Moadim L’simcha! Please see below for a few important reminders relating to Shmini Atzeret and Simchat Torah:
Overall approach: For Shacharit on each day, we will be holding two Ashkenazi minyanim and one Sephardic minyan. Hakafot on Simchat Torah will be shorter than usual and will be done from our seats. Unfortunately, there will be no dancing with Torahs, no aliyot for everyone, and no honorees this year. As rain is anticipated on Simchat Torah, we ask for your patience and flexibility as plans may change based on the weather (See more below)
Schedule: Click here to see the full schedule. One Minyan will be at 9:00 AM in the back of the parking lot near Seven Locks Road (with chairs set up- rain location is indoors in Abramson on Simchat Torah) and one at 9:30 AM in the tent. Please make every effort if you are attending the 9:30 minyan to not disturb the 9:00 AM minyan in the parking lot (ideally, please enter through the Gan Itzik (the Greenway) entrance if you can).
Sign-up: We ask that you complete a brief signup form (click here to access) for davening in the mornings on both days of chag. This will help us get an accurate count for how many will be at each minyan. Please sign up as soon as possible!
Health and Safety: Please click here for our health and safety guidelines for Sukkot/Shmini Atzeret/Simchat Torah. Please remember that everyone, including anyone visiting from out of town, must abide by all policies (including wearing masks and not coming to shul if you have any symptoms or have been in contact with someone who could have been exposed). Please also make sure that anyone who is visiting from a state with a positivity rate higher than 10% can only be present in davening if they have quarantined for one week or have taken a negative COVID test.
Food and Alcohol: Please note- No eating or drinking of alcohol is permitted at shul on Simchat Torah this year. It is simply not safe given our restrictions.
At home Davening Guide: We will be sending out a document tomorrow before chag with a guide for davening at home on Shimni Atzeret/Simchat Torah.
Kohelet: Kohelet will be read at each minyan on Shmini Atzeret (see schedule for details on readers). We will also be streaming a pre-recorded Kohelet reading tonight, October 8th, at 8:00 PM at www.bethsholom.org/zoom. You can also click here to listen to the recording.
Yizkor: Yizkor will be recited at each minyan approximately 45 minutes after the start of davening (see schedule for which chazan will be in each minyan). There will also be an opportunity to recite Yizkor virtually at 5:45 PM tomorrow, Friday, October 9th (www.bethsholom.org/zoom)
Women’s Torah Reading: On Simchat Torah morning, we will have a women’s Torah reading (as part of the later minyan). The Torah reading will take place in the parking lot by the entrance to Gan Itzik (the Greenway) at approximately 10:00-10:15 AM (rain location: In front of the Atrium entrance).
Youth Programming: We will have a Youth Simchat Torah Celebration on Shabbat (Erev Simchat Torah) at 4:00 PM. Bring a flag and get ready for a Torah parade (socially distanced, with masks for children 2 and older). We will also be handing out candy in individual bags.
Hoshana Rabbah: A reminder that tomorrow is Hoshana Rabbah. Davening will be at 6:15 AM and 8:00 AM. If you would like to pick up an aravos bundle that you ordered, they will be available tomorrow morning at davening.
