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The month preceding Rosh Hashanah is a very special time. It is like preparing for a wedding – many people spend it planning the meals, family arrangements, flowers etc.…except this is also the time to focus on spiritual preparation, in particular. The wedding analogy isn’t so far off because the letters of ELUL – Aleph, Lamed, Vav and Lamed, form an acronym for the words in the verse Ani le‑dodi ve‑dodi li – “I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine” (Song of Songs 6:3). Believing that the “beloved” refers to God, the sages took this verse to describe the particularly loving and close relationship between God and Israel.
Because these days are filled with so much meaning and potency, they require a special measure of readiness. We are called upon to enter them thoughtfully and to consider what they mean. As the Maharal of Prague said, “All the month of Elul, before eating and sleeping, a person should look into his soul and search his deeds, that he may make confession.”

Elul starts at sundown on August 8, 2021.

There will be a 3-week Elul study class on zoom with Rabbi Reznick and Cantor Bern-Vogel on Tuesday evenings , August 10, 17, and 24 at 7p.m. There will be meditation and niggunim and we will engage in reflective texts, and suggest journaling prompts.
This is a wonderful opportunity to spiritually prepare
your heart and mind for the High Holy Days.

“though your sins are scarlet, they shall be white as snow.”
—Isaiah 1:18

The penitential prayers of S’LICHOT are the Overture to the High Holy Days – like the overture of a symphony that introduces us to the main themes and melodies we will hear throughout the various movements, the evening services of S’LICHOT roll out the melodies and nusach – the musical and liturgical modes reserved specially for the season of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. During this time of transformation, even the Torah covers are changed at S’LICHOT in keeping with the white of the High Holy Days.

S’lichot Service Schedule
(In-Person in the CEE Parking Lot)
Everyone is welcome with advance reservations.
Masking and appropriate distancing are required.

Saturday, August 28th 8 pm: beginning with Havdalah

Together we will join in the haunting melodies that help our hearts and minds reflect on the past year and we will prepare our sacred Torahs by changing their regular covers to white for our High Holy Day observances. Our Torahs look forward to welcoming you too!

The Kever Avot service gives us an opportunity to honor the loved ones death has taken from us. This year, we join together to say communal prayers. Kever Avot Services will be held on Sunday September 5 at 10:00am (at the Home of Eternity Cemetery, 801 N. Sierra Way, San Bernardino.)

Kever Avot Service
Sunday, September 5 10:00am
Everyone is welcome. Reservations are required.
Masking and appropriate distancing are required.

Call the temple office at 909-307-0400 for more details and to make reservations for this service.

“In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, there shall be a sacred assembly, a cessation from work, a day of commemoration proclaimed by the sound of the Shofar.”
—Leviticus 23:24

This year we celebrate with a service on Erev Rosh Hashanah, as well as Rosh Hashanah Day 1 & 2. The First Day of Rosh Hashanah will begin with an outdoor Shofar Service in the CEE Parking Lot with shofar, gomel, and baby blessings. A Children’s Rosh Hashanah Service will be held at 5pm in Ford Park, before Tashlich. Outdoor services are open to all with masking and distancing.

Rosh Hashanah Services Schedule

Monday, September 6 (Erev Rosh Hashanah):
7pm Service (Outdoors in CEE Parking Lot/Facebook Live/Zoom)

Tuesday, September 7 (Rosh Hashanah Day 1):
9am Shofar Service  (outdoors in CEE Parking Lot/in-person only)
10am Rosh Hashanah Service
(Online Only/Facebook Live/Zoom)
5pm Children’s Rosh Hashanah Service (Ford Park)
5:30pm Tashlich (Ford Park)

Wednesday, September 8 (Rosh Hashanah Day 2):
10am Rosh Hashanah Service (Online Only/Facebook Live/Zoom)

“Tashlich” means casting off. During this service we cast off our mistakes from the previous year by tossing them into a body of water and watching them disappear. This way our mistakes are symbolically washed away. By doing this we are declaring our intention to return to our best selves and start the year off with a fresh start, a clean slate.
Tashlich can be a time to symbolically rid oneself of last year’s mistakes that weigh you down.

We will hold our tashlich services at Ford Park in person outdoors this year. We will conduct a moving reflective experience as well as using eco-friendly duck food, to throw for Tashlich, thanks to a generous donation from PAWS…

Everyone is welcome. Masking and appropriate distancing are required.

“In the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict your souls,  and you shall not do any work… For on that day God shall provide atonement for you to cleanse from all your sins.”
—Leviticus 23:27

Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement is experienced through prayer, music, repentance, and fasting. On this day we put aside our physical desires and concentrate on our spiritual needs, admitting to our shortcomings. We pray for the repair of our hearts and renewal of ourselves with compassion and love. We remember those loved ones who are no longer with us and ask for the blessing of life for another year.
With a great blast of the shofar, the ten days of awe come to an end. We break our fast and wish one another a year of reconciliation and love, of health and prosperity, of justice and generosity, and of spiritual well being and peace.

Yom Kippur Services Schedule
(Online Only / Zoom/ Facebook Live):

Erev Yom Kippur / Kol Nidre Service
Wednesday, September 15, 7pm

Yom Kippur, Thursday September 16
9:30am Morning Service
1pm Yizkor Service
3pm Mincha
4pm Children’s Service (Outdoors in CEE Parking Lot, RSVP required)
5pm Neilah Service

Sukkot means “booths.” It is our festival of giving thanks for the fall harvest and is a commemoration of our people’s wanderings in the desert. Sukkot is celebrated five days after Yom Kippur and lasts eight days. During that time, we are commanded to “dwell in the sukkah.” It is our tradition not only to build a sukkah, but also to eat and sleep in it. Sukkot is a wonderful time to share a meal together and celebrate with family and friends while enjoying nature’s bounty.

Sukkot Services Schedule
In-Person in the CEE Parking Lot
Everyone is welcome with advance reservations.Masking and appropriate distancing are required.
Monday September 20th 6pm:
A Sacred Telling, an evening with storytelling

Simchat Torah means “rejoicing with the Torah.” This is what Jews do on this festive fun holiday. We also celebrate the completion of the annual reading of the Torah and start to read it all over again. While we dance and sing with the Torah we affirm that she is a tree of life! We take the Torahs out of the ark, dance around the synagogue joyously and unwrap one entire Torah. We read from the concluding passages of Deuteronomy and then begin reading Genesis. We never stop reading the Torah; we end only to begin again.

Simchat Torah Schedule
Wednesday September 29th 6pm:
Simchat Torah Service and Consecration of our newest students

Details will be announced at a later date.

Registration is required for all services in-person and online.

How will services work this year?

Online Services for Everyone:
You must register in advance for all online events. Services available over Zoom and Facebook Live include Erev Rosh Hashanah, Rosh Hashanah Day One Morning Service, Rosh Hashanah Day Two, Erev Yom Kippur, and Yom Kippur. Follow the links at emanuelsb.org to join. If you have no access to a computer, use your phone. Call 1-669-900-6833 and use meeting ID: 501 987 6154 and password 472615.

Outdoor Services in the CEE Parking Lot, Open to Everyone:
Everyone is invited to gather outdoors in the CEE Parking Lot with masks and physical distancing for S’lichot (August 28), Erev Rosh Hashanah (September 6), Rosh Hashanah Shofar Service (September 7), and Sukkot (September 20). Advance reservations are required.

Tashlich Outdoors and Open to Everyone:
Everyone is invited to join our Tashlich service outdoors with masks and physical distancing, in Ford Park on Tuesday, September 7 at 5:30 pm.

For Families with Children:
Families with children are encouraged to participate on Zoom, as those under the age of 12 have not been vaccinated. In order to keep everyone safe, childcare is not available in the CEE building this year. Children’s Rosh Hashanah Service will be held on the first day of Rosh Hashanah, Tuesday, September 7 at 5 pm in Ford Park, followed by Tashlich. A Children’s Yom Kippur Meditation Experience will be held on Thursday, September 16 at 4 pm, outdoors in the CEE parking lot. Masks will be required for all events.

Do I need tickets?
It has long been our policy that our services are open to all. Please invite your family and friends, whether they are near or far. This year, all are welcome and encouraged to be with us online.

What is the cost for services?
There is no charge for services. We wish to share this time of worship with everyone. Donations are encouraged to help with many additional costs of this unique year and holiday season.

Prayer Books
Congregation Emanu El uses Mishkan Hanefesh. No prayer book is needed to participate in services, but if you wish to follow along, the prayer books are available in a print and Kindle edition at Amazon.
For those of limited means, please contact the office. We can make arrangements for you to have access to an electronic or print edition.

Tallitot and Kippot
Unfortunately, we are unable to loan tallitot to our members. If you do not have a kippah (yarmulke), please contact the temple office at 909-307-0400 and we would be happy to arrange for one for you to keep. In the interest of public safety, communial Tallitot and Kippot will not be available for your use while attending in-person services.

Honors
Honors will be assigned in advance. If you are interested in receiving an honor, contact the temple office at 909-307-0400.

If you have technical questions:
Many of our services this year will be held safely and electronically using Zoom and Facebook Live. If you are not comfortable with using Zoom or Facebook Live, call the office at 909-307-0400 and we will arrange for a “Zoom angel” to contact you to walk you through the process. You can also attend services using any phone. Call 1-669-900-6833 and use meeting ID: 501 987 6154 and password 472615. You are free to join services using Zoom or Facebook Live. Both are free and do not require signup. Go to our web site, https://emanuelsb.org, and click either the “Connect via Zoom” or “Connect via Facebook Live” button. Zoom services let you participate by speaking up, while Facebook Live services are listen-only.

Questions
If you have any questions in the days leading up to the high holy days, call our office at 909-307-0400. We can arrange for tutoring on Zoom or Facebook, answer any questions you have, or partner you with an expert so you can experience services more fully. Please call ahead, as our offices will be closed during services.

Basic online etiquette:
If you join us via Zoom, please keep yourself muted unless asked by clergy to unmute yourself. Please use the device you have with the largest screen so you can enjoy services more. If possible, put your device down securely so the image you send does not move or jitter during services. Please turn off your camera if you are moving, eating or engaging in something distracting during services. We are creating a sacred space and you can help do that by only having your camera on when you are able to focus. If you have questions during services, you may type them into the chat section of either Zoom or Facebook Live.

Membership at Congregation Emanu El
Our members are our greatest strength. Being of service to both the Inland Empire Jews and the greater community is one of the greatest joys of congregational life. For over 125 years, Congregation Emanu El has stood as center of worship and education, and we offer sanctuary to all those who are unfairly persecuted.
Judaism does not have a central body which is able to subsidize our operations. All of our operating costs are covered by generous donations and by membership pledges.
Please consider membership at Congregation Emanu El. Your membership pays for our School for Jewish Living, for our staff and clergy, and allows us to serve the most needy in our area. If you are already a member, please consider planning for a donation to the congregation as part of your tax and estate planning. Without the generous support of our donors, Reform Judaism would not be able to thrive.

Membership is open to all Jews and to those who are undergoing an approved conversion program. Membership forms can be emailed to you or mailed. Call the office at 909-307-0400 to get your membership forms. We ask you to be as generous as possible, to allow us to continue our practice of never turning away anyone for financial need. Membership amounts are set to allow each member the honor of paying their fair share. Please let us know if the cost of membership is hard for your family to bear. You will not be turned away.

Donating to Congregation Emanu El is easy! Click here or go to https://emanuelsb.org/donate to donate safely and securely and safely.

For those who wish to donate with cash or check, contact the temple office at 909-307-0400 to discuss donation options.