spiritually by gathering for a spiritual concert by Yaakov Chesed. Yaakov Chesed is an exciting, up and coming band in the world of Jewish music with whom we celebrated last year before Selichot. We are delighted that they are returning! The concert is free.

12:00-1:00 AM Selichot

Gather in our beautiful, historic sanctuary for Selichot services led by Josh Milner.

Sunday, September 5

10:30 am Annual Cemetery Trip

Bus leaves the synagogue promptly at 10:30 am

It is customary to visit the graves of loved ones before the High Holidays. Our congregation visits the Synagogue’s cemetery with services at the cemetery led by Rabbi Shmuel Herzfeld.

****JEWISH NEW YEAR’S BASH in DOWNTOWN SILVER SPRING

2-5 pm Ring in the (Jewish) New Year with us in Downtown Silver Spring. Festivities will include: shofar blowout competition, moon bounce, fun in the fountain, honey tasting with a local beekeeper, used book sale, Jewish children’s book sale, face painting, apple giveaway, sukkah-on-wheels, arts & crafts, music, prizes and more!

Monday, September 6

8:15 am (Selichot)Morning services

7:15 pm Mincha and Maariv followed by a synagogue Board meeting. All are welcome to attend.

Tuesday, September 7

6:10 am Shacharit (Selichot)

12-1 pm HIGH HOLIDAY WELCOMING - Honey Give-Away

On the Corner of Connecticut and K

Everyone should feel welcome in our Synagogue, whether or not they can “afford” a seat and whether or not they have pre-existing knowledge of Judaism. To demonstrate how serious we are about this belief, everyone is invited to join Rabbi Herzfeld in Downtown DC as he blasts the Shofar and gives away FREE HIGH HOLIDAY TICKETS together with FREE Honey from Israel. The honey is intended to symbolize that our synagogue wishes to spread sweetness in DC and wishes everyone a sweet new year. Also look for the busy bees dressed up in costume helping Rabbi Herzfeld. Volunteers to help Rabbi Herzfeld are needed….

Rabbi Herzfeld also has gifts of honey and sweet smelling spices for all those who visit him in his office before the High Holidays. Just stop by for your sweet gift.

7:15 pm Mincha and Maariv followed by a class on Talmud Rosh Hashanah with Rabbi Herzfeld

9:00 pm Selichot for erev Rosh Hashanah

Wednesday, September 8

6:30 am Shacharit

HIGH HOLIDAY SCHEDULE OF SERVICES

This year we are honored that Dr. Josh Milner, Dr. David Eisenman, and Yaakov Sussman will lead our High Holiday services.

We invite you to join us for communal dinners on both nights of Rosh Hashanah. (If the reservation is made by Monday, September 1, Dinner is $18 for adults and children under 12 are free; after that date, dinner is $22 for adults, and $12 for children.) Please email your dinner reservation to cvaloris@gmail.com or call our administrative office at (202) 882-7225.

Everyone is welcome to participate in our High Holiday services. The more people that join us the better chance we have of getting our prayers answered. Prayer is like a symphony. Every individual brings his and her own unique talents to communal prayer. The mixture of different voices is what makes communal prayer so special. So, please join us. We need you to join with our prayers.

To reserve your High Holidays seat call the office for more details or email cvaloris@gmail.com

Rosh Hashanah & Yom Kippur Babysitting
Thursday, September 9, 8:30 am - end of services
Friday, September 10, 8:30 am - end of services
Friday, September 17, 7:00 pm - end of Kol Nidre
Saturday, September 18, 8:30 am - end of morning services, during Ne’ilah
Babysitting will be available on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur for children under seven. Pre-registration is required to OSTNSyouth@gmail.com by September 3rd.

Rosh Hashanah & Yom Kippur Youth Programs
Thursday, September 9, 10:15 am
Friday, September 10, 10:15 am
Saturday, September 18, 10:15 am
Children are invited to explore the High Holidays through songs, stories, imaginative play and prayer.

Rosh Hashanah begins Wednesday, September 8th

Everyone should remember to make an eruv tavshilin before the chag begins, if you need instructions about how to do this, please contact Rabbi Herzfeld.

7: 11 pm Candle lighting

7:15 pm Minchah & Maariv

Communal Dinner following services.

Thursday, September 9 - First Day of Rosh Hashanah

8:30 am Morning Service

11:00 am Shofar Blowing

6:15 pm Minchah followed by communal Tashlich. The congregation will walk together to Rock Creek Park for Tashlikh. (Tashlikh is a spiritual service symbolizing repentance recited at the waterside.)

7:30 pm Maariv

8:10 pm Candles

Communal Dinner following services. Please make your reservations by September 1st.

5:15 pm FREE ALTERNATIVE Service

For those looking for something a little different, try this relaxed and intimate setting. Discussion, songs, and highlights from the prayer service. No membership required. IT IS COMPLETELY FREE. No solicitation of funds.

Friday, September 10 - Second Day of Rosh Hashanah

8:30 am Morning Service

11:00 am Shofar Blowing

6:45 pm Minchah and Maariv

7:08 pm Candles

Saturday, September 11 - Shabbat Shuva

9:15 am Shacharit (no Dvar Torah and No Kiddush/Lunch this week)

6:25 pm Minchah

6:45 pm Rabbi Herzfeld’s Shabbat Shuvah Discourse

8:09 pm Havdalah

It is customary for the Rabbi of the Synagogue to give a major address every year on the Shabbat between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. This Shabbat is known as Shabbat Shuva, the Sabbath of Repentance. This year Rabbi Herzfeld will discuss, “How the High Holidays can illuminate a path to improving the way we treat ourselves and the way we treat others?” Sources for this class will be made available on Rosh Hashanah for you to review and study in preparation.

Sunday, September 12 - Tzom Gedalia-Fast of Gedalia

5:34 am Fast Begins

8:00 am Shacharit (with Selichot)

9:30 am Understanding the High Holiday Liturgy with Rabbi Ben Mintz

Rabbi Ben Mintz will explore the prayers of the High Holidays.

If you review the prayers in advance of the holiday, it will help you have a meaningful prayer service….

6:55 pm Mincha and Maariv

8:05 pm Fast ends

Monday, September 13

6:05 am Selichot services begin.

7:10 pm Mincha and Maariv

Tuesday, September 14

12-1:30 pm Rabbi Herzfeld teaches a pre-Yom Kippur class for attorneys at the offices of Alston Bird. If you are interested in attending, please email rabbiherzfeld@yahoo.com Lunch will be served.

Wednesday, September 15

6:05 am Selichot services begin.

7:10 pm Mincha and Maariv followed by Pizza and communal, beit midrash style, study of the High Holiday prayers, led by Josh Milner.

Thursday, September 16

6:05 am Selichot services begin.

7:10 pm Mincha and Maariv followed by a class with Rabbi Herzfeld on Tractate Yoma: A Talmudic discussion of the Yom Kippur service in the time of the Temple.

Friday, September 17

6:05 am Shacharit

Yom Kippur begins Friday, September 17

3:00 pm Mincha

6:56 pm Candle lighting

7:00 pm Kol Nidre

Saturday, September 18 – Yom Kippur Day

8:30 am Morning Service

11:00 am Yizkor

3:30-4:30 pm FREE ALTERNATIVE Service with Yizkor

7:56 pm Fast ends

THE HOLIDAY OF SUKKOT

Our Sukkah Store will be open on Sunday, September 19, following the morning minyan! Contact Carol Valoris for exact hours.

On Sukkot the Torah commands us to wave the four species (Lulav, Etrog, Haddas, and Aravah). Come to the Synagogue and get your Lulav and Etrog at below market prices. Also, help us decorate the shul sukkah - creative artists are needed!

Only $40 for a Lulav and Etrog set. (The $40 price is only good if you order your Lulav and Etrog by September 9^th - otherwise, prices start at $50. Email your order to: cvaloris@gmail.com).

Skhakh and Sukkah decorations are also available if ordered in advance. While you’re at it, pick up a brand new Sukkah. To order a Sukkah you must order in advance, call 410-358-2502 or email yreznitzky@yahoo.com. Mention The National Synagogue for a discount.

Sunday, September 19

8:30 am Shacharit

9:15 am Sukkah Store

OSTeeNS Sukkah Builders

Need an extra hand to build your sukkah? Ohev’s Youth Department is connecting teens with

local families who need sukkah-building assistance. Email OSTNSyouth@gmail.com to

schedule an Ohev teen to help you get the job done in time for Sukkot. Donations to OSTNS

appreciated.

10:00 am Sukkah Decorating Party
Help us make decorations for the OSTNS sukkah (and take some home, too!)

7:00 pm Mincha and Maariv

Festival of Sukkot begins Wednesday, September 22

Wednesday Night, September 22 and Thursday 23 - Communal Sukkah Meal: September 22, at 7:00 pm; September 23, at 7:45 pm

$18 per person, kids under 12 eat free if reservations are made by September 16 - after that prices go up! Email cvaloris@gmail.com with your reservation or call (202) 882-7225.

Wednesday, September 22

Remember to make an Eruv Tavshilin

6:45 pm Mincha and Maariv and a communal Sukkah meal

6:49 pm Candles

Thursday, September 23 - First Day of Sukkot

9:15 am Shacharit services with a Dvar Torah by David Kurtzer-Ellenbogen

6:50 pm Mincha followed by a class with Rabbi Herzfeld and Maariv and a communal meal in the Sukkah

7:48 pm Candles

Friday, September 24 – Second Day of Sukkot

9:15 am Shacharit services with a Dvar Torah by Rabbi Ben Mintz

6:46 pm Candles

6:50 pm Mincha and Maariv for Shabbat

The Intermediate Days

Saturday, September 25 - Shabbat Chol Hamoed

8:45 am Communal Torah Study

9:15 am Shacharit with An Architectural Sermon by Thomas de Monchaux

Thomas de Monchaux, is the Deputy Mayor of Sukkah City, the second largest architectural competition in the history of the world. He is also the inaugural winner of the Winterhouse Award for Design Writing and Criticism, is currently working on Food Money Sex Style Art Stone Glass, a biography of the building at 2 Columbus Circle, New York. He is also the author of In Search of Sukkah City: http://www.designobserver.com/observatory/entry.html?entry=13908

PLEASE NOTE: No Kiddush /Lunch this Shabbat

4:00 pm Sukkah Hop: A ‘hopping we will go! Join us on a Sukkot journey through Shepherd Park filled with games, songs, food and fun. Email OSTNSyouth@gmail.com for schedule.

6:25 pm Mincha followed by Seudat Shelishit in the Sukkah and a Dvar Torah by Rabbi Herzfeld

7:44 pm Shabbat ends

Sunday, September 26 - Chol Hamoed

8:30 am Shacharit

6:40 pm Mincha/Maariv

7:30-10:00 pm Sukkah Tish at Rabbi Herzfeld’s home

Everyone is invited to the Rabbi’s Sukkah at his home for some festival joy. The Talmud teaches that no one ever saw joy like the joy that was experienced in the Temple on Sukkot. We try to bring some joy into our holiday with a Tish—a spiritual party in honor of Sukkot. Sing, eat home baked chocolate chip cookies, laugh, share words of Torah, and celebrate together with Rabbi Herzfeld.

OUR DOWNTOWN SUKKAH

Monday, September 27 – Wednesday September 29

(Farragut Square, at Connecticut and K)

Our congregation serves the larger community of DC by building a Sukkah in Farragut Square. Ivdu et Hashem be-Simchah, serve God with joy! (Psalms 100: 2.) We offer a Free Pizza lunch in our downtown Sukkah from 12-1 pm on Monday - Wednesday of Chol Hamoed Sukkot. Stop by for some Pizza and also for an opportunity to wave the Four Species. Volunteers needed!!!

Tuesday, September 28

7:00 pm Developmentally Different Sukkah Party

Everyone is welcome for a Festive Sukkah Party—featuring live music, dancing, and delicious dinner. Musical entertainment provided

Wednesday, September 29

6:38 pm Candles

6:45 pm Mincha and Maariv

Thursday, September 30 - Shemini Atzeret

9:15 am Shacharit with Yizkor and a Dvar Torah by Rabbi Herzfeld

5:45 pm Minchah followed by Simchat Torah Services

Celebrate as we complete the Torah. Men and Women Dance Separately with the Torah into the late evening. Followed by a FREE communal dinner.

Friday, October 1 – Simchat Torah

9:15 am Morning Services with Torah Dancing

Ongoing Class Schedule

Mondays, 12:30-1:30 pm Rabbi Herzfeld’s Parshah Class for Women

Wednesdays, 12:30-1:30 pm Rabbi Herzfeld’s Downtown Class:

Hudson Institute (1015 15th Street, NW, 6th Floor)

Thursdays, 7:30 pm Parshah of the Week with Rabbi Herzfeld.

Shabbat Mornings, 8:45 am Group Torah Study of the Parshah

Shabbat Afternoons, 2:00 pm Rabbi Herzfeld’s Class on Maimonides