Join us for the Annual Temple Emanuel Reverse Tashlich – an event that not only cleans up a beach, but symbolically—and practically—removes people’s sins from the ocean.
“For hundreds of years, Jews have symbolically thrown their sins into the water on Rosh Hashana,” says Karen Fenichel, chair. “We’re going to remove some of humankind’s sins by cleaning up the beach as part of Reverse Tashlich.”
Individuals, families and friends are invited to join the effort, which nationally is part of the Annual Reverse Tashlich. While we are working on a CT Beach, Jews around the world will be cleaning up waterways and beaches near their homes. The effort is the largest Jewish aquatic restoration community in the world. The Reverse Tashlich is sponsored internationally by Repair the Sea. Locally, Save the Sound is assisting with our effort.
“Doing Reverse Tashlich around Rosh Hashana allows us to connect spiritual and ethical values with environmental stewardship,” said Adam Spiewak. “When you realize how much trash there is on the beach, it really makes you think about what we’re doing to the world and what we can do about it.”
For the 33rd consecutive year, your Tikkun Olam Committee will be holding its High Holy Days Food Drive, donating much-needed food to the food pantries of both Jewish Family Service (JFS) and the Town of Orange. And, once again this year, we will be giving you a variety of choices or options as to how you would like to participate. Both food and monetary donations will be accepted through the Sukkot holiday.
For folks who would like to donate actual tangible food items, you can leave your food donations in the rear of the social hall when you come to the synagogue for services. Please be as generous as possible with bags, boxes, and cans of a wide variety of non-perishable food items. As much as you can carry! But also please remember, no outdated or open packages and, at the request of both agencies, no glass jars or containers.
For those of you who would feel more comfortable donating by check to the JFS Food Pantry, you can mail your check directly to JFS Food Pantry, c/o JFS of Greater New Haven, 1440 Whalley Ave., New Haven, CT 06515. Important: Please remember to write Temple Emanuel on the memo line as that’s how we’ll be credited.
For those of you who would feel more comfortable donating by check to the Town of Orange Food Pantry, you can make out your check to Treasurer, Town of Orange and mail it to Stacey Johnson, MSW, c/o Community Services, 525 Orange Center Rd., Orange, CT 06477. Important: Please remember to write both Food Pantry and Temple Emanuel on the memo line as that’s how we’ll be credited.
Please be as generous as you’ve always been in the past. Remember, we’re “the little shul with a big heart” and we’ll be helping our neighbors right here in our own communities. And as the Torah teaches, “If one fails to share G-d’s bounty with the poor, then the observance of the holy days would be unacceptable.” Todah rabah!
Will Sherman and Alla Bernshteyn, Co- Coordinators, Food Drive
Rosh Hashanah I day Saturday, Sept 12 @ 10:00 AM Rosh Hashanah Children’s Service Saturday, Sept 12 @ 9:45 AM Tashlich Saturday, Sept 12 immediately after the kiddush
For 50 members of Temple Emanuel of Greater New Haven, cleaning up trashhelps right some of the world’s wrongs
MILFORD, Conn. – It’s amazing what you can find on a beach. About 50 members of an Orange synagogue picked up a watch, a hotel key, a paring knife, sunglasses and even a pair of shorts as they scoured Woodmont Beach Sunday as part of their fourth annual beach cleanup.
“We call it Reverse Tashlich,” said Dr. Karen Fenichel, who organized the event for Temple Emanuel of Greater New Haven. “Jews have a tradition called tashlich of throwing crumbs into the water to get rid of their sins. The water is supposed to carry their transgressions away. In Reverse Tashlich, we take mankind’s sins – all the pollution people create – out of the water. It’s a great time for entire families to spend some quality time on the beach doing something good for the community.”
Fenichel works with the religious school at Temple Emanuel to assure that students as well as the adults are involved. This year, about 50 congregants and friends came together for the event. In addition, she coordinates with Repair the Sea, an international Jewish environmental preservation group; Save the Sound, a regional group dedicated to protecting Long Island Sound; and the City of Milford’s Open Space Preservation office.
“It’s amazing to think Jews all over the world this week are cleaning up beaches and celebrating the Jewish New Year by literally saving the world,” added Fenichel. “The best part is that the kids are deeply involved.”
Kids and adults moved up and down the beach in five groups, picking up trash, putting it in bags and documenting what was found. They looked for all sorts of trash. Cigarette butts were deemed particularly dangerous to wildlife because of the materials used to make them. About 183 cigarette butts were dropped into the plastic bags. In addition, Styrofoam cups, syringes, paper, fishing tackle scraps, pieces of glass, rubber material and other trash filled seven bags totalling almost 50 pounds. And the students fully understood what they were doing and why.
“The animals don’t deserve to have so much trash in their habitat,” said Ben Carmelli, 11, who tallied the trash for one group.
“This is a season when we are thinking about our actions and their impact,” said Rabbi Michael Farbman. “This is a wonderful opportunity to combine our traditions with those of the rest of the world. It also makes you think about your own actions the next time you walk on the beach.”
“It’s a way for the TE Community to give back to the wider community,” added Lindsey Sussman, temple president. “It’s a recent tradition to make the world better from generation to generation.”
Joint URJ Selichot service (hosted by Temple Beth David, Cheshire) Saturday, Sep 28, 7.00 pm. Keynote by Judge Douglas Lavine “Restorative Justice and Forgiveness”
Erev Rosh Hashanah Wednesday, October 2, 8:00 PM
Rosh Hashanah I day – Thursday, October 3, 10 am Rosh Hashanah Children’s Service Thursday, October 3, 9:45 AM Tashlich Thursday, October 3, immediately after the kiddush
Rosh Hashanah II Day Friday, October 4, 10 am
Kol Nidrei (Erev Yom Kippur) Friday, October 11, 8pm
Yom Kippur Morning Saturday, October 12, 10 am Yom Kippur Children’s Service Saturday, October 12, 9:45 AM
Yom Kippur Mincha Saturday, October 12, 4:00 PM Yizkor, Neila and Havdalah Saturday, October 12, 5:30 PM (followed by community-wide break-the-fast)
Joint URJ Selichot service (hosted by Congregation B’nai Israel, Southbury) Saturday, Sep 9, 7.00pm
Erev Rosh Hashanah Friday, September 15, 8:00 PM
Rosh Hashanah I day – Saturday, September 16, 10 am Rosh Hashanah Children’s Service Saturday, Sept 16 9:45 AM Tashlich Saturday, September 16 immediately after the kiddush
Rosh Hashanah II Day Sunday, September 17, 10 am
Kol Nidrei (Erev Yom Kippur) Sunday, September 24, 8pm
Yom Kippur Morning Monday, September 25, 10 am Yom Kippur Children’s Service Monday, September 25, 9:45 AM
Yom Kippur Mincha Monday, September 25, 4:30 PM Yizkor, Neila and Havdalah Monday, September 25, 6:00 PM (followed by community-wide break-the-fast)
