Dear Friends:
Tomorrow night, as is our longstanding custom, we will join with our friends from Tikvat Israel, B’nai Shalom of Olney, and Shaare Tefila for our annual Selichot service and program. “Selichot” are special penitential prayers which are said in preparation for the High Holidays. While Sefardim say Selichot for the entire month of Elul, Ashkenazim begin saying them the Sunday before Rosh Hashanah.
The service is led by the cantors and rabbis of the four congregations. I always find the service to be an uplifting introduction to the themes -- both liturgical and musical -- of the High Holidays.
The service and program will be held at Tikvat Israel, 2200 Baltimore Road in Rockville, beginning at 8:30. The full program is as follows:
Selichot Evening Schedule:
8:30 - 8:55 pm: Reception
9:00 pm - 9:40 pm: “Shema Israel - Hear, O Israel"
A program of Jewish music for violin and piano with virtuosos, Gersh Chervinsky, violin and
Alexander Beresovsky, piano
9:45 pm: Selichot Service
You can join us in person or on the Tikvat Israel Livestream:
As a reminder, I am having drop-in hours on Thursday afternoon from 2 to 4 at the shul. You do not need to make an appointment -- that would negate the whole point of drop-in hours -- but I’d urge you to check and make sure I am there regardless as sometimes there are unavoidable pastoral or other emergencies which might take me away from the building.
As always, if I can do anything for you or you need to talk, please contact me at rabbi@kehilatshalom.org or 301-977-0768 rather than through the synagogue office. I am happy to meet you at the synagogue by appointment. I have been spending more time in the synagogue recently but if you want to speak with me it’s best to make an appointment rather than assuming I will be there when you stop by.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Charles L. Arian
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