בס״ד
Rabbi Eichenholtz’s Message:
On Rosh Hashanah, we spend a lot of time with Abraham and Sarah, their home and family. The Torah readings on both days of the New Year focus on their stories-on the first day with the promise of Sarah’s pregnancy, and Isaac’s birth and childhood, and following with the binding of Isaac on the second day. But even with all of this time, with all of the Torah readings, it is two weeks later on Sukkot that I feel most connected to Abraham and Sarah. One of Abraham and Sarah’s best known legacies (in addition to monotheism) is the mitzvah of hachnasat orchim– welcoming in guests.
On Sukkot, as we settle ourselves outside of our homes, in the temporary shelter of the sukkah, we traditionally invite guests. The saying goes that there is strength in numbers, and that is so true in our sukkot. Especially in the cold, we fill our sukkah with people and warm food to insulate against the temperature and the wind. Every year I love building my sukkah and trying to determine the most number of doorways possible, because everyone should feel welcome, before the cross-breeze becomes unbearable, because we are not obligated to torment ourselves with the elements in order to perform the mitzvah of dwelling in the sukkah. And the most beautiful sukkah in the world is useless, if we aren’t able to dwell in it.
But, all of those are our physical guests. We also invite our Ushpizin, those traditional guests invited to every sukkah all over the world. We invite seven individuals (or in modernity seven pairs), one for each of the seven nights of Sukkot. We seek to emulate their characteristics and we honor their legacies.
Abraham and Sarah: The parents of faith represent loving kindness
Isaac and Rebecca: The transmitters of the legacy and foundation represent splendor
Jacob and Leah: The progenitors of Israel represent strength
Joseph and Rachel: The nurturers of the past and caretakers of the future represent eternity
Moses and Miriam: The leaders of Freedom represent glory
Aaron and Deborah: The harbingers of peace represent holiness
David and Ruth: The living legacies of Israel for the past, present and future represent sovereignty.
While the tradition, of inviting these seven men, dates from the time of the kabbalists, today, we also invite the ushpizot, seven women of extraordinary import in our tradition. In my sukkah, we also invite other guests, those who inspire us today. Who are those seven, well, you’ll just have to come and see. So please join me for an open sukkah, open house on the fisrt day of Sukkot, Monday, October 14th. See later in this bulletin for more details.
Chag sameach
–Rabbi Eichenholtz
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Shabbat Candle Lighting Times
Friday, Oct 4 – 6:02pm
Friday, Oct 11 – 5:50pm
Friday, Oct 18 – 5:39pm
Friday, Oct 25 – 5:28pm
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Service Times:
Thursdays: 7:15am Morning Minyan
Fridays: 6:00 pm
Saturdays: 9:30 am
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Reduced Office Hours this month:
The office will be closed on Monday, September 30 and Tuesday, October 1 for Rosh haShannah
Closing at noon on Tuesday, October 8 and closed Wednesday, October 9 for Yom Kippur
Closed Monday and Tuesday October 14 and 15 for Sukkot
Closed Monday and Tuesday October 21 and 22 for Shemini Atzerat and Simchat Torah
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REMINDERS:
Please return your dues forms to the office by September 27!
COMMITTEES:
No Board meeting this month
Education Committee: Sun, Nov 10 9:00am
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Community News!
Ken & Nancy Hanson are delighted to announce the marriage of their daughter Kimberly Hanson and Tom Harari on August 18th, 2019 in Livingston Manor, NY.
Mazel Tov!
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WELCOME TO CAA’s NEW MEMBERS!
We are pleased to have you. Thanks for joining us!
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Rabbi Office hours:
Appointments available Sunday morning, Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday.
Please contact SJ in the office to schedule your appointment!
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OCTOBER’S MITZVAH HERO
Nathaniel
From the Ma’asim Tovim Jar:
“During Hebrew School Nathaniel saw a small child wandering in the parking lot unattended. He immediately called our attention to the situation. I was so proud of him for wanting to help!”
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L’Shana Tova member books are here!
Please stop by the office to collect your book.
Thank you!
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The High Holidays are fast approaching!
If you will have guests for the High Holidays and need extra tickets, please contact the office. Tickets are $50 a seat for guests of members.
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Join us for festive Sukkot Services!
The High Holy Day season does not end with the Ne’ilah service but rather with the extended celebration and thanksgiving of Sukkot.
In recent years, attendance has been unfortunately low for our community’s services and events.
Please help make minyan and add to the rejoicing through your presence and participation:
- First Day of Sukkot: Morning service Monday, October 14, 9:30am
Service includes Hallel, Torah Reading, and Musaf. We will parade with Lulav and Etrog!
Snacks in Sukkah to follow!
**Great for families, as kids are home from school!!**
Please notify the office if you plan to attend so that we can ensure we have a minyan.
- Sukkot afternoon: Monday, October 14, 2:00 – 6:00pm
Open house, open Sukkah at Rabbi Eichenholtz’ residence
Dairy, Pareve and vegetarian refreshments will be served, please inform the office of any dietary restrictions or allergies so they can be accommodated.
Einstein looks forward to meeting his peers in the congregation and will have snacks for pets as well.
Contact the office with any questions or for the parsonage address.
- Intermediate Shabbat of Sukkot: Saturday, October 19, 9:30am
Service includes Hallel and readings from Kohelet (Ecclesiastes).
- Pizza in the Hut: Sunday, October 20, 10:30 am
- Sheminit Atzeret: Monday, October 21, 9:30am
Service includes Hallel, Torah reading, Yizkor, and musaf.
Please notify the office to let us know you plan to attend!
- Simḥat Torah Celebration: Monday, October 21st 6:00pm
Will include an evening service, singing and dancing with the Torah, and chanting the very end and very beginning of Torah.
We are excited to be joined again by the Mashke band!
SIMCHAT TORAH
*A SPECIAL CELEBRATION *
Monday evening, October 21, 6:00 p.m.
Celebrate with the klezmer band Mashke!
Come dance, sing, and parade with the Torah!
JOIN IN ALL THE JOY AND CELEBRATION
OF THE HOLIDAY!
Refreshments will be served!
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A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO THE SCHARMETT FAMILY
& THE FAY SCHARMETT FUND FOR SPONSORING THIS EVENT
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Come help Congregation Agudat Achim build and decorate our Communal Sukkah!!
Join us before religious school
Sunday, October 6th 9:00am
Help us cut greenery to roof our sukkah, or help us decorate!
Everyone is welcome!
(Note that our Sukkah building is early this year)
CAA Celebrates NJOP’s SUKKOT ACROSS AMERICA
With PIZZA IN THE HUT
Sunday, October 20 10:30am
Join Congregation Agudat Achim’s
Religious School
and Rabbi Eichenholtz
for a Sukkot celebration!
Come learn about Sukkot as we enjoy Kosher pizza in our Sukkah!!
All are welcome!
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LEARN TO READ HEBREW!
Hebrew Reading Crash Course Level 1
Sunday, October 27, 10:00am
Join Rabbi Eichenholtz for a class in Level 1 Hebrew. All welcome!
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What Are We Saying When We Pray?
Sunday, November 3, 10:00am
In this class, Rabbi Eichenholtz will lead us in navigating the prayers
from our weekly services. We will gain greater comfort and familiarity with the service
as we explore the emotions and deeper meaning behind our prayers.
All are welcome—open to all experience levels!
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RUMMAGE SALE NOTICE:
Please do not drop off any items for the Rummage Sale without first coordinating with Rachel Carter.
*Please note we are not taking book donations this year!*
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We’re invited!
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community of Fitchburg
invites CAA and the greater community to join them for
Coffee, Cake, and Islam
Come, visit, have some cake!
Bring your questions about Islam or just come and meet new people!
370 Main St, Fitchburg
Every Saturday at 6:00pm
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Scholar in Residence Shabbat
Rabbi Carol Glass will be our visiting scholar on November 8-9.
She will speak following services at a congregational potluck dinner Friday night
and again Saturday at a Kiddush luncheon.
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Yahrzeits for October 2019
Oct 1-5: William Begun, Peter William Ellis, Harry Fergenson, Yetta Kahn, Lillian Levine, Milton Levine, Elliott Lewis, Mary Meyerson, Esther Miller, Seymour Nathanson, Max Okin, Hyman Perlstein, Sam Porter, Sadie Rosin, Nancy Shane, H.H. Shuman, Rosalie Wolf
Oct 6-12: Samuel Borowsky, Jack Burnim, Sarah Feingold, Benny Frymerman, Leo Fichman, Regina Frymerman, Simcha Frymerman, Blanka Hess, Janet Kahn, Paul Kane, Benjamin F. Kaplan, Matilda Katz, Jacob Odence, The Parnes Family, The Rothenberg Family, Dorothy Rubinstein, Elizabeth Sarkin-Student, The Sandberg Family, Leon Stevens, Max Tater, Rosamond (Rose) Zibel
Oct 13-19: Chickie Bell, Solomon Davis, Samuel Faberman, Michael Falk, Benjamin Feinberg, Jack Gerber, Fannie Katz, Maurice L. Newmark, Joesph Schechtman, Della Shane, Benjamin Sirota, Gertrude Tieger, Beatrice Turetzky, Elliott Wein, Sarah Weinstein
Oct 20-26: Leonard Bernhardt, A. Leon Fergenson, Philip Fiegar, Rabbi Samuel Freilich, Lena Freshman, Morris Goldman, Natalie Goldstein, Jacob Krevoruck, Irving Lew, Betty Levine, Elsie Mancuso, Morris Ross, Rabbi Harold Roth, Sally Rottenberg, Hyman Rubin, Fay Scharmett, Celia Schwartz, Harry Schwartz, Milton Sharpe, Stanley Tharler, Arthur Weedon, Gladys (Friedson) Zack, Harvey Zais, Mae Zais
Oct 27-31: Sidney Ansin, Irwin Cohn, Mary Shuman D’Antonio, Benjamin Flaum, Ruth Hess, David Kreiger, Sarah Richman, Ann Smith, Samuel Tharler, Max Ungar, G. Daniel Weinstein, Samuel Zack
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CALENDAR FOR END OF SEPTEMBER 2019
>>Sunday, September 29: No Religious School
Kever Avot 9:00am, Fitchburg Jewish Cemetery
Rosh haShannah 6:00pm
>> Monday, September 30: Office Closed
Rosh haShannah Day 1 9:30am
Tot Chag 10:30am
Jr. Congregation 10:30am
Tashlikh following services
CALENDAR FOR OCTOBER 2019
>> Monday, October 1: Office Closed
No Religious School
Rosh haShannah Day 2 9:30am
Thursday, October 3: Morning Minyan 7:15am
Friday, October 4: Kabbalat Shabbat 6:00pm
>>Saturday, October 5: Shabbat Shuvah 9:30am
>>Sunday, October 6: Building Sukkah 9:00am (During Religious School)
>>Tuesday, October 9: Office Closes at 12:00
No Religious School
Kol Nidre 6:00pm
>>Wenesday, October 9: Office Closed
Yom Kippur Morning Service w Yizkor 9:30am
Tot Chag and Jr. Congregation 10:30am
Yom Kippur Afternoon Service and Jonah 4:00pm
Thursday, October 10: Morning Minyan 7:15am
Friday, October 11: Kabbalat Shabbat 6:00pm
Saturday, October 12: Shabbat Service 9:30am
>>Sunday, October 13: No Religious School
>>Monday, October 14: Office Closed, No Board Meeting
Sukkot Services 9:30am—refreshments in sukkah to follow!
Open house, open sukkah at Rabbi Eichenholtz’s house!
Please join Rabbi Eichenholtz and Einstein from 2:00-6:00
>>Tuesday, October 15: Office Closed
Thursday, October 17: Morning Minyan 7:15am
Friday, October 18: Kabbalat Shabbat 6:00pm—refreshments in sukkah to follow!
Saturday, October 19: Shabbat Service 9:30am—refreshments in sukkah to follow!
>>Sunday, October 20: Pizza in the Hut 10:30am –All Welcome!
Part of NJOP’s “Sukkot Across America”
>>Monday, October 21: Office Closed
Shemini Atzeret 9:30am
Simḥat Torah 6:00pm —Memorial service w Yizkor
-With Mashke band!
>>Tuesday, October 22: Office Closed
No Religious School
Thursday, October 24: Morning Minyan 7:15am
Friday, October 25: Kabbalat Shabbat 6:00pm
Saturday, October 26: Shabbat Service 9:30am
Sunday, October 27: Adult Continuing Education 10:00am
Learn to Read Hebrew! Crash Course Level 1
Thursday, October 31: Morning Minyan 7:15am
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Calendar of High Holiday Services – 5780
SERVICE DATE TIME
Selihot Sat, Sept. 21 8:00 pm
Please join us at the synagogue for the opening service of the High Holy Days
Kever Avot Sun, Sept. 29 9:00 am
(At Fitchburg Jewish Cemetery)
Rosh haShannah
Evening service Sun, Sept. 29 6:00 pm
Day 1 Mon, Sept. 30 9:30 am
Tot Chag 10:30 am
Jr. Congregation 10:30 am
Tashlikh following services
Day 2 Rosh haShannah service Tues, Oct. 1 9:30 am
Kabbalat Shabbat Fri, Oct. 4 6:00 pm
Shabbat Shuvah Sat, Oct. 5 9:30 am
Yom Kippur
Kol Nidrei Tues, Oct. 8 6:00 pm
Morning service Wed, Oct. 9 9:30 am
w/Yizkor – Memorial Service
Tot Chag 10:30 am
Jr. Congregation 10:30 am
Afternoon service & Jonah 4:00 pm
Sukkot
Day 1 w/lulav & etrog Mon, Oct. 14 9:30am
Kabbalat Shabbat Fri, Oct. 18 6:00 pm
Shabbat (Hol haMo’ed Sukkot) Sat, Oct. 19 9:30 am
Pizza in the Hut Sun, Oct 20 10:30 am
–Thank you to Sukkot Across America
Shemini Atzeret Mon, Oct 21 9:30am
Simhat Torah w/Mashke Mon, Oct. 21 6:00 pm
w/Yizkor – Memorial Service